From multiple startup acceleration programs available all over the world, this one is truly unique. MITEF – MIT Enterprise Forum – is an international accelerator that applies the methodology and tools designed by experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its Polish national branch, MITEF Poland, has recently closed the application process for the second edition of their program.
The main strength of MITEF Poland lies in their cooperation with the best technical university in the world. They base on the know-how of experts from MIT in the field of science entrepreneurship that was constructed and improved over the last 40 years. “We don’t experiment,” said Magdalena Jabłońska, the COO at MITEF Poland. „We have a well-developed methodology – the 24-step model.” This method was created by Bill Aulet, an MIT professor with over 20 years of experience in business. Also called the “disciplined entrepreneurship”, this model helps you to systematically develop your startup from an initial idea to a full business.
“Polish startups lack entrepreneurial consciousness,” said Jabłońska, when asked about the largest obstacle their participants need to overcome. “They don’t encounter problems when creating high-quality products, but when they try to commercialize them.” This is why MITEF Poland concentrates on business approach to their products, helping them analyze the market, achieve competitive advantage and create a business model. “People involved in research and didactics, for example professors, become professional entrepreneurs after participating in our acceleration program,” she adds.
MITEF also allows its participants to find partners among large companies. These partners can conduct pilot implementations, validate the new products and provide startups with references valuable on the market. To top it all off, MITEF Poland connects startups with the MIT ecosystem – an environment that significantly differs from Silicon Valley. From 25 startups that participate in the acceleration program, 5 finalists fly to Boston for a week of intensive networking and business meetings.
In the current edition, MITEF Poland concentrates on startups in four main fields: fintech, health, resources and energy sector. They are interested in companies at all stages of development, from MVP prototype to the growth stage (they accept even proof of concept for the health sector startups).
The second edition of this acceleration program starts in January – MITEF Poland has received 120 applications (with 25 places available). Applications for the third edition will begin in March.
