MITdesignX -MITdesignX

Time 2021-05-03 13:07:49

Web Name: MITdesignX -MITdesignX

WebSite: http://www.designx.mit.edu

ID:174005

Keywords:

MITdesignX,

Description:

MITdesignX seeks diverse, interdisciplinary teams working on challenging ideas with clear vision, passion and drive to design solutions and launch a real venture. Applications go through a rigorous selection process that reviews ideas based on human and social impact, feasibility, uniqueness, and scalability as well as team composition, diversity and skillset. Application Applications for the 2022 cohort open on October 5. A selection committee will review allapplications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. Guidance is availablefor all teams during the application period. Applications are due November 6. Pitch-out is held after the completionof the Accelerator Studio. Pitch-out is a culminationof teams communicatingtheir prototype, investor pitch deckand "masterplan” for their venture.Pitch-out is a key moment for teamsto introduce their ventures to hundredsof investors, stakeholders,civic and industry partners. Applications for the 2022 cohort open on October 5. A selection committee will review allapplications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. The MITdesignX Venture Accelerator starts with a Bootcamp in January during the MIT IAP period, followed by an accelerator class in the Springsemester. After the final pitch night in May, teams continue to work on the development and scaling of their ventures and have accessto workspace, mentors and staff until the end of the year. All participants must attend IAP and Spring courses. Will designX be available in Fall 2020/Spring 2021? Yes. It will be completely online (as per health requirements) but our program will be run in 2020-2021! What criteria is used to select venture teams? Our selection committee looks at the following criteria when evaluating applications:Is the venture solving a valid problem or addressing an apt opportunity?Is the proposed solution a good fit?Is the team capable of developing the necessary solution?*Is there a market need or societal need for the proposed venture?Will this venture make an impact on design, cities, and/or the human environment?Is there entrenched competition, regulations or lack of technology or accessibility that could make development of the venture impossible?*** teams don t need all technical members on board, but need to have a good connection or understanding of a proposed technology if applicable**we do like solving the impossible though, so work your way through this criteria if necessary. How will teams be selected? This year, a first-round selection will invite up to 20 teams for a brief meeting (less than 10 minutes) to meet teams and help clarify information from the application itself. Meetings will take place on the week of Nov. 9.* Ideally, all members of the team will attend, but exceptions will be made for scheduling purposes.Based on this meeting and the individual review of applications by 8 selection committee members, 20 finalists will be invited to pitch their ventures before a closed-room committee and select guests including MITdesignX alumni, partners and mentors.The committee will make a final selection of up to 10 ventures.  Decisions will be announced by the first week of December.*All meetings and pitches will be online this year. Do I need to be in the School of Architecture and Planning? MITdesignX was created in SA+P to accelerate ventures in design, cities and the human environment, and provide a dedicated entrepreneurial program primarily for members of the SA+P community.   As such, preference will be given to teams with at least one SA+P founding member.  However, we can accept teams from across MIT as long as the focus of the venture is in the realm specified above. Can I join other accelerator programs outside MIT? Can I participate in other accelerators or entrepreneurial programs at MIT? Yes, ventures can join other programs such as DeltaV, Legatum, MIT100K, Sandbox, VMS, PKG and more. However, while in designX we require that you coordinate with us regarding mentors. Having multiple mentors in different programs can be unproductive. Can I connect my thesis work with a venture at MITdesignX? Yes, many students interested in developing their thesis ideas into ventures apply to the program and take advantage of the vast entrepreneurial resources made available through MITdesignX to fast-track the development of their ideas, designs and technologies. You must discuss this with your thesis advisor. Who owns the IP developed by the team? At MITdesignX, IP is considered the property of the individuals and/or teams. MIT will not stake IP or patent claims to new ideas developed at MITdesignX. If your idea was created as part of prior research at MIT, or uses specific lab support of MIT, then MIT IP may apply. Teams must clear any MIT IP issues with the MIT TLO. Work by faculty or staff of MIT may also be subject to MIT rules pertaining to IP. The program offers resources to assist you in protecting and filing patents. What are acceptable uses of the grant? The grant is awarded to fund initial team expenses needed to develop the idea, including, but not limited to: data collection, database access, incorporation and legal costs, travel costs associated with meeting potential partners or customers, programming, marketing, or product development.MITdesignX reserves all rights to make decisions on acceptable use of funds.All expenses and procurement must be acceptable to MIT rules and guidelines. Can funding be provided to foreign formed business entities? No, funding can only be made to U.S. entities, or paid as reimbursements to MIT students, staff, affiliates and faculty. Can funding be used for sponsored academic research? No, grant funding from MITdesignX cannot be used for sponsored research funding at MIT. Do team members need to be U.S. citizens or perm. residents to receive grants? No, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is not required to receive team grants. However, businesses receiving funds must be legally registered in the United States. Participants on student visas must check with the MIT International Student Office (ISO) to ensure their individual visa restrictions are carefully followed. Reimbursements or payments made by MITdesignX on a foreign student’s behalf may be made. Can individuals receive funding? No, only teams receive funding. Individuals may receive payments based on reimbursements as per above. The grant is allocated to the venture not individual team members. In the case of changes made to team membership the grant follows the venture it was allocated to at the beginning of the program and is not awarded to individual team members. When do accepted teams receive funding from MITdesignX? Teams will only be eligible for funding after the first milestone assessment at the midterm break of the Spring semester, and upon incorporation of their business venture. If a venture is not ready for incorporation at that time, incremental payments can be advanced to your team during the Spring term in the form of reimbursements or payments of accepted expenses. The discretion for advanced funding will rest solely with the executive director of MITdesignX.Funding will be available until March 31, 2021. Teams who do not draw on their grants and meet milestones will not receive funding after this date. The balance of funds will revert to MITdesignX. How much funding do teams receive from MITdesignX? Up to $10,000 will be granted to teams at designX based on milestone achievements during the Spring semester.  Milestones will be evaluated at the mid-term and end of Spring semester, and as necessary beyond this time.  Teams have until March 31, 2022 to receive funding, after which time, remaining funds will revert to MITdesignX.  Grants are not transferable.In addition to allocated grants, 3 awards totalling $20,000 will be made to teams at the end of the Spring semester at our annual pitch night. I have a great idea but don t have a team, how can I find people to join my venture? Please contact us and share your ideas. We make every effort possible to help form teams. Others may have come to us with similar ideas. We also host informal meetups called “soundings” to share ideas. Follow us online and on twitter to hear about upcoming events. Can I apply for the program as an individual? No, only team applications with a minimum of 2 members may apply. What if I am not a registered student, do I have to enroll in courses? No, only students are required to enroll in the courses, and only students can receive credit for their work in the accelerator. Other participants are still required to attend the courses. Do all team members have to attend the courses? Yes, the courses are an integral part of the accelerator. All team members are required to attend the bootcamp between January 21, 2020 and January 31, 2020, and the Spring accelerator class. Some minor exceptions could be made on an individual basis, but must be cleared prior to the start of the accelerator. How many academic credits do I get if participating in the MITdesignX? Students may receive a total of 18 academic credits (6 credits for completing the Bootcamp during IAP and 12 credits for the Spring semester accelerator program). MITdesignX classes are electives, please check with your departments regarding your individual credit fulfillments required for your degree. What happens if my team splits up during the accelerator program? Only the original idea and team composition selected by MITdesignX will be eligible for the accelerator program and funding unless (a) a team member voluntarily quits the team and the remaining members continue or (b) an acceptable pivot by members of the remaining team continues. Funding cannot be split. Can a team add members after being accepted? Yes, new members may join a team at any time. However, only team members who participate in the accelerator will be recognized as having taken part in MITdesignX. Do I need experience with venture startups? No, but serial entrepreneurs are of course welcome! What if I don t have a technical component to my team? You do not necessarily need a full development team at the start of the accelerator unless progress on a prototype or application is wholly dependent on that technical expertise. How many people can be on a team? A team must apply and join with at least two people, and not more than five. Can I apply as a member in more than one team? No, You can only apply with one team per year. Can I apply again if my team was not accepted in a prior cohort? Yes, you are always encouraged to apply. Getting feedback and developing your ideas at every stage is critical. Does MITdesignX offer work space for my team? Yes located at 77 Massachusetts Avenue on the third floor building 7 room 336. However, per health guidelines, the program will be completely online for the 2020-2021 cohort. Can a team defer acceptance once selected? No, accepted teams must join the cohort they were chosen for or forfeit their position. How many teams are selected for the accelerator cohort? Eight (8) teams will be selected in each cohort. Can a team apply to the MITdesignX accelerator without a team member from SA+P? For the 2019 cohort, one position will be open to a team without a member of SA+P. The team must include graduate students or researchers from MIT and apply with a venture that is aligned with the focus of MITdesignX as stated above. When can I apply to the MITdesignX accelerator program? Applications are open from October 5 to November 6, 2020. Applications must be filled in online via our website (follow the application open button on the left side). How are teams selected? A selection committee will review all applications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. Guidance is available for all teams during the application period. What criteria will be used to select teams? Judges will look at the strength of the idea and the solution being proposed, as well as the feasibility of the venture, the competition, market fit, team diversity and team composition. What ventures will be accepted to MITdesignX? Ventures must be aligned with the focus of the departments, labs and centers of SA+P, proposing solutions in the realm of architecture, planning, real estate, media arts and science, and arts, culture and technology. We are looking for ventures working on innovation in cities, design and the human environment. Who can apply to the MITdesignX accelerator? MITdesignX, except for one exception explained below, is open to graduate students, researchers, staff, and faculty members from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), in addition to their partners from other schools and departments at MIT and beyond. Our carefully selected group of mentors include successful innovators and entrepreneurs, global executives, scientists, researchers and civic and government professionals. Mentors work closely with MITdesignX startup founders and their teams providing support and mentorship across industries and expertise such as sales and marketing, funding, IP protection, IT, manufacturing and supply chain, social impact, corporate law and more. To inquire about mentoring please contact us at: designx@mit.edu Do you want to help build a better world through design innovation and entrepreneurship?MITdesignX supporters include businesses and individuals, alumni, and foundations. Funding for MITdesignX and the new ventures we launch relies on forward-thinkers like you who are interested in supporting the power of creative optimism and accelerating the unique skills and imagination found in entrepreneurs at MIT. Become a supporter of MITdesignX. For more information please contact us at: designx@mit.edu Do you want to be involved with MIT entrepreneurs at the forefront of design innovation?  Yes, then join MITdesignX as civic or industry partner. The success of new ventures quite often relies on collaborative work with businesses, cities, and organizations in discovery, co-development or pilot projects. Collaboration with MITdesignX provides unique access to the next generation of technologies, products, services, and ventures and allows early stage startups with the opportunity to test and refine their work.To become a Civic or Industry Partner contact us at: designx@mit.edu Design Fast-Forward: The Acceleration of Technology, Systems and Urban Policy in the Post-Pandemic CityApril 26-27,  2021Symposium videosWe are now in year two of a global disaster: a modern pandemic with no defined end date. Many of the rules and norms of the way things used to be are now being challenged. Incredible disruption has generated seismic shifts in the social and physical realms that will shape the future for decades, if not the century. The “temporary” inconveniences, emergency measures, delays and postponements of 2020, are becoming a way of life in 2021. And although the pandemic has impacted all sectors of society, its effects on the way we live, work, learn, celebrate, and even breathe will be manifest most strongly in the buildings, vehicles, and public spaces of cities and the human environment.Disruption by the pandemic initially caused a state of paralysis in cities. Offices and schools were emptied, subways deserted, entertainment and sports venues shuttered. The economy descended into recession and unemployment skyrocketed. But, very quickly, people responded, as they always do, through adaptation and innovation in a remarkable demonstration of resilience.  Life, the economy, and human progress had to continue, just differently.Now it seems everything must be rethought, reimagined, redesigned, or repositioned.  The innovators, designers and visionaries among us already have plans and ideas in the works.  And the pandemic provides the (inopportune) opportunity to fast-forward their development.Remote working, online classes, telemedicine, and ecommerce were not invented in 2020, but over the year, they have become widely adopted and integrated into society.  Likewise, modular construction, touchless entry, and expedited permitting are not new ideas, but suddenly these technologies and policies are being widely accepted and rapidly implemented.In this two-day online symposium at MIT, we will host conversations with innovators and visionaries, academics, global firms and novel startups who are accelerating new systems and products for design, cities, and the human environment.See full symposium agenda and schedule Visible Hands Inclusion improves innovation. Rarify Experience rare design. T-Space Improving transit stations through revolutionary retail p(art)ner Matching developers with diverse artists and managing public art requirements Out of the Box Creating exceptional learning environments, right out of the box Roofscapes Making Green Places on the Roofs of Paris Elements Design learning in a box ECHO Digital platform to improve housing and mobility choices of lower income populations Buy-In Database and platform to improve government buy-out process of flood prone properties acelab Preconstruction intelligence for architects and manufacturers Swarm Mobility Enhancing the sustainability, safety, and harmony of urban streets with peer-to-peer synchronized technology for micromobility TULU Live Large in Small Space QuiX Turn-key services for home maintenance. WATAsolution Assuring water quantity and quality for households in Palestine and other developing countries. Bandhu Enabling low income workers in India to make insightful seasonal migration decisions for employment, housing and transportation. PlaceInt Decoding human behavior in physical spaces to enable customer knowledge Ogee! A business-to-consumer company that will help homeowners save their architectural histories using digital fabrication. Quipu A marketplace digitalization of informal economies operating in low income environments Spatio Metrics Creating a world where every building makes us healthier Zilper Trenchless A novel machine for installing pipelines in urban environments without digging trenches. Nesterly A social enterprise that matches empty nesters with graduate students to provide housing and social solutions. HostaLabs Software algorithms to turn simple pictures into intelligent 3D models for design and renovation. Placeful Technology to identify, design and develop neighborhood-scale housing with the efficiencies of larger development. LearningBeautiful Creating Montessori-inspired toys for young children to learn computer science-without using computers. Bitsence A space utilization analytics company helping managers of physical space maximize the utility of their assets through automated monitoring. Biobot Analytics Measuring the concentration of drugs that are excreted in urine and collected in sewers and mapping this data to empower communities to tackle the opioid epidemic in real time. Alight Transforming public buses into vehicles of urban exploration by employing audio-augmented reality on smartphones. Airworks Capturing and converting aerial imagery into digital CAD plans for site surveys and construction monitoring. Frolic Revolutionary new financing model for homeownership that allows a greater cross section of society to engage in the housing market. Kawsay Connecting infrastructure providers with people living in informal communities in the developing world. predictRE Software to help commercial real estate investors, brokers, and lenders make data-driven investment decisions based on planning and environmental trends and forecasts. Spaceus Empowering creative communities in cities by transforming vacant and underutilized buildings into collective and collaborative artist studios and gallery space. Season Three Next generation all-weather boot sold direct-to-consumer. SkinPixel Real-time diagnostic "smart tattoo" for human skin to monitor levels of blood analytes like glucose, sodium, potassium, albumin, and others such as those found on a basic blood panel. Dormio Physical and digital interface to influence and record your dreams. PREPHub Public space infrastructure for disaster resilience and response. Credi Early childhood learning environment furniture in rural and developing parts of India. Adaviv AI-enabled adaptive environment for improving yields in indoor agriculture. p(art)ner Matching developers with diverse artists and managing public art requirements Out of the Box Creating exceptional learning environments, right out of the box Roofscapes Making Green Places on the Roofs of Paris Elements Design learning in a box ECHO Digital platform to improve housing and mobility choices of lower income populations Buy-In Database and platform to improve government buy-out process of flood prone properties acelab Preconstruction intelligence for architects and manufacturers Swarm Mobility Enhancing the sustainability, safety, and harmony of urban streets with peer-to-peer synchronized technology for micromobility TULU Live Large in Small Space QuiX Turn-key services for home maintenance. WATAsolution Assuring water quantity and quality for households in Palestine and other developing countries. Bandhu Enabling low income workers in India to make insightful seasonal migration decisions for employment, housing and transportation. PlaceInt Decoding human behavior in physical spaces to enable customer knowledge Ogee! A business-to-consumer company that will help homeowners save their architectural histories using digital fabrication. Quipu A marketplace digitalization of informal economies operating in low income environments Spatio Metrics Creating a world where every building makes us healthier Zilper Trenchless A novel machine for installing pipelines in urban environments without digging trenches. Nesterly A social enterprise that matches empty nesters with graduate students to provide housing and social solutions. HostaLabs Software algorithms to turn simple pictures into intelligent 3D models for design and renovation. Placeful Technology to identify, design and develop neighborhood-scale housing with the efficiencies of larger development. LearningBeautiful Creating Montessori-inspired toys for young children to learn computer science-without using computers. Bitsence A space utilization analytics company helping managers of physical space maximize the utility of their assets through automated monitoring. Biobot Analytics Measuring the concentration of drugs that are excreted in urine and collected in sewers and mapping this data to empower communities to tackle the opioid epidemic in real time. Alight Transforming public buses into vehicles of urban exploration by employing audio-augmented reality on smartphones. Airworks Capturing and converting aerial imagery into digital CAD plans for site surveys and construction monitoring. Frolic Revolutionary new financing model for homeownership that allows a greater cross section of society to engage in the housing market. Kawsay Connecting infrastructure providers with people living in informal communities in the developing world. predictRE Software to help commercial real estate investors, brokers, and lenders make data-driven investment decisions based on planning and environmental trends and forecasts. Spaceus Empowering creative communities in cities by transforming vacant and underutilized buildings into collective and collaborative artist studios and gallery space. Season Three Next generation all-weather boot sold direct-to-consumer. SkinPixel Real-time diagnostic "smart tattoo" for human skin to monitor levels of blood analytes like glucose, sodium, potassium, albumin, and others such as those found on a basic blood panel. Dormio Physical and digital interface to influence and record your dreams. PREPHub Public space infrastructure for disaster resilience and response. Credi Early childhood learning environment furniture in rural and developing parts of India. Adaviv AI-enabled adaptive environment for improving yields in indoor agriculture. MITdesignX seeks diverse, interdisciplinary teams working on challenging ideas with clear vision, passion and drive to design solutions and launch a real venture. Applications go through a rigorous selection process that reviews ideas based on human and social impact, feasibility, uniqueness, and scalability as well as team composition, diversity and skillset. One participant on a team is requiredto be an active student, faculty, researcher or staff member of MIT. Preference will be given to teams that include SA+P members. Application Applications for the 2022 cohort open on October 5. A selection committee will review allapplications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. Guidance is availablefor all teams during the application period. Applications are due November 6. Pitch-out is held after the completionof the Accelerator Studio. Pitch-out is a culminationof teams communicatingtheir prototype, investor pitch deckand "masterplan” for their venture.Pitch-out is a key moment for teamsto introduce their ventures to hundredsof investors, stakeholders,civic and industry partners. Applications for the 2022 cohort open on October 5. A selection committee will review allapplications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. The MITdesignX Venture Accelerator starts with a Bootcamp in January during the MIT IAP period, followed by an accelerator class in the Springsemester. After the final pitch night in May, teams continue to work on the development and scaling of their ventures and have accessto workspace, mentors and staff until the end of the year. All participants must attend IAP and Spring courses. Will designX be available in Fall 2020/Spring 2021? Yes. It will be completely online (as per health requirements) but our program will be run in 2020-2021! What criteria is used to select venture teams? Our selection committee looks at the following criteria when evaluating applications:Is the venture solving a valid problem or addressing an apt opportunity?Is the proposed solution a good fit?Is the team capable of developing the necessary solution?*Is there a market need or societal need for the proposed venture?Will this venture make an impact on design, cities, and/or the human environment?Is there entrenched competition, regulations or lack of technology or accessibility that could make development of the venture impossible?*** teams don t need all technical members on board, but need to have a good connection or understanding of a proposed technology if applicable**we do like solving the impossible though, so work your way through this criteria if necessary. How will teams be selected? This year, a first-round selection will invite up to 20 teams for a brief meeting (less than 10 minutes) to meet teams and help clarify information from the application itself. Meetings will take place on the week of Nov. 9.* Ideally, all members of the team will attend, but exceptions will be made for scheduling purposes.Based on this meeting and the individual review of applications by 8 selection committee members, 20 finalists will be invited to pitch their ventures before a closed-room committee and select guests including MITdesignX alumni, partners and mentors.The committee will make a final selection of up to 10 ventures.  Decisions will be announced by the first week of December.*All meetings and pitches will be online this year. Do I need to be in the School of Architecture and Planning? MITdesignX was created in SA+P to accelerate ventures in design, cities and the human environment, and provide a dedicated entrepreneurial program primarily for members of the SA+P community.   As such, preference will be given to teams with at least one SA+P founding member.  However, we can accept teams from across MIT as long as the focus of the venture is in the realm specified above. Can I join other accelerator programs outside MIT? Can I participate in other accelerators or entrepreneurial programs at MIT? Yes, ventures can join other programs such as DeltaV, Legatum, MIT100K, Sandbox, VMS, PKG and more. However, while in designX we require that you coordinate with us regarding mentors. Having multiple mentors in different programs can be unproductive. Can I connect my thesis work with a venture at MITdesignX? Yes, many students interested in developing their thesis ideas into ventures apply to the program and take advantage of the vast entrepreneurial resources made available through MITdesignX to fast-track the development of their ideas, designs and technologies. You must discuss this with your thesis advisor. Who owns the IP developed by the team? At MITdesignX, IP is considered the property of the individuals and/or teams. MIT will not stake IP or patent claims to new ideas developed at MITdesignX. If your idea was created as part of prior research at MIT, or uses specific lab support of MIT, then MIT IP may apply. Teams must clear any MIT IP issues with the MIT TLO. Work by faculty or staff of MIT may also be subject to MIT rules pertaining to IP. The program offers resources to assist you in protecting and filing patents. What are acceptable uses of the grant? The grant is awarded to fund initial team expenses needed to develop the idea, including, but not limited to: data collection, database access, incorporation and legal costs, travel costs associated with meeting potential partners or customers, programming, marketing, or product development.MITdesignX reserves all rights to make decisions on acceptable use of funds.All expenses and procurement must be acceptable to MIT rules and guidelines. Can funding be provided to foreign formed business entities? No, funding can only be made to U.S. entities, or paid as reimbursements to MIT students, staff, affiliates and faculty. Can funding be used for sponsored academic research? No, grant funding from MITdesignX cannot be used for sponsored research funding at MIT. Do team members need to be U.S. citizens or perm. residents to receive grants? No, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is not required to receive team grants. However, businesses receiving funds must be legally registered in the United States. Participants on student visas must check with the MIT International Student Office (ISO) to ensure their individual visa restrictions are carefully followed. Reimbursements or payments made by MITdesignX on a foreign student’s behalf may be made. Can individuals receive funding? No, only teams receive funding. Individuals may receive payments based on reimbursements as per above. The grant is allocated to the venture not individual team members. In the case of changes made to team membership the grant follows the venture it was allocated to at the beginning of the program and is not awarded to individual team members. When do accepted teams receive funding from MITdesignX? Teams will only be eligible for funding after the first milestone assessment at the midterm break of the Spring semester, and upon incorporation of their business venture. If a venture is not ready for incorporation at that time, incremental payments can be advanced to your team during the Spring term in the form of reimbursements or payments of accepted expenses. The discretion for advanced funding will rest solely with the executive director of MITdesignX.Funding will be available until March 31, 2021. Teams who do not draw on their grants and meet milestones will not receive funding after this date. The balance of funds will revert to MITdesignX. How much funding do teams receive from MITdesignX? Up to $10,000 will be granted to teams at designX based on milestone achievements during the Spring semester.  Milestones will be evaluated at the mid-term and end of Spring semester, and as necessary beyond this time.  Teams have until March 31, 2022 to receive funding, after which time, remaining funds will revert to MITdesignX.  Grants are not transferable.In addition to allocated grants, 3 awards totalling $20,000 will be made to teams at the end of the Spring semester at our annual pitch night. I have a great idea but don t have a team, how can I find people to join my venture? Please contact us and share your ideas. We make every effort possible to help form teams. Others may have come to us with similar ideas. We also host informal meetups called “soundings” to share ideas. Follow us online and on twitter to hear about upcoming events. Can I apply for the program as an individual? No, only team applications with a minimum of 2 members may apply. What if I am not a registered student, do I have to enroll in courses? No, only students are required to enroll in the courses, and only students can receive credit for their work in the accelerator. Other participants are still required to attend the courses. Do all team members have to attend the courses? Yes, the courses are an integral part of the accelerator. All team members are required to attend the bootcamp between January 21, 2020 and January 31, 2020, and the Spring accelerator class. Some minor exceptions could be made on an individual basis, but must be cleared prior to the start of the accelerator. How many academic credits do I get if participating in the MITdesignX? Students may receive a total of 18 academic credits (6 credits for completing the Bootcamp during IAP and 12 credits for the Spring semester accelerator program). MITdesignX classes are electives, please check with your departments regarding your individual credit fulfillments required for your degree. What happens if my team splits up during the accelerator program? Only the original idea and team composition selected by MITdesignX will be eligible for the accelerator program and funding unless (a) a team member voluntarily quits the team and the remaining members continue or (b) an acceptable pivot by members of the remaining team continues. Funding cannot be split. Can a team add members after being accepted? Yes, new members may join a team at any time. However, only team members who participate in the accelerator will be recognized as having taken part in MITdesignX. Do I need experience with venture startups? No, but serial entrepreneurs are of course welcome! What if I don t have a technical component to my team? You do not necessarily need a full development team at the start of the accelerator unless progress on a prototype or application is wholly dependent on that technical expertise. How many people can be on a team? A team must apply and join with at least two people, and not more than five. Can I apply as a member in more than one team? No, You can only apply with one team per year. Can I apply again if my team was not accepted in a prior cohort? Yes, you are always encouraged to apply. Getting feedback and developing your ideas at every stage is critical. Does MITdesignX offer work space for my team? Yes located at 77 Massachusetts Avenue on the third floor building 7 room 336. However, per health guidelines, the program will be completely online for the 2020-2021 cohort. Can a team defer acceptance once selected? No, accepted teams must join the cohort they were chosen for or forfeit their position. How many teams are selected for the accelerator cohort? Eight (8) teams will be selected in each cohort. Can a team apply to the MITdesignX accelerator without a team member from SA+P? For the 2019 cohort, one position will be open to a team without a member of SA+P. The team must include graduate students or researchers from MIT and apply with a venture that is aligned with the focus of MITdesignX as stated above. When can I apply to the MITdesignX accelerator program? Applications are open from October 5 to November 6, 2020. Applications must be filled in online via our website (follow the application open button on the left side). How are teams selected? A selection committee will review all applications and advance up to 20 finalists for presentations and interviews before a final panel. Guidance is available for all teams during the application period. What criteria will be used to select teams? Judges will look at the strength of the idea and the solution being proposed, as well as the feasibility of the venture, the competition, market fit, team diversity and team composition. What ventures will be accepted to MITdesignX? Ventures must be aligned with the focus of the departments, labs and centers of SA+P, proposing solutions in the realm of architecture, planning, real estate, media arts and science, and arts, culture and technology. We are looking for ventures working on innovation in cities, design and the human environment. Who can apply to the MITdesignX accelerator? MITdesignX, except for one exception explained below, is open to graduate students, researchers, staff, and faculty members from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), in addition to their partners from other schools and departments at MIT and beyond. Our carefully selected group of mentors include successful innovators and entrepreneurs, global executives, scientists, researchers and civic and government professionals. Mentors work closely with MITdesignX startup founders and their teams providing support and mentorship across industries and expertise such as sales and marketing, funding, IP protection, IT, manufacturing and supply chain, social impact, corporate law and more. To inquire about mentoring please contact us at: designx@mit.edu Do you want to help build a better world through design innovation and entrepreneurship?MITdesignX supporters include businesses and individuals, alumni, and foundations. Funding for MITdesignX and the new ventures we launch relies on forward-thinkers like you who are interested in supporting the power of creative optimism and accelerating the unique skills and imagination found in entrepreneurs at MIT. Become a supporter of MITdesignX. For more information please contact us at: designx@mit.edu Do you want to be involved with MIT entrepreneurs at the forefront of design innovation?  Yes, then join MITdesignX as civic or industry partner. The success of new ventures quite often relies on collaborative work with businesses, cities, and organizations in discovery, co-development or pilot projects. Collaboration with MITdesignX provides unique access to the next generation of technologies, products, services, and ventures and allows early stage startups with the opportunity to test and refine their work.To become a Civic or Industry Partner contact us at: designx@mit.edu Design Fast-Forward: The Acceleration of Technology, Systems and Urban Policy in the Post-Pandemic CityApril 26-27,  2021Symposium videosWe are now in year two of a global disaster: a modern pandemic with no defined end date. Many of the rules and norms of the way things used to be are now being challenged. Incredible disruption has generated seismic shifts in the social and physical realms that will shape the future for decades, if not the century. The “temporary” inconveniences, emergency measures, delays and postponements of 2020, are becoming a way of life in 2021. And although the pandemic has impacted all sectors of society, its effects on the way we live, work, learn, celebrate, and even breathe will be manifest most strongly in the buildings, vehicles, and public spaces of cities and the human environment.Disruption by the pandemic initially caused a state of paralysis in cities. Offices and schools were emptied, subways deserted, entertainment and sports venues shuttered. The economy descended into recession and unemployment skyrocketed. But, very quickly, people responded, as they always do, through adaptation and innovation in a remarkable demonstration of resilience.  Life, the economy, and human progress had to continue, just differently.Now it seems everything must be rethought, reimagined, redesigned, or repositioned.  The innovators, designers and visionaries among us already have plans and ideas in the works.  And the pandemic provides the (inopportune) opportunity to fast-forward their development.Remote working, online classes, telemedicine, and ecommerce were not invented in 2020, but over the year, they have become widely adopted and integrated into society.  Likewise, modular construction, touchless entry, and expedited permitting are not new ideas, but suddenly these technologies and policies are being widely accepted and rapidly implemented.In this two-day online symposium at MIT, we will host conversations with innovators and visionaries, academics, global firms and novel startups who are accelerating new systems and products for design, cities, and the human environment.See full symposium agenda and schedule Zilper Trenchless (dx 19) is listed on Forbes’ Top 30 Business Promises in Colombia for 2021 Zilper Trenchless, members of the 2019 designX cohort, currently operate in Colombia. Read more here (ESP): https://forbes.co/2021/03/05/emprendedores/las30deforbes-zilper-trenchless/amp/ Natasha Sadikin, member of designX 2020 venture P(art)ner, speaks to MIT News about the confluence of design and real estate in her work. https://news.mit.edu/2021/sadikin-real-estate-design-0114 Acelab (designX 2020) has been recognized as a top architecture startup to follow. See the complete list here: https://startupill.com/38-innovative-architecture-startups-worth-a-follow-in-2020/ Biobot Analytics (MITdesignX 2017) wastewater epidemiology tech has been recognized as Technology of the Year .Read more: https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/technology-of-year-biobot-analytics-2020/588313/ Biobot Analytics (MITdesignx 2017) and MIT professor Eric Alm explain the public health insights to be gained from our toilets. Read more here. As Covid-19 cases rise across the U.S., Biobot s technology and analysis are being used as part of the public health arsenals of municipalities across the country. Read more here. Quipu, members of the 2020 MITdesignX cohort, placed third in the Visa Everywhere Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean. You can learn more about the initiative and watch the virtual showcase here. “What we measure today predicts what happens in the community in four to seven days. So it’s sort of like looking into a crystal ball in the shape of a toilet,”Watch here on WGBH Season Three (MITdesignX 2018) walks Design Milk through the creative process of their first boot, the Ansel. Read more: https://design-milk.com/season-three-breaks-down-the-design-process-behind-the-ansel/ AirWorks, member of the 2018 MITdesignX cohort, is among 25 firms selected from New England to move onto the finals in October. Read more here. The community of Villas de San Pablo in Barranquilla, Colombia, the location of the first QuipuMarket created by team Quipu (2019), is featured. Read more.  Scientific American highlights work of Biobot Analytics and wastewater-based epidemiology Read more. Season Three, a fashion brand and alum of MITdesignX (2008), share their history and their brand philosophy in this feature. Read more. DesignX 2018 team TULU is equipping New Yorkers with household products, printers, and mobility options right from their own building. Read more. AirWorks, alum of the 2018 MITdesignX cohort, is listed among Built In Boston’s 50 Startups to watch this year. Read the list here: https://tinyurl.com/s8yxjsq MITdesignX 2017 alum, Biobot Analytics, has been listed on the New York Times’ 2019 “Good Tech Awards”, in recognition of their work tackling the opioid crisis. Read more. A wonderful feature on SpaceUs, an MITdesignX 2018 alum, and the future of artist spaces. Read more. Season Three, graduates of the MITdesignX 2018 cohort, are interviewed about their unique branding strategy. Read more. Lipifai, an alum of MITdesignX cohort 2019, is featured on a list of burgeoning, Israeli-based assistive tech. Read more. Professor Dennis Frenchman and his firm, Tekuma Frenchman, win competition to reimagine the waterfront in Shenzhen, China. Read more at MIT NEWS Nesterly (MITdesignX cohort 2017) CEO Noelle Marcus discusses the global housing crisis through the lens of renters and senior homeowners.Read more. A member of the 2019 MITdesignX cohort, Zilper Trenchless is highlighted in The Buzz. Read more about their history and their future here. MITdesignX s curriculum is highlighted in this May Architect Magazine s survey of entrepreneurs in the building industry. Read more. MITdesignX 2019 venture Zilper Trenchless wins multiple cash prizes at the annual Rice Business Plan Competition. In total, they won $435,000. Read more.Seed fund will support venture-design education and entrepreneurship in the School of Architecture and Planning. Read more.  MITdesignX 2019 venture Zilper Trenchless has been accepted into Imagine H20 2019 s cohort. They also received the Audience Choice Award at Imagine H2O Demo Day.Read more Spaceus, MITdesignX 2018 alums, are among those featured in this article on transforming empty storefronts in Massachusetts.Read More Israeli and Palestinian architects and planners seek common ground on innovation, entrepreneurship Read More MITdesignX Selects New Cohort: Nine multi-disciplinary teams join MIT’s design entrepreneurship accelerator Read more Scientists can track the spread of opioids in sewers. But do cities want to know what lies below? Biobot helps cities transform sewage into actionable public health data to tackle the opioid crisis.Read more MITdesignX MITdesignX is an academic program in the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P) dedicated to design innovation and entrepreneurship. We empower students, faculty and researchers to build new business ventures and forward-thinking solutions designed to address critical challenges facing the future of cities and the human environment. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION: VENTURE ACCELERATOR MITdesignX provides resources to build new solutions, systems and ventures. Successful ventures exist at the intersection of design, business, science and technology. Interdisciplinary teams of creative thinkers and makers fast-track the development of their innovations and launch ventures into the marketplace. We turn ideas into action. The accelerator is rooted on two customized interdisciplinary courses: (1) An intensive Bootcamp during the MIT winter semester (IAP) and (2) A 4-month accelerator program during the Spring term where teams and ideas evolve into startups. Using design thinking methodology, the courses present tools and strategies for entrepreneurs to test and build their ventures. Participants in the MITdesignX Venture Accelerator receive a total of 18 academic credits. 6 in the IAP Bootcamp and 12 in the Spring semester course. Each team in the accelerator receives a $10,000 equity-free no strings attached grant for project related expenses. Specific details on the distribution and rules governing the distribution of funds is found in our FAQ page. Accelerator teams must engage in active market research and continuous prototyping of their core concept, venturing out to meet actual customers, users and stakeholders. The program encourages testing and retesting solutions in real-world settings. To enable this, MITdesignX and our partners, supporters and mentors help connect teams to pilot opportunities in the Boston/Cambridge area and around the world. We provide an exciting 24/7 work environment for our cohorts in a dynamic space located in the School of Architecture and Planning. After the Spring course, we help new startups find space in Cambridge, Boston, New York and beyond. Some startups also continue to use our space for the remainder of the calendar year. *Space restrictions are currently in effect due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 30 professionals with extensive experience in creating and leading ventures of various sizes and civic and business leaders provide in-depth guidance to MITdesignX teams. Their contribution includes assistance in general business strategy in addition to specific advisory support in technological, legal, financial and operational issues. MITdesignX teams have access to a vast network of academic and industry experts, alumni, civic and community organizations. We foster a culture of collaboration and creative problem solving. And we like to have fun! We are doing things we care about, because we think they will tangibly improve quality of life and the human environments. The accelerator is rooted on two customized interdisciplinary courses: (1) An intensive Bootcamp during the MIT winter semester (IAP) and (2) A 4-month accelerator program during the Spring term where teams and ideas evolve into startups. Using design thinking methodology, the courses present tools and strategies for entrepreneurs to test and build their ventures. Can a team apply to the MITdesignX accelerator without a team member from SA+P? Can a team defer acceptance once selected? Can I participate in other accelerators or entrepreneurial programs at MIT? Funding Each team in the accelerator receives a $10,000 equity-free no strings attached grant for project related expenses. Specific details on the distribution and rules governing the distribution of funds is found in our FAQ page. Can funding be provided to foreign formed business entities? Pilot Opportunities Accelerator teams must engage in active market research and continuous prototyping of their core concept, venturing out to meet actual customers, users and stakeholders. The program encourages testing and retesting solutions in real-world settings. To enable this, MITdesignX and our partners, supporters and mentors help connect teams to pilot opportunities in the Boston/Cambridge area and around the world. We provide an exciting 24/7 work environment for our cohorts in a dynamic space located in the School of Architecture and Planning. After the Spring course, we help new startups find space in Cambridge, Boston, New York and beyond. Some startups also continue to use our space for the remainder of the calendar year. *Space restrictions are currently in effect due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 30 professionals with extensive experience in creating and leading ventures of various sizes and civic and business leaders provide in-depth guidance to MITdesignX teams. Their contribution includes assistance in general business strategy in addition to specific advisory support in technological, legal, financial and operational issues. MITdesignX teams have access to a vast network of academic and industry experts, alumni, civic and community organizations. We foster a culture of collaboration and creative problem solving. And we like to have fun! We are doing things we care about, because we think they will tangibly improve quality of life and the human environments. THE MITDESIGNX VENTURE ACCELERATOR IS A NEW APPROACH TO DESIGN INNOVATION, ONE THAT IS BASED ON CREATIVE OPTIMISM, AND THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THE PROGRAM IS A LAUNCHING PAD FOR STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND FACULTY IN SA+P, AND THEIR COLLABORATORS ACROSS THE MIT COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE TAILOR A SERIES OF DESIGN AND BUSINESS CLASSES, PROVIDE ACADEMIC CREDITS, GRANTS, WORKSPACE AND A WIDE NETWORK OF DEDICATED MENTORS, BUSINESS, INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENT CONTACTS AND FUNDING SPECIALISTS TO BUILD NEW VENTURES. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR We look for creative innovators dedicated to improving the quality of life in cities and the human environment. MITdesignX seeks diverse, interdisciplinary teams working on challenging ideas with clear vision, passion and a drive to design solutions and launch real ventures.Each Fall, applicants go through a rigorous selection process that reviews venture designs and ideas based on human and social impact, feasibility, uniqueness, and scalability as well as team composition, diversity and skillset. Finalists pitch before a panel of judges to enter the program.Applicants may include graduate students, researchers, staff and/or faculty members from the MIT SA+P and their collaborators from across MIT, other universities and beyond.Previous teams in MITdesignX have included participants from across MIT including SA+P, computer science, engineering, management, biology, and the humanities. Need/problem description based on interviews and data insights Determine who are your customers Analysis of all stake-holder groups and how they benefit from a solution An analysis of your research and a check on venture feasibility Team statement describing what the venture is designed to do Statement and images describing why stakeholders / customers would apply / buy the solution Map of what the user will experience Turn your ideas into actual products or systems for testing Team statement describing what the team aspires to achieve Team manifesto outlining founder core values and leadership principles How a venture creates, delivers, and captures value and generate revenue Negotiation skills and learning how to recruit and partner with the right people A goal-oriented action plan for effective and fast scaling of your venture Three year revenue and cost plans based on team vision and objectives Introduction to funding options and calculation of funding needs The venture storyline and key message to stakeholders and sponsors / investors MITDESIGNX TEAMS DESIGN VENTURES. THEY CREATE A VISION, SYSTEM, STRATEGY, AND BUSINESS MODEL AND BUILD PROTOTYPES THAT EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY AND FUNCTION OF THEIR IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS. OUR ACADEMIC FRAMEWORK CONSISTS OF FOUR STEPS. EACH STEP INCLUDES A SET OF INTEGRATED MODULES WHERE TEAMS EXPLORE TOPICS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, PINUPS, MENTOR SESSIONS, SITE VISITS AND DIRECT CUSTOMER INTERACTION. The first step of the framework is to understand the need or problem the new venture is being designed to solve. The teams engage directly with people and stakeholders to learn as much as possible about who they are, and what are their needs and pain points. Based on that understanding, the second step is to clearly define the core concept/function/product/service that will provide the required solution. The third step is to envision what the venture and its founders want to achieve, and define the fundamental principles that will guide their decision making, development and operations including financing of the venture. The fourth and final step is focused on developing a master plan of priorities, people, processes and funds needed to effectively scale and launch the venture.At the end of the program, all teams will have developed a prototype, investor pitch deck and a “masterplan” for their venture outlining key actions and strategies. The accelerator program culminates with a pitch night for teams to introduce their ventures to hundreds of investors, stakeholders, civic and industry partners. RESEARCH Research is at the core of the MITdesignX program. The academic framework of the accelerator is reinforced by discovery of new knowledge through rigorous research and learning experiences examining disruption and innovation within the design and urban domains. Co-creation, collaboration, and the exploration of ideas fuel the discovery process and aid the innovative strategies of MITdesignX teams. This discovery process draws on advanced research projects led by faculty and researchers focused on entrepreneurial performance, education for innovation and design solutions for cities and the human environment. INTERNSHIPS This summer, 6 paid internships are provided for students at SA+P to work with new startups created by fellows at Our Generation Speaks (OGS). OGS, based at Brandeis University, hosts Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs in Boston for 3 months to live, learn and work together in pursuit of new ventures and peaceful coexistence.MITdesignX and MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives) has partnered with OGS to provide curriculum, mentorship and the support of MIT students to Israeli and Palestinian fellows with backgrounds in design and planning. Interns spend all of August with the startups in addition to a trip to the region during the following IAP. CREATE: INFORMALITY AS A VENTURE FOR INNOVATION MIT CREATE is a team of researchers and practitioners working to imagine the future of urban exchange. MIT CREATE is a part of MITdesignX and is focused on exploring methods and solutions that enhance urban development for informal and non-standard economies. Through classes and ongoing collaborative projects, CREATE provides students, practitioners and entrepreneurs meaningful ways to develop and advance inclusive policy, design and entrepreneurial opportunities. Read more at create.mit.edu GLOBAL IMPACT Our work and the work of MITdesignX ventures is designed to have a global impact. Through several international partnerships, we expand academic and venture networks for our students, faculty and researchers. Projects include the China Ventures Workshop in partnership with the MIT China Future City Lab and Tsinghua University, workshops at Reykjavik University, and collaboration with OGS and MISTI working with Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs. And of course, MITdesignX ventures are an impact with their work around the globe. DesignX School of Architecture and Planning / Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue 7—336 Cambridge MA 02139 Consult with Us MITdesignX faculty and staff are available for inquiries and consultations throughout the year (online as well !). Please email us to sign up for office hours.

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