Project-based course offering the opportunity to experience startup life in a low stakes environment while contributing strategic value to early-stage ventures. Students secure a startup project of their choice or work with a startup pre-selected by the action learning team. Startups represent a range of industries and, while concentrated in the Boston area, may also come from other parts of the US. Students cannot drop course once project commences.

What is DE Lab? 
Disciplined Entrepreneurship Lab (DE Lab) offers students the opportunity to enhance and apply their understanding of the fundamentals of entrepreneurship by engaging in a full-time project with a startup over a period of 3-4 weeks during IAP in January. The course builds on the academic framework of Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup and its application in a real-world environment.

Potential projects include, but are not limited to:
- Identifying new markets
- Entering new markets
- Launching a product
- Developing a sales strategy

Students may also provide general support to the startup over the course of the Lab.

FORMS

Student interest form:
https://airtable.com/appou1sElBRmegqO9/shrIUMXtwngglnKLN

Student sign-up form:
https://airtable.com/appou1sElBRmegqO9/shr5OZhJvOI72A0JI

Company sign-up form:
https://airtable.com/appou1sElBRmegqO9/shrNmY8HT5kFoSJcp

SCHEDULE
- Kickoff: First week of IAP via Zoom (details to follow)
- Final Presentations: End of IAP (details to follow)
- Credits: 6

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS 
The class provides students with a real-life application of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework by working with a startup of their choice for 3-4 weeks throughout January. Key dates for students include a kick-off call on the first week of IAP via Zoom (details to follow) and final presentations at the conclusion of DE Lab (details to follow).

How many credits is the class? 
The class is 6 credits.

Does the internship have to be in-person or can it be virtual? 
The set-up of the internship will depend on your final agreement with the host company.

Can I source my own company to work for? 
Yes! Students are encouraged to source their own host companies to maximize their learning from the class.   

Companies can sign up here, including student companies:
https://airtable.com/appou1sElBRmegqO9/shrNmY8HT5kFoSJcp

When will the list of host companies be published? 
We are planning to share the list of host companies by mid-November.

Is DE Lab open to non-MBA / non-Sloan students? 
Yes, DE Lab is open to students outside of the MBA / Sloan.

Do I have to be present in-person for the kick-off call? 
The kick-off call will be hosted on Zoom.

What is the expected workload? 
In general, DE Lab requires you to work with a startup for 40 hours per week over a period of three weeks.

What are the deliverables for the class? 
Students are required to attend the kick-off session, submit a midterm reflection memo (2-3 pages), and do a final presentation (5 minutes, 5 slides).

What is the structure of the final presentation? 
The final presentation will be a 5-minute, 5-slide presentation. Further instructions will be made available at a later stage.

What is the format of the final presentation? 
The final presentations are to be delivered in-person. However, in case of class schedule conflicts, students may submit pre-recorded videos.

Can I work for my own startup? 
Unfortunately no, DE Lab does not allow students to work on their own startup as part of the class.

What is the matching process? 
Students will be required to reach out to their startup of choice and agree on the structure of their DE Lab internship individually. This also applies to companies that are included on the host company list.

At what stages and from what industries are the companies? 
There is no limitation with regard to the industry and past startups have covered a wide array of different industries. In terms of stage, DE Lab is primarily focused on startups in pre-seed, seed, and series A stages.

Can I get paid for my internship? 
No, DE Lab requires the internship to be strictly academic and does not allow for any kind of compensation. You will receive 6 academic credits upon completion of the Lab.

Who can I contact with further questions? 
Please reach out to Kwang Jun Lee (klee21@mit.edu).

INFORMATION FOR HOST COMPANIES

DE Lab is hosted by Bill Aulet and Paul Cheek from The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and offers you the opportunity to work with a student intern from MIT on a real-life project and to build connections with entrepreneurial-minded MIT students.

The project will take place during January and students typically work 40 hours per week for 3-4 weeks with their startup of choice. Students will receive a list of host companies and reach out to their preferred companies. Please note that, as students will select their startups independently, signing up to be a host company does not guarantee a match with a student. 

Companies can sign up for the Lab using this link:
https://airtable.com/appou1sElBRmegqO9/shrNmY8HT5kFoSJcp

When does the internship take place? 
The internship will be conducted during the Sloan IAP period which typically runs from January until early-February. The exact length and timing of the internship can be decided individually between host companies and students.

What is the format of the internship? 
Students typically work with their host companies 40 hours per week for a period of 3-4 weeks. The details are to be agreed upon between the host company and the student on an individual basis. The internship can take place either virtually or in-person, which is also up to the discretion of the parties involved.

How does the matching process work? 
Students will be provided with a list of interested companies by mid-November. Afterwards, they will reach out to their preferred companies to begin the interview process for the internship. Please note that signing up for the Lab does not guarantee that your company will have a match.

Do I have to pay my intern? 
No, DE Lab requires the internship to be purely academic and does not allow for any kind of compensation of the student.

Do I have to have a specific project to participate in DE Lab? 
No, companies do not have to have a specific project in mind to participate in DE Lab. However, to facilitate the matching process with students, our sign-up form includes a short paragraph about the work the student intern will be doing over the course of the Lab.

What kind of companies is DE Lab looking for? 
DE Lab is open to companies from all kinds of industries. Given our focus on entrepreneurship, we generally focus on companies in pre-seed, seed, or series A stages. However, you are still encouraged to sign up for the Lab even if your company is slightly more mature.

Do I have to be MIT-affiliated to participate in DE Lab? 
No, we encourage all startups to sign up for DE Lab, regardless of MIT affiliation.

What happens if I no longer have capacity for a student intern? 
Please contact Kwang Jun Lee (klee21@mit.edu) to take your company off the host company list.

Who can I contact if I have further questions? 
Please reach out to Megan Hung - mhung25@mit.edu

B. Aulet

Professor of the Practice

Disciplined Entrepreneurship Lab

Experiential study of the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa leveraging on the historic Abraham Accords. Explores the role of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, MNCs, universities, and governments. Teaches the McKinsey process for successful consulting engagements and what makes for high performing teams. Students travel to the Middle East during IAP to work with and consult for host companies on strategic managerial issues in tech industries. Includes an opportunity to work with executives at startup ventures looking to scale their businesses and to engage with their venture capitalist backers.

J. Cohen

Israel Lab: Startup Nation's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem

What is StartMIT?
For students who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship while here in school and are looking for an entry point, StartMIT is a 2-½ week course held every January during Independent Activities Period (IAP). We call the course “your on-ramp to the entrepreneurial world at MIT.”

Who is StartMIT for?
If you are someone who has been looking to get started on an idea that’s been ruminating, explore the commercialization of a technology that you’ve been working on in the lab, or simply better understand what forming a new venture looks and feels like, StartMIT is right for you.

The course is open to any student on campus (including post-docs) who is looking to gain more exposure to entrepreneurship in a peer environment. The main activities of StartMIT are:

Networking with your peers
Listening to our guest entrepreneur speakers
Doing independent exercises to apply what you’ve learned
Working with small groups on your entrepreneurial ideas
1:1 support with MIT Entrepreneurs in Residence

StartMIT Daily Themes
Day 1 – “Welcome to StartMIT”
Day 2 – “Ideation”
Day 3 – “Creating your initial team”
Day 4 – “Customer”
Day 5 – “Product”
Day 6 – “Go to market”
Day 7 – “Financials”
Day 8 – “Entrepreneurial life”
Day 9 – Trip to New York City
Day 10 – Holiday – no class
Day 11 – “Pitching”
Day 12 – “The innovator’s journey”
Last Day – “MIT entrepreneurial ecosystem / Final presentations / Networking”

More Information
https://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/startmit-iap/

Timeline
Applications Open:  end of October
Application Deadline: week before Thanksgiving break
Info Sessions: late October
Acceptance Status: the week after Thanksgiving
Participation Confirmation: a few days following acceptance status sent out
Start Dates: first Tuesday of January
Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday
End Dates: third Thursday of January

Note:  Exact dates posted here as get closer to the deadline
https://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/startmit-iap/

Testimonials

“StartMIT is a great opportunity to get rid of the inertia that holds you back from starting a start-up!”

“StartMIT gave me a holistic view on entrepreneurship and made me think about potential business ideas. Every speaker and organizer was down to earth and enthusiastic about entrepreneurship. It was really nice to see such people and interact with them closely.”

“A fantastic crash-course on real-world entrepreneurship led by a multitude of diverse entrepreneurial experts and practitioners.”

“A rapid fire how-to introduction to entrepreneurship.”

FAQ

Who is eligible to participate in StartMIT?
Any current student who is curious about entrepreneurship and is looking for an introduction to the skill set and spirit it requires. This is inclusive of undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-docs.

Can I apply if I am not currently enrolled at MIT?
Yes. We will consider non-MIT students if space permits.

Do I have to have a startup idea to participate?
Absolutely not!

StartMIT is meant for anyone that is curious to learn more about entrepreneurship in general. Whether you are just curious or have an idea and are ready to go, this course will allow further exploration. Whether you wish to utilize an entrepreneurial skill set to be a founder, work in a lab, invest, pursue a side project, or dive into the corporate world, we believe this course will be beneficial in each of those pursuits and welcome you all!

What are the logistics of StartMIT?
StartMIT is a two-and-a-half-week course that takes place on weekdays during IAP every January.
The day begins at 9:00 am, typically includes talks and workshops, a one-hour break for lunch, and concludes by 4:00 pm.
StartMIT will be held in person on campus (room TBA)
What can I expect to learn and who can I expect to hear from?
We will give you a crash course in entrepreneurship, including an introduction to the skill set and spirit it requires. We hope that by the end of the course you’ll have a better understanding of your desired entrepreneurial path, and also the resources available to support you in that journey at MIT and beyond.

You’ll hear from a large number of both faculty and practitioners from the Boston ecosystem and beyond. 

Can I take this course for credit?
Yes, but it is not required.

What is my mentor for?
All full-time participants will be eligible to be matched with a mentor based on your industry or field of interest. A mentor’s role is to guide you through the course: to answer questions that arise during your time in StartMIT, and provide feedback on any entrepreneurial idea you want to pursue. Mentors will make themselves available up to three times throughout the course of the program (either in person or remotely).

What is the application deadline?  
See above for the calendar. The deadline will be announced in the fall, but is usually the week before Thanksgiving break.

When will I know if I’m accepted into the program?
We aim to inform students of their acceptance status no later than the end of the week after Thanksgiving break.

StartMIT sounds awesome!  Where can I apply?
Applications will open in late October on our Orbit platform.

I have more questions.  Who can I contact?
Email us at startmit@mit.edu

What is StartMIT?
For students who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship while here in school and are looking for an entry point, StartMIT is a 2-½ week course held every January during Independent Activities Period (IAP). We call the course “your on-ramp to the entrepreneurial world at MIT.”

Who is StartMIT for?
If you are someone who has been looking to get started on an idea that’s been ruminating, explore the commercialization of a technology that you’ve been working on in the lab, or simply better understand what forming a new venture looks and feels like, StartMIT is right for you.

The course is open to any student on campus (including post-docs) who is looking to gain more exposure to entrepreneurship in a peer environment. The main activities of StartMIT are:

Networking with your peers
Listening to our guest entrepreneur speakers
Doing independent exercises to apply what you’ve learned
Working with small groups on your entrepreneurial ideas
1:1 support with MIT Entrepreneurs in Residence

StartMIT Daily Themes
Day 1 – “Welcome to StartMIT”
Day 2 – “Ideation”
Day 3 – “Creating your initial team”
Day 4 – “Customer”
Day 5 – “Product”
Day 6 – “Go to market”
Day 7 – “Financials”
Day 8 – “Entrepreneurial life”
Day 9 – Trip to New York City
Day 10 – Holiday – no class
Day 11 – “Pitching”
Day 12 – “The innovator’s journey”
Last Day – “MIT entrepreneurial ecosystem / Final presentations / Networking”

More Information
https://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/startmit-iap/

Timeline
Applications Open:  end of October
Application Deadline: week before Thanksgiving break
Info Sessions: late October
Acceptance Status: the week after Thanksgiving
Participation Confirmation: a few days following acceptance status sent out
Start Dates: first Tuesday of January
Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday
End Dates: third Thursday of January

Note:  Exact dates posted here as get closer to the deadline
https://entrepreneurship.mit.edu/startmit-iap/

Testimonials

“StartMIT is a great opportunity to get rid of the inertia that holds you back from starting a start-up!”

“StartMIT gave me a holistic view on entrepreneurship and made me think about potential business ideas. Every speaker and organizer was down to earth and enthusiastic about entrepreneurship. It was really nice to see such people and interact with them closely.”

“A fantastic crash-course on real-world entrepreneurship led by a multitude of diverse entrepreneurial experts and practitioners.”

“A rapid fire how-to introduction to entrepreneurship.”

FAQ

Who is eligible to participate in StartMIT?
Any current student who is curious about entrepreneurship and is looking for an introduction to the skill set and spirit it requires. This is inclusive of undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-docs.

Can I apply if I am not currently enrolled at MIT?
Yes. We will consider non-MIT students if space permits.

If you're applying for StartMIT, and don't have an mit.edu email address, please add your name to the Orbit waitlist at the bottom of the orbit.mit.edu/login page and we'll send you instructions to join.  For the Orbit waitlist, please add "StartMIT" for the last question on your "specific event, program, or class", so we can expedite.

Do I have to have a startup idea to participate?
Absolutely not!

StartMIT is meant for anyone that is curious to learn more about entrepreneurship in general. Whether you are just curious or have an idea and are ready to go, this course will allow further exploration. Whether you wish to utilize an entrepreneurial skill set to be a founder, work in a lab, invest, pursue a side project, or dive into the corporate world, we believe this course will be beneficial in each of those pursuits and welcome you all!

What are the logistics of StartMIT?
StartMIT is a two-and-a-half-week course that takes place on weekdays during IAP every January.
The day begins at 9:00 am, typically includes talks and workshops, a one-hour break for lunch, and concludes by 4:00 pm.
StartMIT will be held in person on campus (room TBA)
What can I expect to learn and who can I expect to hear from?
We will give you a crash course in entrepreneurship, including an introduction to the skill set and spirit it requires. We hope that by the end of the course you’ll have a better understanding of your desired entrepreneurial path, and also the resources available to support you in that journey at MIT and beyond.

You’ll hear from a large number of both faculty and practitioners from the Boston ecosystem and beyond. 

Can I take this course for credit?
Yes, but it is not required.

What is my mentor for?
All full-time participants will be eligible to be matched with a mentor based on your industry or field of interest. A mentor’s role is to guide you through the course: to answer questions that arise during your time in StartMIT, and provide feedback on any entrepreneurial idea you want to pursue. Mentors will make themselves available up to three times throughout the course of the program (either in person or remotely).

What is the application deadline?  
See above for the calendar. The deadline will be announced in the fall, but is usually the week before Thanksgiving break.

When will I know if I’m accepted into the program?
We aim to inform students of their acceptance status no later than the end of the week after Thanksgiving break.

StartMIT sounds awesome!  Where can I apply?
Applications will open in late October on our Orbit platform.

I have more questions.  Who can I contact?
Email us at startmit@mit.edu

S. Neal

StartMIT: Workshop for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

“40 years ago when I joined IBM one of the parts of the program they put us through in the training program was “sales”. I will never forget it and it was incredibly helpful through my career. It was training us how to sell multi-million dollar mainframe computers.”
-Bill Aulet
 
In 1998 Howard Anderson started one of the first Sales courses at a business school at MIT Sloan from the same center of gravity. The course has continued built off this foundation and been one of the most successful courses at MIT. However, as we look at the course and the challenges that business leaders are facing, we’ve seen just how much the revenue landscape has transformed. With that, we’ve taken an opportunity to evolve the class beyond how to be a better sales person or manager to instead focus on how to be a Chief Revenue Officer.
 
The course will still cover integral sales skills, but will revolve around four fundamental Go-To-Market business models and will explore how a CRO can identify, build and execute on the right model for their business. This includes not only building out a sales organization, but also the underlying tech stack and revenue operations required to measure results and sustain competitive advantage. Each class will cover the relevant core first principles per topic and include an industry expert speaker to provide context and share valuable lessons learned throughout their careers. This course is highly relevant to anyone interested in building a business or better understanding how to drive revenue at scale.

Principles and Practice of Drug Development

HST.920

About the Class

Faculty