The Building Value in Innovation Ecosystems (BVIE) series is back, and we're kicking off the year with an exciting conversation featuring Benjamin Downing, Chief Growth Officer at The Engine, an incubator and accelerator for tough tech startups. In this discussion, Benjamin shares insights into the evolving landscape of tough tech, the unique challenges and opportunities in commercializing breakthrough scientific and engineering innovations, and the role of funding and policy in supporting deep technology ventures.
The Engine was founded nearly eight years ago by MIT to address a gap in the innovation ecosystem. While groundbreaking research was happening in academic labs, much of it wasn’t making it into the commercial sphere for maximum public impact. The Engine was built to fill this gap by supporting deep-tech founders whose work tackles major societal challenges, particularly in climate, health, and advanced systems.
Today, The Engine is home to 100+ companies across three locations, providing infrastructure, programming, and a connected ecosystem to help tough tech startups scale and bring their innovations to market. Their primary facility, located between Kendall and Central Square in Cambridge, spans 155,000 square feet and serves as a hub for transformative innovation.
When The Engine first launched, there was no clear central hub for tough tech founders. Now, a diverse range of capital providers, both public and private, are supporting these ventures. While traditional software startups often see quick returns within one to three years, tough tech investments require patience but offer massive long-term upside. Benjamin emphasizes that tough tech is not just about profit—it’s about solving big, global challenges.
A major challenge in tough tech is securing early-stage funding. Startups in this space typically require a $100K to $200K initial investment, yet may need $50M to $100M+ in subsequent funding rounds before they can generate revenue. The Engine tackles this issue through its Blueprint program, which helps early-stage founders understand what it takes to commercialize tough tech innovations.
Blueprint is a no-cost, no-equity accelerator designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of tough tech commercialization. The program runs twice a year, serving 65-80 teams with a mix of virtual and in-person programming. Participants, many of whom are spinning out from academic research labs, gain critical insights into regulatory hurdles, financing, and techno-economic analysis.
Applications for the Spring 2025 cohort are open until March 10, 2025. The program attracts a 50/50 split between Boston-area participants and teams from across the U.S. and internationally. The only real criterion? If your startup is tackling a tough tech challenge and needs specialized support, Blueprint is for you.
Benjamin offers key advice for startup support organizations looking to better serve deep-tech entrepreneurs:
For regions looking to develop their own deep-tech hubs, Benjamin recommends starting with local strengths rather than focusing on gaps. Successful innovation ecosystems build on what’s already working—whether that’s agtech in North Dakota, industrial decarbonization in Louisiana, or quantum computing in Chicago. The key is leveraging existing expertise and regional assets to attract founders, investors, and talent.
Benjamin’s personal passion lies in climate tech, which he sees as a space filled with both urgent challenges and inspiring solutions. From fusion energy to low-carbon industrial materials, the innovations emerging from The Engine and similar hubs are actively addressing global crises. While funding in the broader startup ecosystem has tightened, tough tech remains an essential and promising investment area.
While tough tech has the solutions, implementation is the real challenge. Benjamin underscores the importance of removing bottlenecks—whether bureaucratic hurdles or infrastructure limitations—to accelerate commercialization. His book recommendation? Recoding America by Jen Pahlka, which explores how technology can help improve government efficiency and build public trust.
The work being done at The Engine, especially through initiatives like Blueprint and the NSF Builder Platform, highlights the critical role of tough tech in shaping the future. As innovation ecosystems continue to evolve, organizations must work collaboratively to support founders tackling the world’s biggest challenges.
If you’re an innovator working on tough tech, or an organization looking to enhance your ecosystem’s support structures, The Engine and its programs offer a wealth of insights and opportunities. Stay tuned for more conversations in the BVIE series as we continue exploring the most exciting trends in deep technology, startup ecosystems, and innovation-driven impact.