Go Back

MIT

Cambridge, MA

Sign up for startup news at MIT

mit@contrarycap.com

How to start a startup at MIT

Student Groups

MIT Biotechnology Group

Increasing biotechnological innovation pace by building symbiotic relationships between MIT and global academic and venture communities.

TechX

Empowering students by bringing new technology, ideas, and top tech-innovators to MIT.

i-Teams

Students who design go-to-market strategies for MIT tech startups.

SBC

MIT's premiere undergraduate business organization - organized into three initiatives: Finance, Consulting, and Entrepreneurship. Once invited to join SBC, members go through the intensive, semester-long, Business Education Program.

MIT Entrepreneurship Club

MIT's entrepreneurship hub with a matching process for MIT students to get paired with startups.

StartLabs

MIT's premier entrepreneurship club. Hosts various events throughout the year that help connect students with entrepreneurship resources around MIT and Boston, brings insightful speakers to campus, and spurs innovative ideas.

MIT Bitcoin Club

Educating members on blockchain fundamentals and new innovations.

Accelerators and Incubators

Delta v.

Accelerator for MIT entrepreneurs to accelerate company growth over the summer.

MIT Fuse

The Trust Center's entrepreneurial program - 2.5 weeks accelerator during the Independent Activities Period (IAP).

Hackathons and Competitions

100k Pitch

90 seconds to pitch a startup idea with no slides - just you and your idea. Winner receives $5,00. Held in mid-November, and finalists will also compete for the $2,000 Audience Choice Award.

StartMIT

A 2-½ week course held every January during Independent Activities Period (IAP). The course is an MIT student's “ramp to the entrepreneurial world at MIT.”

100k Accelerate

During the winter, Accelerate helps early-stage teams build out their ideas with the support of industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs. Participants eligible for $1,000 in funding and advancement to 100K Launch.

100k Launch

The last and most intensive competition within 100k - teams prepare to launch their ventures into the marketplace. 1st place prize is $100,000.

Lemelson MIT Student Prize

Series of prizes for execution of innovative ideas. $15,000 for each winning grad team, $10,000 for each winning undergrad team.

Reality Virtually Hackathon

Bringing together interdisciplinary minds to explore VR and AR applications.

Hacking Arts

Annual conference where artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs solve challenges at the intersection of the arts and technology.

HackMIT

MIT's largest hackathon taking place in mid to late September. This year's tracks are Health Tech, Communication/Connectivity, Education, and Urban Innovation.

MIT Clean Energy Prize (CEP)

A multi-stage, student-organized business plan competition. CEP's goal is to accelerate clean energy entrepreneurship and innovation through a robust mentoring program and competition. University teams from across the United States enter their business ideas in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Infrastructure & Resources, and Energy for Development categories. Prize structure varies annually - in 2019 the grand prize was $100K.

Pear Competition

$25K uncapped note and resources to launch your start-up. No idea is too early. More than 10 student teams win. Apply January-March.

University Resources

MIT G-Lab

In which students work on a 4-month, mini consulting project for international, entrepreneurial firms.

MIT D-Lab

Works with people around the world to develop and advance collaborative approaches and practical solutions to global poverty challenges.

MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology (CAST)

Connecting the worlds of art, science, and technology by collaborating with departments, labs, and centers across MIT.

Deshpande Center

Empowering MIT's most talented researchers to developing innovative technologies in the lab and bring them to the marketplace.

Entrepreneurs in Residence

Highly experienced founders focusing on educating, mentoring, and coaching aspiring MIT entrepreneurs.

GEL Program

Educating and developing the character of outstanding MIT students as potential future leaders in the world of engineering.

MIT Media Lab

Promoting an antidisciplinary culture that emboldens mixing seemingly disparate research fields to create ventures.

The Byte

Weekly newsletter with announcements and events pertaining to MIT students.

Martin Trust Center

Providing expertise, support & connections MIT students need to become effective entrepreneurs.

Venture Mentoring Services (VMS)

Provides aspiring entrepreneurs with impartial and unbiased team mentoring.

Global Startup Labs

Trains and funds top MIT students and alumni to conduct technology incubator courses globally at international partner universities. Participants mentor startups, network with entrepreneurs and VCs, learn and teach real-world technology platforms, and explore exotic locales. Travel allowance plus generous stipend provided.

MIT Orbit

The one-stop-shop for MIT entrepreneurs to find opportunities, events, resources classes and connect with the community.

Notable Courses

2.009 | Product Engineering Processes

Find opportunities, events, resources

6.S078 Entrepreneurship Project

classes and connect with the community.

15.373 | Venture Engineering

15.378 Building an Entrepreneurial Venture

15.390 | New Enterprises

15.911 | Entrepreneurial Strategy

21W.789 | Communicating with Mobile Technology

EC.074 The Start-up Experience at MIT

ESD.051 | Engineering Innovation and Design

EC.075 | Starting Up New Technology-Based Business Enterprises at MIT

15.360 Introduction to Technological Entrepreneurship

15.359J | Engineering Innovation: Moving Ideas to Impact

Funding

Contrary

University-focused venture fund investing up to $2M in emerging  startups launching from the university scene around the US.

Sandbox Innovation Fund

Providing seed funding for student-initiated entrepreneurship ideas and mentoring from a network of committed partners (guaranteed $1K funding and going up to $25K).

Deshpande Ignition Grants

Up to 50,000 in Funding for commercializing a technology within three years.

Deshpande Innovation Grant

Up to 150,000 in Funding for commercializing a technology in the next year.

DRF

First Round Capital's pre-seed investing branch - providing up to $20k to student startups.

The Engine

Empowering disruptive technologies with the long-term capital, knowledge, network connections, and the specialized equipment and labs they need to thrive.

RDV

General Catalyst's pre-seed investing branch - student team building a large network of student founders.

Sign up for startup news at MIT