MIT 100K is one of the largest and longest-running student-led entrepreneurship competitions in the US. Our Organizing Committee will be publishing blogs and articles about our competitors and start-ups as well as interviews with VCs and entrepreneurs throughout the year. We hope you’ll follow-along, stay in touch, and tune in to our virtual 2021 events!
WHAT IS THE MIT $100K?
One competition — three independent contests — from October through May. Founded in the 1989–1990 academic year, the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition has brought together students and researchers from across MIT and Greater Boston to launch their talent, ideas, and technology into leading companies.
The competition runs a series of distinct, increasingly intensive contests: Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch.
MIT $100K brings together a network of resources, including mentorship from venture capitalists, serial entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and attorneys; media exposure; prototyping funds; business plan feedback; and discounted services. More than $300K in non-dilutive funding is awarded to new ventures each year.
PAST PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:
- HubSpot, Finalist 2006
- Akamai, Runner-up, 1998
- Harmonix, Finalist, 1995
- Silicon Spice, Finalist, 1995
The MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition runs three distinct and increasingly intensive competitions throughout the school year: PITCH, ACCELERATE, and LAUNCH.
PITCH, the first of three, took place on November 19th, 2020. Applicants submitted 90 second videos pitching their startup idea. The videos were scored by independent external judges. Top finalists pitched their ideas again to a panel of judges and audience of ~1,000 at a live (and this year, virtual) event for the chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize (winner: MomMe) or the $2,000 Audience Choice Award (winner: UVLyzer).
The ACCELERATE Showcase took place from 7 to 9pm ET on March 11th, 2021. 20 Finalists (10 Semi + 10 Top) received mentorship and a $1k budget for marketing and/or business development expenses. The 10 Top Finalists participated in the Showcase and competed for the $10K Audience Choice Award (winner: Go-Aut) while the 3 Top Finalists (winners: Go-Aut, Candelytics, and Human Dynamics) automatically advance to LAUNCH semi-finals.
LAUNCH applications closed on March 31. Semi-finals will take place 6–8pm ET on May 6th, and the Finale will take place 6–8pm ET on May 20th. LAUNCH is a full business plan competition where eight finalists will compete to win the grand prize of $100,000. The runner-up will receive $25,000. All other finalists receive $1,000.
