2023-24 MIT Arts Startup Incubator Timeline and Application Process
This year’s program runs from October – May, with supporting events and workshops before and during the competition period to help student arts entrepreneurs define and refine their business concepts.
A cohort of teams was selected in November to participate in the program. Teams received mentorship from past prize winners, distinguished faculty, MIT alumni, local creative entrepreneurs as well as access to exclusive workshops to help them hone their business models, connect to resources, and prepare to pitch. In March, finalists were selected to present their ventures to a live judging panel for a chance to win prizes of either $2,500 or $15,000.
Arts Startup Incubator Kickoff
October 4, 2023
5pm-7:30pm | iHQ (E38) 7th Floor Hacker Reactor
Kickoff this year’s Arts Startup Incubator! Hear from past finalists about their ventures’ entrepreneurial journeys at MIT. Learn how teams leveraged multiple innovation opportunities–like Sandbox, IDEAS, delta v, designX, and the Arts Startup Incubator–to find resources, develop skills, workshop prototypes, and build momentum to launch their arts-focused startups. Stay to get your questions answered, find new collaborators, get feedback on your application, and enjoy free food.
Doors and food at 5pm; activities start at 5:30pm.
Workshops and Creative Cafés
October-November, 2023
Throughout the Fall, workshops, events, and Creative Cafés are open to the public, allowing potential collaborators to meet each other and venture-build in advance of the November 13 application deadline.
Creative Café with MITdesignX Venture Accelerator
October 19, 2023 | 5pm-6:30pm | iHQ (E38) 3rd Floor Innovation Lounge
Workshop your startup ideas, brainstorm new ones, get feedback, meet potential collaborators, and enjoy free snacks – all while you learn more about the Arts Startup Incubator and the MITdesignX Venture Accelerator. Register here.
Creative Café w/ IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge
October 25, 2023 | 5pm-6:30pm | iHQ (E38) 3rd Floor Innovation Lounge
Create solutions for a better future! Explore the intersection of art and social entrepreneurship with IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge and the Arts Startup Incubator. Hear from past participants and program managers about each one’s offerings–like funding, mentors, workshops, and stakeholder engagement–while you eat snacks and meet other students with creative ideas for positive change. Register here.
Ideation & Brainstorming Workshop w/ Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship
November 2, 2023 | 5:30pm-7pm | iHQ (E38) 7th Floor Hacker Reactor
Generate new ideas with Martin Trust Center Entrepreneur in Residence, Jenny Larios Berlin. Practice an approachable brainstorming method to unlock creative thinking and put your ideas to the test. Be ready to participate in hands-on activities that require a good sense of humor, a lot of flexibility, and big thinking! Register here.
Creative Café w/ Sandbox Innovation Fund Program
November 8, 2023 | 5:30pm-6:30pm | iHQ (E38) 3rd Floor Innovation Lounge
Learn more about two entrepreneurial programs at MIT before their application deadlines! Enjoy free snacks while you refine your startup ideas, get feedback, and find collaborators to round out your team. Register here.
Applications and Feedback
Deadline November 13, 2023
Applications are now open. Please review the application for specific information but be prepared to submit the following: venture name, 1-2 sentences describing your venture’s mission, team member information (names, roles, and short bios), business type (non-profit, for-profit, b-corp), an explanation of how arts are at the core of your business, and other entrepreneurship funding or programs the venture takes part.
Following submission, each team will receive individual feedback on their applications from a panel of reviewers.
Cohort Workshops & Mentorship
December 2023 – February 2024
Student teams are matched with mentors from the creative entrepreneurial community & offered exclusive workshops to incubate their businesses. Workshops help students develop core components of their business strategies while mentors meet students where they are at, offering direct feedback, specific industry expertise, and one-on-one advice to sharpen their venture plan and pitch.
Semi-Final Judging
March 13, 2024
Cohort teams submit an updated business plan, pitch deck, and short video to a panel of judges from the arts entrepreneurship community. Judges will evaluate revised business plans and recorded presentations and select a group of 4-6 teams to advance to the final competition.
Pitch Coaching and Special Topics Workshops
March – April 2024
Finalists further hone their products, pitches, and business plans. Teams attend custom workshops designed to meet the unique needs of their developing ventures and receive pitch coaching & feedback from peers and industry experts to prepare them to pitch their ventures in a way that is clear and compelling.
Pitch Finale
May 1, 2024
Finalists submit their completed business plans for pre-consideration by judges. Each team will then pitch in front of a live audience, presenting their venture plans to the public and a panel of expert judges. Following deliberation, a winner will be announced and the $15K prize will be awarded to the winning team. All finalists will receive a $2,500 cash prize.
Resources from Previous Competitions: Basics of Entrepreneurship Workshops Series
Workshop #1: Building your Value Proposition: Dr. Michael Camp, Ohio State University
Workshop #2: Building your Business Plan (For-profit): Carly Chase, MIT NYC Startup Studio
Workshop #3: Creating a Budget (Non profit): Julia Turnbull, MIT Legatum Center
Workshop #4: Creating a Budget (For-profit): Kit Hickey, Ministry of Supply
Workshop #5: Building your Business Plan (Non-profit): Miguel Rodriguez, Athlone Artists