Resource Center

MIT and Harvard Startup Resources: An Ecosystem Map For Student Founders

Navigate the startup ecosystem at MIT and Harvard. Find the right programs, funding, and community for your stage.

Last updated: August 2026

Accelerators and cohort programs

Structured programs with mentorship and a cohort around you.

Cross-school

TNT Accelerator

Semester-long, AI and deep tech, for teams already building and raising. Dedicated mentor, investor introductions and $700K+ in infrastructure credits. Roughly 15 teams a cohort, three cohorts run so far.

MIT

MIT delta v

Summer intensive for teams going full time. Needs at least one full-time MIT student on the team.

Harvard

Harvard i-Lab Venture Program

Semester-based, with structured mentorship and workspace at the Student i-lab.

Defense

Harvard Q Lab

For founders in defense, national security and dual-use technology.

Non-dilutive funding

Money that does not cost you equity.

MIT

MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund

Staged grants up to $25K a semester, plus mentorship. The easiest first money to test an idea.

MIT

MIT $100K

Runs September to May across three rounds. Competitive, and the brand carries with investors.

Harvard

Harvard President's Innovation Challenge

Over $500K awarded across tracks. Student applications open in the fall and close in early December.

All sources

Grants and competitions tracker

Every grant, fellowship and prize competition we track across MIT, Harvard and Boston, with deadlines and links.

Community and workspace

Rooms, desks and people, outside of a formal program.

MIT

Martin Trust Center

Advising, programming and the main front door to MIT entrepreneurship.

Harvard

Harvard Innovation Labs

Workspace and community access across the i-Lab, Launch Lab and Life Lab.

Cross-campus

TNT events

Cofounder matching, firesides with operators and investors, startupathons and demo days. Open to both campuses.

Cross-campus

H Street Commons

Founder community hub with coworking, and housing for a selected few.

Courses

For-credit classes where the coursework is your own company.

MIT

MIT AI Venture Studio

Semester-long course built around standing up an AI startup.

MIT

New Enterprises (15.390)

The Sloan venture-creation course. Project-based, taken by most MIT founders at some point.

Harvard

Harvard TECH offerings

Courses and programs across SEAS and HBS focused on building technology ventures.