MIT Sloan Showcases Student Startups
MIT Sloan recently published a list of 17 MIT startups to watch, based on presentations of ideas Sloan students developed in semi-secrecy this past summer as part of the recent MIT Delta V startup accelerator program.
According to the article, Delta V participants “receive training, access to coaches and mentors, mock board reviews, up to $20,000 in equity-free funding, office space, and access to prototyping tools and lab space,” in addition to “a $2k monthly stipend” thanks to the generosity of the Goss Fellowship.
Here are Zach Church’s picks for startups eager VCs should keep an eye on:
Alfie “issues loans that are repaid based on a fixed percentage of a student’s future income,” which the founders hope will inspire folks to “pursue careers of impact without facing mounting student loan bills.”
Armoire serves the “boss lady,” by renting and delivering “high-end clothes for busy professional women.”
Deepstream integrates “articles, polls, maps, and social media feeds” into live-streaming and on-demand media. News organizations were early adopters but word on the street is that sports media is soon to follow.
dot Learn spreads the wealth by offering “full-length courses for less than the cost of text messaging” as part of an “online education platform for the developing world.”
Emerald tracks “mobility, sleep quality, and health status” as part of a portable home fall detection system.
FactoryShop helps busy machine shops “increase sales and have lower acquisition costs for new customers.”
FleteYa connects shippers “in need of a carrier” with freight carriers in order to make return trips profitable.
HiveMaritime offers “ship owners and operators route optimization tools” that “reduce congestion in shipping lanes and ports” and “help them save money.”
Kiron offers a pro-style “smart vest” with “heart-rate sensor and GPS tracking” for non-professional soccer players.
Kumwe Logistics lowers transportation costs for East African truck owners by connecting them with shippers via smartphones and an online marketplace.
LeanOnMe is a “text-based college mental health support network” that “connects students with trained peer supporters.”
Leuko Labs monitors “white blood cell counts in chemotherapy patients” in order to “lower the risk in outpatient chemotherapy and reduce hospital visits for infection.”
Perch recommends “workouts to improve strength and safety” using real-time analytics.
Rendever provides virtual reality experiences for the elderly.
Ricult offers “lower interest rates on credit and lower prices on…seed and fertilizer” for Pakistani farmers who are often beholden to “price-gouging middlemen.” Take a look at our Ricult report here.
Solstice Initiative helps “people without roof space participate in solar energy.”
uLink is a line of “plug-and-play microgrids for the $12 billion off-grid electricity market” that employs a “smart energy router and a cloud-based analytics platform.”
About the Author
Jonathan Pfeffer
Jonathan Pfeffer joined the Clear Admit and MetroMBA teams in 2015 after spending several years as an arts/culture writer, editor, and radio producer. In addition to his role as contributing writer at MetroMBA and contributing editor at Clear Admit, he is co-founder and lead producer of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. He holds a BA in Film/Video, Ethnomusicology, and Media Studies from Oberlin College.
