A) What is the application process expected to be like for The Engine?<p>B) It appears that the resources are spread out across Cambridge, Boston, and South Boston. Which of these locations if any is planned to be the central location for the accepted startups?<p>C) What existing companies and organizations are planning to be part of The Engine and what will their roles be?
Oh, it's in Cambridge. Well that's out. Just like I was checking into a pretty cool MS program focused on Tech and Entrepreneurship...but I'm not moving to New York unfortunately even on a temporary basis.<p>Serious question:<p>Is there any type of "traveling workshop" program that brings high-tier guidance and supplies to various locations for a weekend? I was thinking that an up-front Submission Process, then some evaluations / meetings / feedback, and then a Weekend Workshop using 3D printer(s) and other basic tools that could fit in a box truck and about 5,000 sq ft of space (?) - would be a great way to bring brain capital to under served communities. Then follow up through the same channels used for evaluations / meetings / feedback, and continue mentorship.<p>I mean, I'm not knocking location anchored programs, they make sense and they can help a community.<p>><i>In that time, they will receive financial investments as well as guidance in business planning and access to shared services such as legal, technology licensing, and administrative assistance. Entrepreneurs will be able to take advantage of specialized equipment, services, expertise, and space through an online marketplace developed for The Engine.</i><p>Doesn't most of that read like something that doesn't need to be totally anchored in the "Greater Boston" community? Especially for a tech-savvy institution with plenty of bandwidth?<p>What I am trying to say is that based on the distribution of population in the US, if you really want to find undiscovered talent, you're going to have to meet them half-way.
This sounds similar to The Impact Engine out of Chicago. My company was part of the first cohort back in 2012. Feel free to AMA about this space - I have learnings to unload if interested.
Very exciting news from MIT. Anyone interested in this thread should also check out Cyclotron Road at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. It's a two-year fellowship and incubator specifically geared toward hard-tech innovators working on energy technologies. Applications for the next cohort are open until Oct. 31 - cyclotronroad.org/apply
Huh, actually just noticed the sign for their new office space this morning on my way to work. Seems strange that they're attaching this to the Kendall Square brand when its basically in an entirely different neighborhood.
Does anyone know what MIT wants out of the funds it invests? Also, what rights does its faculty have on their inventions? Same question for entrepreneurs who work with MIT?
Hmm, how can an arm of the military-industrial complex help in any way, shape or form anyone really interested in changing the world? How naive one have to be .. well, ok nevermind, get your fb/g/"startup"(as in, cheap outsourced r&d labor) coffee and back to work "for the betterment of the world" folks .. nothing "to think" here
YC now functionally resembles a world-class university: huge endowment; elite alumni; pure & applied research departments; staff scientists; education program; bi-annual semesterish schedule; all in service to the mission of improving the world by empowering the next generation of innovators.<p>MIT ignored YC, and now is competing with YC.<p>Next will be bargaining with YC :)<p>Then just partnering with YC...