MTLC Year‑in‑Review: 2017
Massachusetts entered 2017 with unmistakable momentum. The Commonwealth’s innovation economy continued to expand across robotics, IoT, cybersecurity, consumer tech, healthcare technology, and advanced manufacturing. MassTLC’s role as a convener, advocate, and storyteller was more visible than ever — connecting executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, educators, and students in ways that strengthened the region’s competitiveness and deepened its culture of innovation. This year’s activity reflects a tech community not only building world‑class products, but also shaping public policy, expanding talent pipelines, and opening its doors to the public in unprecedented ways.
Policy, Advocacy & Civic Leadership
Immigration policy became a defining issue in 2017. MassTLC filed multiple amicus briefs — including in the Hawaii and Maryland cases — outlining the economic harm posed by federal travel restrictions. These briefs emphasized the essential role immigrants play in Massachusetts’ tech workforce, research institutions, and startup ecosystem. The Council’s leadership helped articulate the stakes for innovation, competitiveness, and diversity at a moment when national uncertainty threatened global talent flows.
MassTLC also deepened its engagement with Beacon Hill. Alongside the Mass Tech Collaborative, the Council kicked off the year with a State House briefing hosted by Senator Karen Spilka. More than 60 lawmakers and tech leaders attended, underscoring the sector’s economic impact: over 300,000 direct tech jobs, another 100,000 tech roles in adjacent industries, and more than one‑third of all jobs in the Commonwealth supported by technology. Discussions highlighted data as a strategic asset, the rise of automation, and the need for cybersecurity readiness across public and private sectors.
Cybersecurity remained a statewide priority. FBI Director James Comey’s keynote at Boston College underscored the urgency of cyber threats and the need for public‑private collaboration. MassTLC continued its leadership of Cyber Massachusetts, helping strengthen digital literacy, workforce development, and information‑sharing across the region.
Robotics, IoT & Advanced Manufacturing
A major milestone arrived with the opening of MassRobotics’ 15,000‑square‑foot “alpha space” in Boston’s Innovation District. The ribbon‑cutting — performed by a Baxter robot — showcased more than 20 robotics companies, from exoskeletons to autonomous underwater vehicles. The space provides labs, prototyping facilities, and shared infrastructure to accelerate the next generation of robotics startups.
MassTLC, MassRobotics, and MassMEP also hosted multiple “Manufacturing Rocket Pitch” events across the state, connecting hardware, robotics, and IoT startups with local manufacturers. Startups such as Electrona Robotics, Nonspec, Kwema, QuikCord, and Line Health received hands‑on guidance from expert panels on design, sourcing, and scaling production. These sessions strengthened the Commonwealth’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem and reinforced the value of local supply chains.
Transportation innovation took center stage as well. MassTLC convened leaders across mobility, infrastructure, and urban innovation to explore the future of transportation in Boston. Speakers from the World Economic Forum, New Urban Mechanics, the North‑South Rail Link Working Group, and companies such as nuTonomy, Zipcar, Piaggio Fast Forward, and Superpedestrian highlighted emerging technologies — from autonomous vehicles to hyperloop prototypes to personal mobility robots. The event underscored Boston’s position as a testbed for next‑generation mobility solutions.
Talent, Workforce & Inclusion
MassTLC continued to champion workforce development through programs such as Technovation, the MassTLC Education Foundation, and partnerships with universities and employers. The Technovation Challenge engaged more than 40 teams of middle‑ and high‑school girls in mobile app development and entrepreneurship. The “Why Code?” campaign featured industry leaders advocating for computer science education. Kronos’ partnership with UMass Lowell demonstrated how diverse co‑op programs strengthen both innovation and hiring pipelines.
The annual Leadership Awards spotlighted individuals advancing equity and opportunity in tech. Anthony Williams of Akamai was honored for creating the Akamai Technical Academy. David Delmar of Resilient Coders and Vicky Wu Davis of Youth CITIES were recognized for empowering young people from underrepresented communities. Nigel Jacob of New Urban Mechanics was celebrated for his civic innovation leadership.
Sector Growth: Consumer Tech, FinTech & IoT
Massachusetts’ consumer tech sector continued to expand, with leaders from Carbonite, iRobot, TripAdvisor, Wayfair, Care.com, and DraftKings sharing advice for emerging founders. Boston’s FinTech ecosystem also surged, with startups raising significant capital and expanding across payments, insurance, lending, analytics, and security. The DCU FinTech Innovation Center and FinTech Sandbox played pivotal roles in supporting early‑stage companies such as Doni, BlueSnap, Insurify, and EverTrue.
PTC’s leadership in IoT and AR — including the ThingWorx platform and Vuforia — positioned Massachusetts as a global hub for smart product development. Companies across manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics increasingly embraced connected systems and data‑driven services.
Community, Events & Public Engagement
NewCo Boston expanded to a two‑day festival featuring more than 85 companies across Greater Boston. Thousands of attendees visited organizations in their “native habitats,” meeting founders, exploring labs, and experiencing emerging technologies firsthand. LiveWorx returned to Boston with more than 4,500 attendees, and MassTLC continued to elevate the region’s innovation story through Boston TechJam, CXO forums, peer groups, and research reports.
Conclusion
2017 was a year of growth, resilience, and bold leadership for the Massachusetts technology community. From robotics and IoT to FinTech and consumer tech, the Commonwealth strengthened its position as a global innovation hub — and MassTLC helped ensure that innovation served the broader good.
