Ecosystem

Forging alliances to build the Tough Tech economy.

  • Visitors talk amongst themselves at a networking event in The Engine's event space.
  • Blueprint participants sit on chairs in a circle in The Engine's event space.
  • A man shakes hands with a woman in front of a name tag booth at Tough Tech Week 2024.
  • Attendees congregate at vendor booths in The Engine's event space during Tough Tech Week 2024.
  • The Engine's President and CEO Emily Knight speaks to a crowd of people gathered in a hallway.
  • The Engine's event space hosts Former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden along with Massachusetts senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren for a presentation on the White House Initiative for Women's Health Research.
  • Residents play a game of cornhole in the courtyard at The Engine on a summer evening.
  • A group of people, some sitting and some standing, talk during a session in The Engine's event space.
  • People stand in a circle in The Engine's event space to hear a man in a blue vest speak.
  • A large crowd sits and listens to a fireside chat in The Engine's event space.

Our Role

The Engine convenes a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, philanthropists, academic institutions, government agencies, and business leaders to nurture breakthrough solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.
Join Us

The Engine supports Tough Tech transformation across industries:
Applied Al & MLClimateMaterials
Autonomous Systems / RoboticsEnergyMobility
Biotech / Life SciencesFood / AgricultureNatural Resources
Carbon Capture / CCUSManufacturingQuantum Computing

Our Ecosystem

  • Investors

    Founders and investors shake hands during The Engine's annual Tough Tech Week event.

    Our deep network of capital providers, including our partners Engine Ventures, helps residents secure the patient funding they need to scale. Connect with Tough Tech startups pioneering solutions in climate tech, human health, and advanced systems.

  • Partners & Funders

    A panel of speakers talk during a Blueprint session.

    As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, corporate and philanthropic partners play a vital role in supporting The Engine’s programs, infrastructure, and events. Help translate breakthrough research into scalable, high-impact solutions by getting involved today.

  • Government

    Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey sits on a panel at The Engine's Make it in Mass event.

    Tough Tech represents the future of American competitiveness on the global stage. The Engine engages policymakers at the local, state, and federal level, influencing policy and helping residents secure critical sources of non-dilutive funding.

  • Academic Institutions

    Since spinning out of MIT, The Engine has opened its doors to researchers from universities across the country. Our tech translation programs, Whiteboard, Blueprint, and Residency, are designed to help faculty, researchers and Tough Tech companies realize the commercial potential of their research breakthroughs.

  • Blueprint by The Engine 

    Blueprint by The Engine is a program designed to help graduate students, postdocs and researchers explore the translational potential for their research and innovations.
    Learn More

  • Whiteboard 

    Whiteboard, by The Engine, helps faculty understand and navigate the process of translating research out of their labs into Tough Tech startups.
    Learn More

  • Residency 

    The Engine offers state-of-the-art facilities, programming and ecosystem connections to help resident companies attract capital, manage their business, and scale their technology.

    Learn More

  • Blueprint participants sit for a presentation at the final session of the 2023 cohort.
  • A Blueprint particpant sits in front of an open laptop.
  • A group of four men sit around a table during Blueprint.
  • A panel of speakers talk during a Blueprint session.
  • Blueprint participants have an engaging discussion around a table in The Engine's event space.
  • A panel speaks in front of a captivated audience at the Blueprint Showcase.
  • A woman presents her Tough Tech startup at the Blueprint Showcase.
  • A man presents his company's innovation during a Blueprint session.
  • A group of people congregate in a circle during a networking session at the Blueprint Showcase.
  • A table of people applaud a presentation during the Blueprint Showcase.

“In the Tough Tech space, having the right ecosystem is as critical as having the right technology. Our resident companies benefit from a network that understands the unique challenges of commercializing complex technologies. This shared knowledge and resources are what turn promising research into world-changing companies.”

The Engine CEO Emily Knight
Emily Knight CEO & President, The Engine
A graphic showing the list of partners and members of the Tough Tech ecosystem at The Engine.
Not comprehensive.

Join the Ecosystem.

To stay informed about upcoming events, meet with our residents, or discuss other ways to collaborate, please get in touch.

Get in Touch
People congregate in The Engine's event space for the Tough Tech dinner.