The Engine Accelerator

We're back with our Friday series, Fast Five with #ToughTech leaders! Read on to hear from Andee Wallace, PhD, Founder and CEO of Robigo. 💬 "At scale, Robigo’s microbes will provide safer, healthier produce while significantly reducing the environmental impact of commercial agriculture. By improving soil health, enhancing water quality, and supporting biodiversity, we can design a more resilient food system that lives in harmony with our planet instead of destroying it."

🌟 Explore the impact of The Builder Platform, powered by The Engine Accelerator, driving innovation across NSF Engines nationwide! 🌍 This month, we shine a spotlight on the Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine, led by BRIDG at NeoCity, revolutionizing the U.S. semiconductor industry. Learn how this NSF Engine is advancing cutting-edge technologies like advanced packaging and digital twin solutions, supporting national security, and creating a robust domestic supply chain in Central Florida. ✨ Stay inspired with success stories from NSF Regional Innovation Engines, insights, and upcoming events—subscribe to The Builder Newsletter today! https://lnkd.in/edwKz9y7 #Semiconductors #Innovation #AdvancedTechnology #NationalSecurity #STEM #CentralFloridaSemiconductorInnovationEngine #NSFENGINES #DigitalTwin #TechTransformation #CFSIE #PowerofPartnerships #SemiconductorEcosystem #microelectronics #NeoCityFL

A critical element of being a resident at The Engine are the people supporting our #ToughTech companies. The Community Operations team is the backbone that keeps everything running smoothly. From fostering connections within our ecosystem to ensuring every event, program, and initiative is executed flawlessly, this team plays a critical role in advancing The Engine's mission. What They Do: 🔗 Connect: They bridge the gap between our community members, promoting collaboration and communication. 🎯 Support: Whether it’s coordinating logistics, managing events, or providing the necessary resources, they make sure every detail is covered. 🌟 Innovate: Constantly looking for ways to improve and enhance the community experience, this team is all about innovation and efficiency. Join us in celebrating the hard work and dedication of our Community Operations team. Their efforts help make our community stronger every day! #CommunityOperations #TeamSpotlight #MissionDriven 🎉 Milagros Arias Mendoza, Aden Stephens Maxine Bouvier Aidan Malenfant Kristie Jean-Francois

Up next in our “Fast Five with Tough Tech Leaders” series is Daniel White, Co-Founder and CEO of Clean Crop Technologies, Inc. 💬 "Clean Crop’s Clean Current technology stops crop loss at the source, removing pathogens from seeds before they are planted, unlocking more food with the same land, water, and energy resources.”

🌍 Inclusive Innovation in Today’s Context 🌍 In our recent Builder Platform Roundtable, we hosted a timely discussion on pressing challenges surrounding inclusive innovation, especially as political, economic, and legal pressures mount. As investment funds supporting under-resourced founders face unprecedented hurdles, our discussion focused on how NSF Engines and their partners can stay committed to equitable growth amidst these shifting dynamics. We discussed: Legal and Economic Realities, Building the Business Case, Regional and Sectoral Insights and Community and Transformation. Through initiatives like The Builder Platform, we are working to support ecosystems with resources and collaborative spaces to navigate these shifts and build trust across regions. Thank you to our partners at Visible Hands for sharing insights to keep these critical conversations alive, sharing experiences and strategies to sustain inclusive innovation together. Stay connected with The Builder Platform by subscribing to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e5xt7EHi #InclusiveInnovation #NSFEngines #Community #TheBuilderPlatform

🥳 The turnout for our first ever Tough Tech Week was absolutely incredible! 🙌 With presenting sponsor JPMorgan Innovation Economy, Tough Tech Week was five days of action and connection between Massachusetts’ toughest minds in science and technology, all working on solving the most challenging problems facing our society and planet. Our flagship event, the Tough Tech Summit, brought more than 1,000 participants from the Tough Tech ecosystem together this year - special thanks to our co-hosts Engine Ventures. Throughout the week, attendees met policy makers, founders, investors, corporate leaders, and learned about opportunities for growth in cities across the Commonwealth–while having quite a bit of fun. 📊 By the numbers: • 3,298 founders and innovators • 295 VCs and investors • 46 government and policy stakeholders • 26 events across Boston and Cambridge  • Countless connections made that will shape the future of Tough Tech 🙏 Thank you to all our speakers, participants, co-hosts and partners who made Tough Tech Week vibrate with energy. It’s impossible to feel anything but optimistic about the future when surrounded by this community’s collective dedication to solving our toughest problems. 🎥 Missed the action? Watch the full video recap: https://lnkd.in/e5pJecFR Follow us to stay updated on Tough Tech Week 2025 – you won't want to miss what's next! #ToughTech #TeamMA JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking

Unlocking Global Innovation: The Power and Complexity of Multilateral Partnerships & International Technology Transfer In today’s interconnected world, multilateral partnerships are essential for driving technological breakthroughs. These collaborations bring together diverse expertise and resources to tackle global challenges and fuel innovation. However, they also pose challenges, such as navigating complex governance structures, varying regulations, and coordinating multiple stakeholders. In our recent Builder Platform Office Hours with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines, we delved into the complexities of technology transfer in global partnerships. Our experts highlighted the importance of complying with U.S. export control laws (ITAR & EAR), setting up effective cross-border Non-Disclosure Agreements, and protecting patents across jurisdictions. 🔑 Key to success: Clear governance, comprehensive legal agreements, open communication, and balancing innovation sharing with regulatory compliance. How is your organization leveraging multilateral partnerships or engaging in international technology transfer? Share your experiences for impactful collaboration! #InnovationPartnerships #GlobalCollaboration #TechInnovation #TechTransfer #ExportControl #NSFEngines Stay updated on the latest with The Builder Platform. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ghnivxdc

That’s a wrap on another incredible Blueprint program. Over the past few months, we’ve had the privilege of working with a cohort of 87 visionary teams who are developing breakthrough solutions in Tough Tech. We want to extend a massive congratulations to all the teams who completed the Blueprint journey. Your passion, creativity, and dedication to solving the world’s toughest challenges have been inspiring. Thank you to our mentors, guest speakers, and program partners for your invaluable insights and support. It’s been an honor to help these innovators lay the foundation for their future growth. As these teams continue their journeys, we can’t wait to see where their innovations take them next. Stay tuned for more exciting updates! If you are interested in Blueprint, learn more about the program here: https://lnkd.in/gDxDV9jF #BlueprintProgram #ToughTech #Innovation #TheEngine

Thank you to everyone who joined us during our Tough Tech Summit last week co hosted with The Engine Accelerator. What an incredible two days! We brought together the entire Tough Tech ecosystem—founders, investors, industry leaders, academics, and government representatives—with one goal in mind: turning the Art of the Possible into reality. We had a fantastic turnout: over 920 attendees, 88 speakers, 55 featured companies, 34 founder pitches, and 30 sessions gathered. To everyone who participated—thank you! Your passion and dedication to tackling the toughest problems are what drives this community.

We're rounding out #ToughTechWeek2024 with a fresh edition of our “Fast Five with Tough Tech Leaders" series, this time with Founder and CEO of Foray Bioscience, Ashley Beckwith.