Kresge Auditorium buzzed with energy Friday as MIT innovators took the spotlight to present their advancements in the delta v startup accelerator initiative.
Now entering its 14th year, delta v Demo Day symbolizes the peak of a summer where students dedicated themselves full-time to launching new enterprises under the mentorship of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.
This occasion also serves as a celebration, with Trust Center Managing Director (and ultimate promoter) Bill Aulet setting an enthusiastic tone early by dashing through the audience for high-fives and leaping onto the stage for his introductory comments.
“All these students have achieved the extraordinary,” Aulet told the audience. “Just one year ago, they were in the audience like everyone here. A year ago, they may not have had an idea or technology at all. Perhaps they did, but they lacked a team, a defined vision, customer models, or a clear path to make an impact. But today they’re going to astonish you. They possess products — tangible products — a founding team, a distinct mission, commitments from customers or letters of intent, genuine business frameworks, and a route to excellence and influence. In summary, they will have attained escape velocity.”
The two-hour gathering filled Kresge Auditorium, with a line extending outside, and was succeeded by a celebration beneath a tent on the Kresge lawn. Each pitch commenced with a brief video introducing the company before a student elaborated on the issue they were addressing and what insights their team acquired through discussions with prospective customers.
In all, 22 startups unveiled their initiatives and early business achievements in quick-fire presentations.
Rick Locke, the newly appointed dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management, remarked that events like Demo Day are precisely why he returned to the Institute after holding various positions between 1988 and 2013.
“What’s remarkable about this event is how it crystallizes MIT’s essence: intelligent individuals engaging in significant work, tackling it hands-on, with a blend of humility and vision, genuinely making a difference,” Locke conveyed to the audience. “You can sense the positivity, the energy, and the excitement here tonight. That’s the kind of spark the world requires more of.”
A program with a mission
This year’s Demo Day showcased 70 students from throughout MIT, with 16 startups operating from the Trust Center on campus and six from New York City. Through the delta v program, the students were mentored, received funding, and engaged in an action-oriented curriculum full-time from June to September. Aulet also highlighted that the presenting students benefitted from a plethora of entrepreneurial support resources available at the Institute.
The odds are favorable for the startups: A 2022 study discovered that 69 percent of businesses from the program were still operational five years later. Alumni companies had amassed approximately $1 billion in funding.
Demo Day signifies the conclusion of delta v and acts as an inspiration for the next year’s group of innovators.
“Look at a screen or anywhere around you, and you’ll observe issues concerning climate, sustainability, health care, the future of work, economic inequalities, and more,” Aulet stated. “It can be quite overwhelming. These entrepreneurs shine light during challenging times. Entrepreneurs don’t view problems as setbacks. As the legendary Biggie Smalls from Brooklyn articulated, ‘Turn a negative into a positive.’ That’s the essence of entrepreneurship.”
Startups in action
Startups from this year’s group presented innovative solutions in biotech and healthcare, sustainability, financial services, energy, and more.
One company, Gees, is assisting women with hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through a saliva-based sensor that monitors key hormones, providing women with tailored insights to manage their symptoms.
“Over 200 million women worldwide are affected by PCOS,” stated MIT postdoc and co-founder Walaa Khushaim. “Without proper management, it may result in more severe health issues. The positive aspect is that 80 percent of cases can be managed through lifestyle adjustments. The challenge is that women attempting to alter their lifestyle often find themselves uncertain if their efforts are genuinely effective.”
Gees’ sensor is non-invasive and simpler to utilize than existing hormone-tracking devices. It delivers feedback within minutes from the convenience of users’ homes. The sensor connects to an application that displays results and trends to assist women in staying on track. The company has already gained over 500 sign-ups for its waitlist.
Another company, Kira, has engineered an electrochemical system to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of water desalination. The firm aims to assist companies in managing their brine wastewater, which is frequently disposed of improperly.
“At Kira, we’re progressing towards a system that generates zero liquid waste and only solid salts,” states PhD student Jonathan Bessette SM ’22.
Kira claims its system boosts the amount of clean water generated by industrial processes, minimizes brine wastewater, and refines energy flows in manufacturing facilities. The company indicates it will deploy a system next year at the largest groundwater desalination facility in the U.S.
A variety of other startups presented at the gathering:
AutoAce develops AI agents for car dealerships, automating tedious tasks with a 24/7 voice agent that handles incoming service calls and schedules appointments.
Carbion employs a thermochemical method to turn biomass into battery-grade graphite at half the temperature of conventional synthetic processes.
Clima Technologies has created an AI building engineer that allows facilities managers to “communicate” with their buildings in real-time, enabling teams to carry out 24/7 commissioning, respond to fault diagnostics, limit equipment downtime, and enhance control systems.
Cognify utilizes AI to predict customer interactions with digital platforms, simulating customer behavior to provide insights into which designs appeal to users, where friction arises in their journeys, and how to craft a user experience that leads to conversion.
Durability leverages computer vision and AI to analyze movement, forecast injury risks, and guide rehabilitation for athletes.
EggPlan employs a simple blood test and proprietary model to evaluate eligibility for egg freezing with fertility clinics. If users do not conceive, their fees are refunded, making the process risk-free.
Forma Systems has developed optimization software for manufacturers to enable more intelligent, quicker decisions regarding material usage while diminishing their climate impact.
Ground3d is a social impact organization building a digital platform for crowdsourcing hyperlocal environmental data, starting with street-level documentation of flooding incidents in New York City. The platform could assist residents in enhancing climate resilience and advocacy.
GrowthFactor aids retailers in expanding their footprint with a fractional real estate analyst while utilizing an AI-driven platform to heighten their odds of commercial success.
Kyma employs AI-powered patient engagement to consolidate data from wearables, smart scales, sensors, and continuous glucose monitors to track behaviors and send physician-approved, timely reminders.
LNK Energies is addressing the emissions dilemma of the heavy-duty transport sector with liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs): safe, ambient-temperature liquids that are compatible with existing diesel infrastructure.
Mendhai Health provides a suite of digital tools to assist women in enhancing pelvic health and rehabilitating before and after childbirth.
Nami has introduced an automated, reusable drinkware cleaning station that offers a hot, soapy, pressurized wash in under 30 seconds.
Pancho aids restaurants in boosting margins through an AI-powered food sourcing platform that leverages real-time price comparison, dispute tracking, and smart ordering.
Qadence provides older adults with a co-pilot that evaluates mobility and fall risk, delivering personalized guidance to enhance balance, monitor progress, and extend recovery beyond clinical settings.
Sensopore supplies an at-home diagnostic device that enables families to test for common illnesses at home, connect with a telehealth doctor, and receive prescriptions sent directly to their home, reducing hospital visits.
Spheric Bio has devised a personal occlusion device to enhance a standard surgical procedure used to treat strokes.
Tapestry applies conversational AI to converse with attendees before events, linking them with the right individuals for more substantial interactions.
Torque automates financial analysis across private equity portfolios to assist investment professionals in making improved strategic choices.
Trazo facilitates collaboration among interior designers and architects on technical drawings and 3D models for new building or renovation projects.