Making it easier for Tough Tech to change the world.
We believe a healthier population, a more accessible and adaptive society, and a more resilient world are all possible through science, engineering, and visionary leadership.
Solving these challenges will require insights from across disciplines, whether it’s biology and material science; nanoscale manufacturing and robotics; or AI and transportation. Together, we can unlock massive opportunities to transform industries for the better, while creating more sustainable, resilient ways of living.
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Foray scientists work at The Engine, growing plant products from cells through harvest-free processes.
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MacroCycle's recycling plant in The Engine's industrial space.
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Foray scientists work at The Engine, growing plant products from cells through harvest-free processes.
Who We Are
incubator
Incubators provide the physical space, infrastructure, and equipment to help early-stage founders prove out and scale their technology.
accelerator
Accelerators provide early-stage founders with education, resources, mentorship, and access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem to help grow their business.
infrastructure,
The Engine provides resident companies with 220,000 square feet of fully-managed wet lab, engineering and office space with the equipment required to build Tough Tech.
programs,
The Engine’s educational programming addresses the complex challenges Tough Tech founders face to help guide them on their journey from idea to investment to impact.
ecosystem
The Engine convenes a thriving ecosystem of key Tough Tech stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, investors, academia, public officials, and corporate partners.
What is Tough Tech?
transformational technology
Cutting-edge science and technology that has the potential to change the trajectory of society.
convergence
We believe interdisciplinary approaches are the key to solving our interconnected global problems in climate change, human health, and advanced systems.
science, engineering
Tough Tech exists in physical space, not just in code, and it has the potential to create more sustainable, resilient ways of living.
entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship is the process of turning a breakthrough idea into a company that creates and sustains new value.
| Applied Al & ML | Climate | Materials |
| Autonomous Systems / Robotics | Energy | Mobility |
| Biotech / Life Sciences | Food / Agriculture | Natural Resources |
| Carbon Capture / CCUS | Manufacturing | Quantum Computing |
Our Mission
Our mission is to support and accelerate Tough Tech companies solving the world’s most challenging problems, as they move from research breakthroughs to commercial impact.
Tough Tech has the potential to change the world — but only if it makes it out of the lab.
Our role at The Engine is to help bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization for the most promising teams and breakthrough inventions.
Our Approach: We provide innovative founders with the necessary resources, infrastructure, and access to the Tough Tech ecosystem to fuel their growth. By convening policymakers, investors, and founders, we align the Tough Tech ecosystem to drive progress towards solving the world’s most important challenges.
Our Story
MIT created The Engine in 2016 to support Tough Tech startups poised to deliver meaningful, positive impact on society and the environment. Initially combining an incubator with a venture capital fund, The Engine provided early-stage companies with capital, infrastructure, and operational support. In 2023, Engine Ventures spun out as a separate investment firm focused on Tough Tech companies. In 2025, The Engine formally became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, expanding its commitment to supporting Tough Tech companies and ecosystems nationwide through specialized programming, shared lab and engineering infrastructure, and a network designed to help companies move from scientific breakthroughs to commercial impact.
Our Impact
- resident companies across 19 industries
- 111
- total funds raised by current and former residents
- $5.5B
- Blueprint graduate companies
- 599
- Regional Innovation Engines empowered
- 10
Our Values
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Ambitious Teams
Ambitious Teams We support ambitious teams solving global challenges with technology-driven innovation. We support them in their journey from lab to market, and we want to see them change the world. The Engine is also, itself, an ambitious team of hardworking and humble individuals who are driven to achieve our goals and see our portfolio companies succeed. We believe that by supporting ambitious teams and outcomes we can create enduring positive impact in the world.
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Mission Focused
Mission Focused We are laser focused on ensuring bold ideas result in meaningful impact for humanity. Our mission is to support those who are just getting started in their journey to solve global challenges through innovation. We believe success in this mission is achieved through humility in the face of the unknown and dedication in championing the Tough Tech community.
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Learning Together
Learning Together We are a team of collaborative individuals committed to constant learning through experimentation and innovation. We do this by working together and lifting each other up to reach our goals. We are iterative, agile, and we lean into ambiguity. We share our wins and our learnings to accelerate the path of the Tough Tech community we support. We believe we can achieve excellence by taking risks, leading in ambiguity, and sharing our knowledge.
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Inclusive Innovation
Inclusive Innovation The ability to dream, to envision a better world for all, and to activate change is not specific to race, gender or orientation. Anyone with the technical chops and ambition to drive change could be a Tough Tech founder or funder. We believe we must build an inclusive Tough Tech community to ensure that we collectively have the greatest impact.
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Patiently Impatient
Patiently Impatient We believe both that important companies take time and that meaningful progress can be made in the near term. We relentlessly look for ways to push more aggressively towards progress, while respecting the milestones that require patience.
