University of MoratuwaFebruary 2011

MIT International Science and Technology Initiative

Dr. Michael Gordon

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• What makes MIT so special?– Combination of technical capacity and

innovation

• Innovation drives the American economy

The Internet Revolution

• Beginning in the 1990s, the Internet Revolution brought:• New opportunities: Digital Economies• Huge increases in efficiencies for

traditional businesses and individuals

The Internet Revolution

• Revolution driven by entrepreneurs

• Started small, many got huge

• Many new billionaires

MISTI/UoM Program

• MIT and UoM want to bring a spirit of entrepreneurship to Sri Lanka

• Innovation focused on the mobile technologies– Catalyze the mobile revolution

• We want you want to become $ millionaires– Create the next huge mobile service

MISTI/UoM Program

• 6 – 8 weeks of intensive instruction and mentorship from MIT instructors– Technical component– Entrepreneurship component

• Stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation• Give you the necessary framework to start

the service• Teach advanced mobile technologies

– Plus anything else needed for service ideas

MIT Mentors

• Concentrated interaction with MIT instructors– Small class– 2 grad instructors, 2 undergrad

assistants

• Help you with:– Brainstorming– Refining your ideas– Technical issues– Networking and connections

Idea Generation

• Work with your fellow students and our instructors

• Study regional conditions and opportunities

• Case studies, market analysis, guest lectures

• Brainstorming sessions– Paid weekly elevator pitch competitions ($100)

Entrepreneurship Skills

• Presentation and public speaking skills– Be ready for many presentations– How to pitch to investors

• Market research and analysis

• Components of a business plan

Technology

• We will push you on technology

• Software development– Objected oriented design– Threaded applications– Regression testing– Versioning control systems– Bug ticketing trackers

Technology

• What are the appropriate technologies for your service idea?– SMS, USSD– Mobile Web– Smart phone technologies (Android)

• Location awareness, camera/video, audio, orientation/acceleration, ad hoc networking

– Backend technologies:• HTTP, PHP, Parsing, XML, SQL, …

Technology

• What are the appropriate algorithms for your service idea?– Machine learning, distributed

algorithms, networking, image processing / recognition, speech technologies, …

• If we don’t know what to do, we can hook you up with an expert at MIT.

Local Mentors

• We introduce you to our network of local mentors– Successful entrepreneurs– Business leaders– Professors– Engineers

• Help with all aspects of the program– Will remain to help you when we leave, if

you keep them interested

Unprecedented Access

• We are building a network of highly-placed individuals

• If you have a great idea, we will help you find the right audience

• Access to:– Funders– Mobile operators– Businesses – Gov’t

Deployment

• We want you to deploy your service during the class– Access to operator APIs, app stores, and

gateways– Work with operators to help you market your

service– We will pay for cloud/server time if needed

• We want you to make money before the course is over– Motivation to continue with the business

Graduate School at MIT

• This program will allow you to make contacts at MIT– MISTI Instructors– MISTI Advisers

• Can help you with the application process

• Can help you find the right contact person

Where MISTI Fits

Skill Developme

nt

Idea Generation

Incubation Transition

Stages of a Startup

Where MISTI Fits

Skill Developme

nt

Idea Generation

Incubation Transition

MISTI

• Appropriate technical and business skills

Stages of a Startup

• Brainstorming• Competitions• Case studies• Technologies• Proof of concept

• Refine idea• Contacts• Mentorship• Seed funding

History of Program

• First program: Kenya 2000

• Model: Send MIT students to ER to teach programming and Internet technologies– Promote entrepreneurship

• Since 2000:– 32 programs– 5 countries in Africa– Over 1500 African students– Over 100 MIT instructors

PersonnelFaculty Leadership

Prof. Paul Gray14th President MIT

Prof. AkinwandeMIT EECS

Student Leadership

Advisers, Former AITI

M. Gordon, PhDPostdoc MITEECS

Zawadi LemayianSloan, PhD Cand.

Paul NjorogeAITI FounderCSAIL PhD

Martin MbayaAITI FounderMPP HKS

Bryant HarrisonMBA Harvard

Staff Leadership

Pat GercikAssociate Dir.MISTI

Prof. AmarasingheMIT EECS

Spotlight: Richard, Amiri, Clarisse, & Jean

• Rwandan CS undergrads• June 2010

– Little practical programming experience– No entrepreneurship experience – No mobile technologies experience

Spotlight: Hehe, Ltd

• January 2011:– Running successful mobile services startup– Funded by multiple angle investors– > $5000 USD revenue per month– Meetings with CEO of RwandaTel, ICT Director, funders– Press coverage in multiple national and international outlets

Survey

• If you are interested, please visit:

http://bit.ly/mit-uom

Questions?