The Yes/Boston Innovation Challenge was a 2026 call for early-stage ventures working on food production, food logistics, nutritious meals, or access to food and healthcare information. The World Economic Forum led the challenge through UpLink with AWS, Citi, Deloitte, MassChallenge and a coalition of Boston organizations.
It sought solutions capable of producing measurable local impact in Boston. Twelve ventures were selected from 131 applicants to work with MassChallenge and the Yes/Boston ecosystem on deployment and growth.
Benefits & funding
- Selected ventures join a three-year engagement programme with UpLink and the World Economic Forum.
- Support includes global visibility, networking, invitations to selected events, strategic mentorship and connections across the Yes/Cities ecosystem.
- MassChallenge and local partners help ventures deploy, hire and grow in Boston; no cash award was stated in the official materials reviewed.
Eligibility
- Applicants had to be early-stage start-ups with solutions in food production, food logistics, nutritious food and meals, or food and healthcare information access.
- Solutions needed a credible path to deployment and measurable impact in Boston.
- The published cohort includes ventures from the United States and international markets; the official materials reviewed stated no nationality, residency, degree, age or work-experience restriction.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Match the venture to one of the four published focus areas and explain its relevance to Boston.
- 2Submit the solution through the official UpLink challenge page by 6 April 2026.
- 3Shortlisted ventures pitch to a panel of experts and ecosystem partners; 24 start-ups reached this stage in 2026.
- 4Final selections enter the Yes/Boston engagement programme; 12 ventures joined the inaugural cohort.
Program timeline
Extended application deadline
Apr 6, 2026
Twelve-venture inaugural cohort announced
Jun 25, 2026