#USA #Boston #World Economic Forum #Yes/Cities

Boston Takes Bold Step in Global Yes/Cities Initiative

Today, Boston has made an ambitious move by officially launching Yes/Boston, which is a part of the World Economic Forum's global initiative known as Yes/Cities. This makes Boston the third flagship city to join this initiative, following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Bengaluru. By collaborating with significant institutions such as Amazon Web Services, Citi, and Deloitte, and with the local support of MassChallenge, the city is aiming to revolutionize the way urban challenges are tackled, particularly in the areas of food, health, and community resilience.

The Purpose of Yes/Boston

Yes/Boston is designed to gather stakeholders from various sectors, including public, private, nonprofit, and community leaders, to focus on an innovation challenge that targets solutions for food systems, health, and overall societal wellbeing. This initiative believes in a place-based approach to innovation, aligning investments and strategies from both the public and private sectors, thus making valuable contributions toward enhancing healthcare, food distribution, and community resilience.

Boston has a rich history as a center for innovation and research in America, and this initiative aims to build on that legacy. Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized the importance of Yes/Boston in addressing public health and expanding economic opportunities, stating, "As we continue our efforts to deliver on that legacy for our residents and families, Yes/Boston is a critical opportunity to convene public, private, and community leaders."

What the Innovation Challenge Will Focus On

The Yes/Boston Innovation Challenge will concentrate on four essential areas:
1. Biotech and resilient food production
2. Food logistics and last-mile distribution
3. Nutritious food and meals
4. Food and health information access and navigation

These areas are identified as vital to improving health outcomes, reinforcing food systems, and bolstering urban resilience. Entrepreneurs from around the city are invited to contribute solutions that can be implemented locally. Chosen startups will enjoy resources that support their rapid deployment and commercialization, managed in coordination with MassChallenge.

Boston's Unique Ecosystem

What sets Boston apart is its robust innovation ecosystem, encompassing world-class universities, top-tier healthcare institutions, and an extensive history of research-driven entrepreneurship. Each year, Massachusetts ranks highly for startup funding and support, making it an exceptional place for innovators in food, health, and technology.

The collaboration with MassChallenge will provide startups with tailored support, like introductions to healthcare systems and community organizations, enabling them to take their concepts from ideation to real-world applications.

Looking Ahead

The Yes/Boston initiative aims to maintain a collaborative network of cross-sector leaders over the next three years, fostering pathways for deployment and contributing to the broader conversation on urban innovation through the World Economic Forum's Yes/Cities initiative. This global call for startups has been officially launched, with applications closing on March 23, 2026. The cohort announcement is set for June 2026, marking the beginning of what could be transformative for the city and potentially serving as a model for other urban areas.

With a clear goal of aligning public policy, investment, and entrepreneurship, Yes/Boston aspires to demonstrate how cities can drive economic growth while prioritizing the health and wellbeing of their residents. The collaboration with over two dozen organizations spanning various sectors highlights the city's commitment to tackling pressing issues and fostering sustainable solutions for the future.