GSW and MIT

The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT is a community hub for students, alumni and faculty who seek to accelerate social and economic progress through innovation-driven entrepreneurship. The Center was founded in order to demonstrate the power of entrepreneurship to catalyze transformation in society and to improve global wellbeing.

At GSW, Legatum will have a booth with staff and materials to recruit entrepreneurs like you to get involved as Legatum Fellows, speakers, and mentors. Megan Mitchell, Fellowship and Student Programs Manager at Legatum, will be speaking at GSW!

The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP) provides opportunities for communities around the world to engage with MIT in an evidence-based, practical approach to strengthening innovation-driven entrepreneurial (IDE) ecosystems.

At GSW, REAP will have a booth with staff and materials to recruit startups and executives to participate in two-year learning engagement with MIT. Sarah Jane Maxted, Director of MIT REAP, will be at GSW. Travis Hunter, Program Manager of MIT REAP, will be leading several of our workshops.

MicroMasters is a professional and academic credential for online learners from anywhere in the world. MicroMasters courses offer the same learning and challenge as MIT courses. Learners who pass an integrated set of MITx graduate-level courses on edX.org, and one or more proctored exams, will earn a MicroMasters credential from MITx, and can then apply for an accelerated, on campus, master’s degree program at MIT or other top universities.

At GSW, MITx MicroMasters will provide materials about how you can take courses and earn your own MIT MicroMaster degree! Tracy Tan, the Director of MicroMasters at MIT Open Learning, will also be speaking on our panel on EdTech.

The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship is MIT’s main resource on campus for entrepreneurial activities at MIT, providing the expertise, support, and connections MIT students need to become effective entrepreneurs.

GSW has invited top-notch successful entrepreneurs in residence from the Martin Trust Center. Nick Meyer, Kit Hickey and Reinaldo Normand will organize hands-on workshops, participate in panel discussions, and mentor participants of the business plan competition at GSW, providing the necessary advice and skills, and translating MTC’s entrepreneurial principles to BPC participants.

The MIT $100K Launch is the last step in MIT’s $100K: a comprehensive business plan competition in which teams compete to plan, prototype, and prepare their venture for the marketplace. Semi-finalists are expected to present not just prototypes but full business plans. They receive funding and elite mentorship along the way, and finalists present onstage to a 1,200+ live audience from Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. The Grand Prize? $100,000.

This year GSW has established a partnership with MIT’s $100K competition. The winner of GSW’s business plan competition (BPC) will be directly qualified to participate in the $100K Launch competition, taking place on MIT campus starting in the month of April! In addition, BPC winners will mentorship and support from MIT’s entrepreneurial expertise and resources.

MIT-CHIEF is a not-for-profit student organization registered at MIT. We are committed to promoting intellectual exchanges and collaborations between China and the United States in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. As one of the largest entrepreneur communities on the East Coast, we strive to connect the most valuable US-based startups with leading investors, strategic partners and market access in China.

This year GSW has partnered with MIT-CHIEF to allow the winner of the GSW Startup Showcase the opportunity to participate in their Co-founders Journey Program. The selected team(s) will travel to Hong Kong and join other tech startups as they develop partnerships with local manufacturers.

The Hong Kong Innovation Node is building long-term value by enriching the educational experiences of MIT and Hong Kong students in key areas of innovation practice including entrepreneurship, making, and rapid scale-up of prototypes.

At GSW, the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node will provide materials about their many programs. Brian Yang, Executive Director of the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node, will be happy to chat with you about you can become involved.

The MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) is dedicated to creating and strengthening mutually beneficial relationship between MIT and corporations worldwide. Established in 1948, the ILP continues to be a key player in making industrial connections for MIT.

At GSW, Todd Glickman, Senior Director of the MIT ILP, will be available to connect with anyone interested in collaborating with MIT. Todd will also be a speaker in the “Developing an Innovation Ecosystem” panel.