Since 2014, Lever, a North Adams-based startup accelerator, has been asking founders how we can help them move their fledgling ventures forward. The organization’s mission has always been to support entrepreneurs in building scalable businesses that make a difference. With Lever marking 10 years of operation this fall, the next question becomes: “How can we elevate founders?”
We believe the Massachusetts Founders Network (MFN), with its combination of onsite events and online free resources, is the answer to helping founders reach the next level. Lever launched MFN last October to help democratize access to acceleration resources for founders throughout the Commonwealth. Since then MFN has welcomed over 200 members, a quarter of whom are women and nearly 40 percent are founders of color.
Lever recently held its 10th Anniversary Celebration at The Porches Inn in North Adams. From the insightful speeches to catching up with friends old and new, it was a night to remember.
Mother’s Milk is Best (MMIB) Co-Founder Elizabeth Nelson attested to Lever’s belief that innovation should not be reserved for the privileged. “A good idea doesn’t discriminate,” she noted. “Many think if the idea does not come from a prominent university it should not be funded – how could it succeed? Lever has proven this is not true by helping the individual grow their good idea, leveraging this network to teach and mentor.”
This is the intended effect of Lever being sector-agnostic. Over the last decade, we’ve invested in companies making progress in fields including air monitoring technology, transportation efficiency, renewable energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, among many others. We have supported more than 300 entrepreneurs – helping some 100 companies to launch and another 100 to grow. As part of this process, we have also been delighted to award over $1 million in combined grants to promising startups.
Brent Heeringa, a current Lever board member, recounted his history with the organization. In 2016, Lever’s guidance helped Brent launch a company with a $25,000 check from our pilot fund. His company, Valt, was later acquired by Dropbox in 2019. Today, Brent is proud to serve on Lever’s board and invest in its fund, grateful for the support and community that Lever has provided throughout his entrepreneurial journey.
Another insight into Lever’s mission came from George Taylor, who recently served as an intern with the organization.“How you do one thing is how you do everything,” George noted. “That sentiment rings true not only in the Lever office but in how they engage with the entrepreneurship community here in the Berkshires and beyond.” With George’s help, Lever has expanded its network into Springfield and Holyoke, bringing MFN presentations to both gateway cities this summer.
Going forward, Lever continues to support an inclusive startup ecosystem. We know there are still multitudes of aspiring entrepreneurs in under-represented communities in need of the right resources to kickstart their companies. One example of working to meet that need is the MFN Sustainability Challenge, an annual accelerator program produced by Lever with support from MassCEC. MFN is currently accepting applications for this year’s Challenge from climate-tech startups throughout Massachusetts.
The Sustainability Challenge and other MFN programs all underscore the belief that your startup’s industry and location should not be barriers to economic development. Instead, those are keys to intersectional wealth and opportunity.
“If you support entrepreneurs, then they become leaders,” commented Steve Jenks, chair of the Lever board.
We couldn’t agree more – all the way from North Adams, the smallest city in Massachusetts.
Are you working to find community and opportunity as a Massachusetts startup founder? Join MFN and get access to experts, networking opportunities, and connections within the statewide entrepreneur ecosystem.
