Catalyst and DICES

The Challenge: Advance Research-Stage Technologies to Commercial Viability

A key step in advancing a new technology beyond the research stage is to develop and demonstrate a prototype. Funding for prototyping is often difficult to obtain.

About Catalyst

The Catalyst Program provides grants of up to $75,000 to researchers and early-stage companies looking to demonstrate initial prototypes of their climate technologies. Catalyst is jointly administered by MassCEC and MassVentures with a goal of stimulating the commercialization of climate technologies developed in the Commonwealth. Specifically, the program is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of transforming new ideas from the research stage to commercially viable technologies to increase industry and investor interest. All awardees gain access to a vast network of partners, expert local market and policy insights, and mentoring from MassCEC and MassVentures, while all finalists receive complimentary pitch coaching and business mentoring.

About DICES

In parallel with Catalyst, MassCEC and MassVentures will award up to three additional grants of up to $75,000 each for projects led by applicants who are underrepresented in the Climatetech industry or faced economic barriers entering the environmental or entrepreneurial landscape.

Status

Closed

Award Potential

$75,000

Application Deadline

Not currently accepting applications

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Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

The Catalyst/DICES program offers funding twice per year. The current round is closed. Stay tuned for the announcement for dates for the next round.

The dates in the Spring 2024 table are provided as reference for the general timeline.

Spring 2024 (now closed)
Process Step	Timing
Application period opens	January 26, 2024
Optional Webinar	February 8, 2024
Deadline to submit questions	February 23, 2024
MassCEC posts responses to questions	March 1, 2024
Applications due	March 14, 2024
Applicants notified of finalist status	April 23, 2024
Finalists' presentations	Week of May 20, 2024
Finalists notified of award status	July 2024

Who's Eligible

Catalyst and DICES are for technologies that are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-4, according to the TRL Calculator developed by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.

Eligible applicants include principal investigators at Massachusetts-based nonprofit research institutions or Massachusetts-based early-stage climatetech companies.

For DICES, applicants must also fill out section II on the application form. The response to the DICES question should demonstrate how the applicant is underrepresented in the climatetech industry or has experienced economic barriers entering the environmental or entrepreneurial landscape. More information about this process can be found in Section V of the Catalyst Request For Proposals (RFP).

For full Program details, please refer to the Catalyst RFP.

Apply

Application Process

For full Program details, please refer to the Catalyst RFP.

Applications must be submitted via the MassVentures portal.

Go to MassVentures portal

For any questions, please email companycatalyst@masscec.com.

Request for Proposals

RFP - Catalyst and DICES FY24

Learn About DICES and Catalyst

MassCEC hosted a webinar about the Catalyst and DICES programs on February 8th. The webinar includes a brief overview of MassCEC and MassVentures' programs, followed by more detail about Catalyst and DICES program and other funding opportunities.

Watch the Webinar

View Webinar Slides

FAQs

Last updated
March 3, 2024

1. Is it possible to apply if I have secured funding from other sources already?

Yes, you are still eligible to apply if you have secured funding from elsewhere. Start-ups and companies are required to not receive more than Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) in combined debt or equity financing, grant funding, and revenues over the past five (5) years. There are no financial limitations for academic institutions or non-profits.

We recommend reviewing section VI of the RFP to view full eligibility requirements.

2. Does the project or start-up have to fit within the four MassCEC focus areas?

No, the project or start-up does not have to fit within the four focus areas. We also accept projects that provide or enable significant decarbonization.

We recommend reviewing Section I of the RFP to read more.

3. How do I know if I am eligible for Catalyst funding?

An eligible applicant must be one of the following:

A Principal Investigator (“PI”) at a Massachusetts-based nonprofit research institution.
A Massachusetts-based early-stage climatetech company that has four or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
A student (or group of students) led by a faculty member or researcher who will act as the PI.

We recommend reviewing Section VI of the RFP to view full eligibility requirements.

4. How do I know if my project is eligible for Catalyst funding?

Our ability to fund your project depends on whether it meets the program's goals and eligibility requirements. The goal of the Program is to stimulate the commercialization of “Climatetech” (as defined in Section VI of the RFP) and related innovation between Technology Readiness Level 2 (technology concept and/or application formulated) and 4 (Component and/or process validation in laboratory environment). If it fits within these technological readiness levels, requires additional research and testing to fully commercialize, and meets the other eligibility requirements outlined in the RFP, we can consider it for funding. We recommend reviewing Section IV and VI of the RFP for full eligibility details.

5. With regard to formatting, may we eliminate the gray/bluish left column, e.g., in the Technology Overview Section?

Other than deleting italic prompts, for consistency, please use the rest of the template as is.

6. If my business is incorporated legally in a different state but all operations are in MA, do I meet the geographic eligibility requirement for the grant?

As long as the company’s primary manufacturing operations (if applicable), headquarters, primary sales and marketing, and primary research and development operations are located in Massachusetts you are eligible. We recommend reviewing Section VI of the RFP for full details.

7. Do interns count as full-time equivalent employees under the Catalyst program? Can I hire any more interns before and/or after the grant application?

Interns do not count toward the full-time equivalent employee eligibility. There are no restrictions for the program on the number of interns you can hire before or after the grant application.

8. Can I include a stipend/salary payment for interns in the budget proposal in the grant?

You can include the intern stipend/payment in the budget of the Catalyst grant proposal. We also have an internship program at MassCEC. You may not charge an intern’s internship hours to a Catalyst or DICEs grant if they are also getting paid through the separate internship funding program. Visit the Clean Energy Internship Program for more information.

9. Am I eligible to apply if I am currently not in MA but have plans to move to MA?

Yes, you are eligible to apply as an out-of-state company, however, you must make note in your proposal of your concrete plans for relocating to MA before the time of award announcement. Your award will be contingent on meeting the MA presence requirement in the RFP.

Additional Resources

The Massachusetts Founder Network aims give Massachusetts startup founders equitable access to resources that will help their companies grow.

Learn about Incubators and Accelerators in Massachusetts.

Recent Awardees

Since program inception, our Catalyst Program has awarded over $10.5 million to 185 awardees, who have gone on to raise more than $852 million in follow-on funding and submit 455 patent applications. One out of every four university awardees has created a new company.

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