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MIT Entrepreneur in Residence Network expands

Program provides resources and features advice from successful serial entrepreneurs
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Photo: Stuart Darsch

The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship has expanded its MIT Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Network to better support MIT students. The updated program still features a lineup of successful serial entrepreneurs but has added two more levels of support to match students with those EIRs who best suit the student's level of entrepreneurship knowledge and expertise.

“We’re excited to be able to better support MIT student entrepreneurial endeavors of all kinds — inside and outside of the classroom as well as at each stage of their growth cycle — as well as give the broader network of MIT entrepreneurs the ability to connect and advise the next generation,” says Christina Chase, the Martin Trust Center’s full-time entrepreneur in residence.

The MIT EIR Network allows students to quickly connect with external advisors and resources through pre-scheduled office hour sessions. One benefit is that it prepares students for the MIT Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), where they can develop a long-term relationship with a specific team of mentors.

The MIT EIR Network's three tiers are:
  • Peer-to-Peer: Made up of current students and recent graduates, this first tier of entrepreneurs enables students to connect with their peers who have completed the early stages of startup creation, allowing these new entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and recent lessons learned.
  • Coach: The second tier consists of entrepreneurs who have established companies and have been operating for a few years. Coaches are able to provide an experienced voice and mentorship for those further down the path. This also gives MIT entrepreneurs the opportunity to "give back" through mentoring the next generation.
  • Expert: The third tier is made up of highly successful entrepreneurs and skilled experts who are able to provide highly strategic and targeted expertise across all entrepreneurial disciplines.
The MIT EIR Network is available for free to all MIT students. All EIRs operate as honest brokers, strictly acting in the best interest of students without the reality or appearance of conflict of interest. To become an EIR, they agree that they will not seek or receive any kind of compensation or job, nor direct business to any specific service provider or investor.

Students who would like to meet with EIRs can begin by emailing eir@mit.edu to schedule time with the center’s full-time EIR, Christina Chase. Christina will work with students to determine which EIR is best for their specific needs, or will help get students to a stage where they can most effectively take advantage of the network.

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