MIT Global Entrepreneurship Lab

A clear, right-sized project scope with realistic expectations is a great start.  A human-centered video, so teams can get to know you a little, is really helpful. Being candid about the backgrounds and skillsets necessary for project success makes a big difference.   

But also note that sometimes great projects go unmatched for hard-to-explain, random reasons.  We know how disappointing that outcome is and are here to provide feedback in that event.

Your company’s questionnaire and video will be posted on a restricted G-Lab website and will be in direct competition with the other prospective host companies’. Please take the time to thoughtfully describe your business and the project, so that students can fully appreciate the opportunity. Remember that a mandatory part of the application process is a call with Shari Loessberg prior to Questionnaire submission.

It might be. We ask you to carefully assess in the questionnaire how important local language is to project success. Translation tools are helpful but imperfect. You can also tell us if you plan on using a translator. If you choose that option, you would be responsible for providing the translator. 

Yes!  In person visits to Boston are always welcome. In person meetings are valuable and increase productivity, particularly during the Virtual Phase. Given your team’s other academic commitments, however, you should not expect they will have the availability to travel to your offices.

You and your team will refine the final, detailed scopes and deliverables as soon as you are matched.  The teams understand that a critical part of project launch is to finalize scope and deliverables with their host companies as soon as possible. The agreement will be written up as a work plan document, which you and the team will sign.

Generally, no. The team members should work together during their project, though teams may travel together from one office location to one other office.  Please be mindful that cross-border travel can trigger student visa concerns.

Generally, out-of-pocket expenses such as the team members’ meals, visas, local and personal travel are paid by the team. However, some hosts will provide some reimbursement or subsidies for unusually high expenses (long commutes, for example). Common sense, candid conversations and real world consid-erations should create reasonable solutions.

Our Action Learning Office does a terrific job working with host companies on all questions around visa support, lodging, flights and other logistics. Our goal is to ensure all administrative requirements and logistics are clear and easy!

No. All teams work closely with an MIT faculty mentor, who will review work product and counsel the team weekly. This faculty mentor will also have several touchpoints with the Project Owner, to monitor progress. Teams also leverage the broader expertise of Sloan and MIT faculty generally, as well as the extensive alumni network and the databases and library resources on campus.                   

We will solicit your feedback midway as well as after the project is complete. Please know that your views on team performance and company satisfaction are an important component of your team’s final G-Lab course grade.  We value your candid feedback for the program as well, in our efforts to improve the value MIT G-Lab and our teams provide to you and your firm.