The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has been quietly working on a partnership with startup accelerator MassChallenge in a move designed to electrify the organization by bringing high-tech companies into the fold.
“The Chamber and MassChallenge are in the process of exploring a partnership to more effectively engage the innovation community and showcase the region’s dynamic startup economy,” said Paul Guzzi, president and chief executive of the Greater Boston Chamber.
A representative for MassChallenge was not available last night, but discussions between the powerful business group and MassChallenge are said to be in the early stages.
“We are currently in the process of working out the details of what that partnership might look like,” Guzzi said.
Guzzi announced his retirement after 18 years in September but will stay on until his replacement is found.
The chamber has been criticized for not keeping pace with recent changes in the region’s economy over recent years, and linking with MassChallenge would go a long way toward closing that gap.
John Fish, chairman of the chamber and co-chairman of the search committee responsible for hiring Guzzi’s replacement, said he wants to make new and innovative companies a key part of the chamber.
“We’ll be able to attract probably the most important aspect of our economy, the younger generation,” Fish said. “That’s how we’re going to create a dynamic Chamber of Commerce.”
Fish said the chamber is in the process of developing a plan to attract tech companies “so (the chamber) can truly capture the opportunities that exist in the Greater Boston area.”
Akhil Nigam, founder and president of MassChallenge, is on the search committee, along with Daniel Koh, Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s chief of staff.
Koh has been an advocate for Boston’s startup community and tech industry since Walsh was sworn in.
Last summer, the chamber was one of the leading groups advocating against legislation that would have banned noncompetition agreements, a cause many in the tech industry supported.