A Unique Accelerator for a Unique City

MITdesignX Venice is a new multi-year initiative bringing our Venture Design program to Venice in collaboration with local partner SerenDPT.

MITdesignX – the Venture Accelerator of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning – launched a new venture accelerator to support local entrepreneurs and help launch new firms and organizations dedicated to solving problems experienced in Venice as well as other coastal and historical cities, and places experiencing a major loss of full-time population.

The 2023 cohort begins Sept. 21.

 

Accelerator Details

MITdesignX Venice is hosting a diverse and interdisciplinary set of teams to design solutions and launch a business venture based in Venice. The inaugural cohort includes ten early stage startups dedicated to solving problems experienced in Venice as well as other coastal and historical cities in realms that include:

  • Historical Preservation: sustainability, fundraising and maintenance

  • Sustainable Tourism: accommodations, mobility and culture

  • Water, Energy and Environment

  • Engagement tools for cities and citizens

SerenDPT

SerenDPT (Serenissima Development and Preservation through Technology) is a benefit company founded in Venice, by Venetians. Their mission is to repopulate the city by inspiring and supporting the creation of startups and creating high-skill jobs that will attract young people of all ages and Venetians of any origin and welcome them as new inhabitants of the historic city.

SerenDPT operates a startup incubator and co-working space, called Fabbrica H3, inside the ex-church of Saints Cosmas and Damian on the Giudecca island in Venice.

The accelerator program is hosted at H3.

2022 Cohort

Fabbrica H3 Incubator and Co-working space

Accelerator Schedule and Program

Understand

Workshop 1 The first days of the accelerator are an intensive analysis of the problem being engaging. What is the core of the problem? Who's problem are you solving? Who else needs to be involved?

Needs Analysis
Market
Segmenta­tion
Stakeholder Map
Value Proposition

Clearly stating a problem, need or opportunity based on interviews and research.

Identifying customers that have a determined need.

Mapping all potential stakeholders who are affected or affect a need or solution.

Determining why/how a customer or user will benefit from a solution.

Ensuring an effective product or service is created to address an identifed need.

Design, build, and test elements of a solution.

Mapping of the entire process that the user takes when using your solution.

Applying design specifications to a product or service to maximize user interaction.

Problem Solution Fit
Prototyping
User Journey
Product UI/UX

Solve

Workshop 2 Design a solution that best suits the problem and creates value. Test, learn and build your solution.

Envision

Workshop 3 Develop a business model and team to make the solution happen.

Stating what a venture is aiming to achieve and what they are doing to get there.

How a venture creates, delivers and captures value, and how its revenue is generated.

How a venture engages with customers and delivers value.

Buidling an organizational culture to accompany the growth of a startup.

Vision and Mission
Business Model
Go to Market
Team Dynamics
Action Plan
Financial Plan
Funding Strategy
Storytelling

A goal-oriented plan of action to efficiently and effectively scale a venture.

Determining the revenue and expenses required to operate a venture.

Developing a plan for capital investment and funding for a venture or new product line.

Communicating a solution to generate interest, investment and/or sales.

Workshops 4 Make a plan and apply the financial elements required to deploy and scale your solution

Deploy

At the conclusion of the accelerator program, startups will pitch their new ventures and launch their products and services.

Supporters