Disciplined Entrepreneurship Lab (DE Lab) provides students with the opportunity to enhance and apply their understanding of the fundamentals of entrepreneurship by working full-time with a startup over a period of 3-4 weeks during IAP in January. The course builds on the academic framework of Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup and its application in a real-world environment.

Potential projects include, but are not limited to:

• Identifying new markets
• Entering new markets
• Launching a product
• Developing a sales strategy

Students may also provide general support to the startup over the course of the Lab.

Kickoff: First week of IAP via Zoom (details to follow)

Final presentations: End of IAP (details to follow)

Credits: 6

The class provides students with a real-life application of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework by working with a startup of their choice for 3-4 weeks throughout January. Key dates for students include a kick-off call on the first week of IAP via Zoom (details to follow) and final presentations at the conclusion of DE Lab (details to follow).

How many credits is the class?
The class is 6 credits.

Does the internship have to be in-person or can it be virtual?
The set-up of the internship will depend on your final agreement with the host company.

Can I source my own company to work for?
Yes! Students are encouraged to source their own host companies to maximize their learning from the class. Companies can sign up here.

When will the list of host companies be published?
We are planning to share the list of host companies by mid-November.

Is DE Lab open to non-MBA / non-Sloan students?
Yes, DE Lab is open to students outside of the MBA / Sloan.

Do I have to be present in-person for the kick-off call?
The kick-off call will be hosted on Zoom.

What is the expected workload?
In general, DE Lab requires you to work with a startup for 40 hours per week over a period of three weeks.

What are the deliverables for the class?
Students are required to attend the kick-off session, submit a midterm reflection memo (2-3 pages), and do a final presentation (5 minutes, 5 slides).

What is the structure of the final presentation?
The final presentation will be a 5-minute, 5-slide presentation. Further instructions will be made available at a later stage.

What is the format of the final presentation?
The final presentations are to be delivered in-person. However, in case of class schedule conflicts, students may submit pre-recorded videos.

Can I work for my own startup?
Unfortunately no, DE Lab does not allow students to work on their own startup as part of the class.

What is the matching process?
Students will be required to reach out to their startup of choice and agree on the structure of their DE Lab internship individually. This also applies to companies that are included on the host company list.

At what stages and from what industries are the companies?
There is no limitation with regard to the industry and past startups have covered a wide array of different industries. In terms of stage, DE Lab is primarily focused on startups in pre-seed, seed, and series A stages.

Can I get paid for my internship?
No, DE Lab requires the internship to be strictly academic and does not allow for any kind of compensation. You will receive 6 academic credits upon completion of the Lab.

Who can I contact with further questions?
Please reach out to Megan Hung (mhung25@mit.edu)

DE Lab is hosted by Bill Aulet and Paul Cheek from the Martin Trust Center and offers you the opportunity to work with a student intern from MIT on a real-life project and to build connections with entrepreneurial-minded MIT students.

The project will take place during January and students typically work 40 hours per week for 3-4 weeks with their startup of choice. Students will receive a list of host companies and reach out to their preferred companies. Please note that because students will select their startups independently, signing up to be a host company does not guarantee a match with a student.

Companies can sign up for the Lab using this link.

When does the internship take place?
The internship will be conducted during the Sloan IAP period which typically runs from January until early-February. The exact length and timing of the internship can be decided individually between host companies and students.

What is the format of the internship?
Students typically work with their host companies 40 hours per week for a period of 3-4 weeks. The details are to be agreed upon between the host company and the student on an individual basis. The internship can take place either virtually or in-person, which is also up to the discretion of the parties involved.

How does the matching process work?
Students will be provided with a list of interested companies by mid-November. Afterwards, they will reach out to their preferred companies to begin the interview process for the internship. Please note that signing up for the Lab does not guarantee that your company will have a match.

Do I have to pay my intern?
No, DE Lab requires the internship to be purely academic and does not allow for any kind of compensation of the student.

Do I have to have a specific project to participate in DE Lab?
No, companies do not have to have a specific project in mind to participate in DE Lab. However, to facilitate the matching process with students, our sign-up form includes a short paragraph about the work the student intern will be doing over the course of the Lab.

What kind of companies is DE Lab looking for?
DE Lab is open to companies from all kinds of industries. Given our focus on entrepreneurship, we generally focus on companies in pre-seed, seed, or series A stages. However, you are still encouraged to sign up for the Lab even if your company is slightly more mature.

Do I have to be MIT-affiliated to participate in DE Lab?
No, we encourage all startups to sign up for DE Lab, regardless of MIT affiliation.

What happens if I no longer have capacity for a student intern?
Please contact Megan Hung mhung25@mit.edu to take your company off the host company list.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?
Please reach out to Megan Hung mhung25@mit.edu