Celebrating 10 Years of MIT Sandbox

​MIT activates entrepreneurship as a strategic engine driving the full journey—from learner transformation, venture creation, through industry engagement, to long-term economic impact.

​Over the last decade, MIT Sandbox has enabled thousands of students and alums to translate early ideas into validated concepts, launch companies, and forge corporate partnerships that scale innovation across industries.

​This event brings together industry leaders, founders, investors, and MIT leadership and faculty to explore ventures born in MIT’s ecosystem and how they have scaled. Through real examples of startup journeys, from idea to launch, and from market to expansion, the panel will show how students and founders advance from experimentation to execution, how corporations connect with emerging ventures, and how partnerships accelerate mutual growth.

​Attendees can learn about opportunities to become collaborators, customers, and co-builders of the next generation of effective ventures. The program will conclude with a networking reception and student startup showcase. 

The event will bring together distinguished guests, trailblazing Sandbox founder panels, and influential thought leaders from the Entrepreneurship & Innovation ecosystem, with ample opportunities to network and learn.

​AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS

• ​MIT’s President Sally Kornbluth leads a panel discussion of MIT Sandbox Startup Founders
  

• ​Fireside chat with distinguished faculty Scott Stern, David Sarnoff Professor of Management of Technology, Professor, Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management and Jean-Jacques Degroof, MIT, M.Sc. and a Ph.D and author From the Basement to the Dome: How MIT’s Unique Culture Created a Thriving Entrepreneurial Community
  

• ​MIT Alums Startup Stage Presentations
  

• ​Remarks by Ian Waitz, Vice President of Research, Sandbox Founding Faculty Director

• ​10 Years of Innovation Impact, Presented by Jinane Abounadi, Executive Director, MIT Sandbox
  

• ​Networking reception and MIT Student Startup Showcase

​FEATURING ALUMS STARTUPS: Lightmatter, Fireflies, Strand Therapeutics, Multiply Labs, Augmodo, Hertha Metals, and more.