Program Timeline and Application Process
This year’s program will take place from January through April 2025 with supporting events before and during the program period for students to learn more about creative industries, get feedback on their application, refine business concepts, and build team capacity.
A cohort of teams are selected to participate in the program after the application deadline on November 1, 2024. Teams receive mentorship from past prize winners, distinguished faculty, alumni, and creative entrepreneurs as well as access to exclusive workshops to help them hone their business models, connect to resources, develop a prototype, and prepare to pitch.
In March, half of the teams are selected to move on to the final round and present their ventures to a live judging panel on April 24 for a chance to win prizes of either $2,500 or $15,000.
Criteria and FAQ
Past Recipients
September 2024: Program Launch
Artist Venture Studio: Commercialization for Creatives
September 25, 2024 | 5–6:30pm | MIT Martin Trust Center, E40-163
How can creatives maximize their artistic and economic impact?
Join the MIT Arts Startup Incubator and Martin Trust Center to welcome Frances Pollock to discuss the innovative strategy behind her artist venture studio, the Midnight Oil Collective. Kathleen Wrinn—musical theater writer, performer, and educator—joins Frances in conversation about MOC’s role in incubating a new project, THE BRIDGE, a musical epic inspired by the true story of Emily Roebling, the woman who secretly built the Brooklyn Bridge, and the unrecognized labor behind its construction.
As part of the event, watch Kathleen and Frances share a live performance excerpt with keyboard accompaniment. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
October 2024: Open Events and Creative Cafés
To allow potential collaborators to meet each other and venture-build, all events are open to the public in advance of the November 1 application deadline.
Pitch2Match
October 1, 2024 | 5-7pm MIT Building 3-133
October 10, 2024 | 6-8pm
Stata Center | 32-123
Produced by the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, this wildly popular business matchmaking event helps startup founders connect with potential teammates. If you have an arts venture idea or want to join a team, there are two great events to see what other students are working on: one focused on social impact in partnership with the PKG Public Service Center and one classic Pitch2Match.
Creative Café w/ the Arts Startup Incubator & MITdesignX
October 2, 2024 | 12-1:15pm
MIT Building 9-451
Generate impact through art and design! Eat lunch and meet other students working in these creative fields while you learn about the Arts Startup Incubator and MITdesignX Venture Accelerator before their application deadlines.
Hear from program managers about how each program helps you transform innovative ideas into successful startups through funding, mentorship, classes, pitch prep and more. Come if you have an idea, are looking to meet someone that does, or just want to learn more!
Creative Café w/ the Arts Startup Incubator & IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge
October 17, 2024 | 12–1:15pm
MIT Art Studios in the Stratton Student Center, W20-424
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 program managers about each one’s offerings—funding, mentorship, workshops, and stakeholder engagement—while you eat snacks and meet other students with creative ideas for positive change.
MIT alum Nadine Zaza will join to share about her experience participating in both programs last year with her venture Culture Crate.
Arts Startup Incubator Application Feedback & Support
October 30, 2024 | 4–5:30pm
Location TBD
Get feedback on your application before the deadline! Bring your in-progress materials and an open mind to workshop how your creative startup idea is presented in the application before it goes to the selection committee.
Drop-in, no registration required.
November 2024: Applications and Feedback
Applications are now open. Please review the application for specific guidance and be prepared to submit the following materials: 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, other entrepreneurship funding or programs the venture takes part in, and any auxiliary materials like a pitch deck.
Following submission, each team will receive individual feedback on their applications from a panel of reviewers and top teams will be asked to schedule an interview.
December — March: Startup Incubation for Cohort of Teams
IAP 1.5 Day Learning Intensive
January 30-31, 2025
Cohort teams kick-start their businesses and get to know their cohort during this 1.5 day session. You’ll begin to conduct primary market Research so you understand your customer base and find product market fit as well as develop your value proposition and prototype. The program will include coffee & meals to keep you going.
Mentorship
January – April, 2025
Cohort teams are matched with mentors in the creative entrepreneurial community. Mentors meet students where they’re at, leveraging their industry experience to offer direct feedback, expertise, connections in the sector, and one-on-one advice to sharpen their venture plan and pitch.
Cohort Workshops
February – March, 2025
Students build a network of peers and industry professionals while they learn core competencies for arts entrepreneurship. Guest speakers introduced key concepts like value proposition, brand positioning, intellectual property and legal matters, funding strategies, and pitch coaching that build on research and financial skills developed in the IAP intensive.
Semi-Final Application
March, 2025
Cohort teams submit an updated business plan, pitch deck, 5-minute video, and prototype demo to a panel of reviewers. Reviewers evaluate revised business plans and recorded presentations to select a group of 4–6 teams to advance to the final competition. All teams are provided feedback from the panel to incorporate into their business development.
Finalist Workshops & Pitch Coaching
April, 2025
Selected finalist teams further hone their products, pitches, business plans, and prototypes. Teams continue to meet with mentors and receive pitch coaching & feedback from peers to prepare them to pitch their ventures in a way that is clear and compelling. Finalists also attend a funding strategies workshop where they can hear from VC and non-profit leaders.
April 24, 2025: Pitch Finale
Finalists submit their completed business plans for pre-consideration to a panel of expert judges. Each team will then pitch in front of a live audience, presenting their venture plans and prototypes to a public audience and judging panel. Following deliberation, a winner is announced and the $15K prize is awarded to the winning team. All finalists will receive a $2,500 cash prize.