Tough Tech Week Returns to Boston on October 27

September 16, 2025 at 09:00 AM EDT

Five Days of Events will Convene the People, Capital and Infrastructure Advancing Breakthrough Science and Engineering

The Engine, a non-profit incubator and accelerator that supports Tough Tech companies solving the world’s most challenging problems, today announced the return of Tough Tech Week. Taking place October 27-31, 2025 in the Boston-Cambridge area and beyond, this week-long activation of the Tough Tech ecosystem brings together founders, investors, researchers, policymakers and enterprise leaders to confront critical challenges, exchange insights, and accelerate breakthrough science and engineering from lab to market. Tough Tech Week 2025 is hosted by The Engine and leading ecosystem partners across Massachusetts.

“Tough Tech companies face mounting challenges—from infrastructure bottlenecks and permitting delays to shrinking federal support,” said Emily Knight, CEO and President of The Engine. “Now is the time to double down. Tough Tech Week is about creating momentum—linking capital, companies, institutions, and regions to scale solutions that matter.”

The second annual Tough Tech Week will feature conferences, technical roundtables, demo days, panels, tours, ecosystem mixers and founder-focused events that spotlight breakthroughs in climate, health, advanced systems and more.

The Engine’s hosted events include:

Tough Tech Week Kickoff (Monday, Oct. 27): Sponsored by Mintz, this gathering will set the tone for the week, bringing together founders, funders, corporate leaders, and policymakers.
Tough Tech Summit (Tuesday, Oct. 28): The Summit will connect capital-ready startups with aligned investors with pitches, panels and networking. The majority of speakers and pitches are sourced from host committee members The Engine, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC, Engine Ventures, Playground Global, RA Capital, and SOSV.
Tough Tech Resource Expo (Tuesday, Oct. 28): Ecosystem support services from legal and banking to prototyping, hiring, finance, and more—all in one room.
Tough Tech Talent Fair (Tuesday, Oct. 28): A career-building event connecting mission-driven job seekers with Tough Tech employers of varying size and stage.
Tough Tech Demo Day (Wednesday, Oct. 29): Nearly 100 startups from Activate Global, Greentown Labs, MassChallenge, MassRobotics, and The Engine.
How to Power Tough Tech (Thursday, Oct. 30): A conversation on the infrastructure demands of scaling energy breakthroughs.

So far, over 35 ecosystem organizations are hosting events: expert-led webinars and workshops, sector- or university-specific technology showcases, networking events, panels, and even a scavenger hunt. Explore the full Tough Tech Week schedule, RSVP for events, or submit your own at lu.ma/ToughTechWeek, and follow the action on LinkedIn.

Tough Tech Week 2025 arrives amid strong momentum for The Engine. Earlier this year, it secured 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, positioning the organization to maximize its impact of providing Tough Tech companies with the infrastructure, programs and ecosystems they need to thrive. To date, The Engine has supported over 800 researchers and entrepreneurs from 120+ institutions, who have collectively raised over $5.5 billion and created more than 500 jobs in the last year alone. In addition to generating jobs and fostering a thriving Tough Tech community in Massachusetts, The Engine was awarded investment by the U.S. National Science Foundation to translate its model for Tough Tech ecosystem building to regions across the US.

Thank you to our Tough Tech Week 2025 sponsors: Arrow Electronics, Fidelity Private Shares, Honda Xcelerator Ventures, HSBC Innovation Banking, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Massport, Mercury, Mintz, Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC), NENS, and Western Digital.

Thank you to our Tough Tech Week 2025 partners and event hosts: Activate, Arrow Electronics, Berkeley Lab, Berkner Group, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Climate Salon, College to Climate, Corporate Entrepreneurial Network, DCVC, Elemental Machines, Engine Ventures, Eppendorf, Fidelity Private Shares, First Star Ventures, Greentown Labs, Hidden River Group, HSBC Innovation Banking, The Innovation Trail of Greater Boston, Juniper VC, Kendall Square Association, LeafLabs, MassBio, Mass CEC, Mass Challenge, MassINC Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, MassRobotics, Mass Technology Leadership Council, Mercury, Mintz, MIT Museum, NENS, Playground, RA Capital, SBXi, SciSure, SOSV, Tech Transfer Venture Consortium, The Art Walk Project, The US Department of Energy, VentureFizz, Ven^x, Walker Communications, Western Digital, and WPI.

About The Engine

The Engine is a nonprofit incubator and accelerator dedicated to supporting early-stage Tough Tech companies tackling the world's greatest challenges. Founded by MIT in 2016, The Engine provides critical support for Tough Tech companies in the form of specialized lab and fabrication infrastructure, programming and mentorship, and an ecosystem of experts and investors. By bridging the gap between groundbreaking ideas and real-world impact, The Engine plays a crucial role in advancing solutions to complex global issues. For more information, visit engine.xyz.