LITE weekend program
The LITE weekend program is a variation of the LITE Fellows Program (https://www.litefellows.com) that happens during the summer break. The goal of the program is to provide high school students an introduction to the topics of Leadership, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship. The origins of LITE can be traced back to Suman's LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sumanlal_i-was-thinking-how-to-spend-my-summer-and-activity-7469380145875902464-hIph
The weekend program is delivered over 10 sessions, happening on Sundays from 10:00AM to 4:00PM at the Cambridge Innovation Center, Kendall Square.
Interested applicants should express interest through this form. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a brief online interview.
Instructors:
Suman Lal is the founder of Technology Innovation Studio (TINS), a physical space in Kendall Square that brings together business leaders, scientists, serial entrepreneurs, investors, industry experts, corporate innovation teams, and policy experts to explore and apply tools, methods, and models in innovation. Suman is a Senior Advisor to the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), which operates innovation campuses and labs across the US, Europe, and Asia. In his previous role, he worked closely with the CIC leadership team to advise diverse stakeholders in cities and regions around the world on building innovation infrastructure and ecosystems. He is also a Senior Advisor to the Venture Cafe Global Institute (VCGI), which operates Venture Cafe gatherings in 15 cities, often described as the heartbeat of several innovation districts. He is currently an Industry Advisor in Healthcare and Medicine at MIT Sloan School of Management. Suman has deep experience in technology commercialization: making independent inventions, licensing intellectual property from major research institutions to form NewCos, and operating venture studios where he took interim CEO roles at portfolio companies.
Ahmed Afifi is a global investor, private equity executive, entrepreneur, and strategist with over two decades of experience building, managing, and growing investment platforms across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. He is recognized for combining strategic vision with disciplined capital allocation, leading investments, acquisitions, and value-creation initiatives across diverse sectors and markets. As Founder and CEO of Continuous Infrastructure, a Cambridge-based investment and advisory firm, Afifi works with institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and multinational corporations to build strategic partnerships, and support long-term value creation. Under his leadership, the firm has established a strong track record of identifying high-quality opportunities and delivering long-term value through disciplined execution and enduring relationships. Afifi also served as Senior Strategic Adviser to the Board of Nebras Power Investment Management BV, the international investment platform of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Previously, as founding CEO of Nebras Power Netherlands BV, he built and led a USD 4 billion international investment platform spanning multiple markets and jurisdictions. Educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Afifi combines global market insight, investment discipline, and entrepreneurial leadership to create sustainable long-term value.