1. University of Moratuwa February 2011 MIT International Science and Technology Initiative Dr. Michael Gordon

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology What makes MIT so special? –Combination of technical capacity and innovation Innovation drives the American economy

3. The Internet Revolution Beginning in the 1990s, the Internet Revolution brought: New opportunities: Digital Economies Huge increases in efficiencies for traditional businesses and individuals

4. The Internet Revolution Revolution driven by entrepreneurs Started small, many got huge Many new billionaires

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Technology We will push you on technology Software development –Objected oriented design –Threaded applications –Regression testing –Versioning control systems –Bug ticketing trackers

11. 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, …

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Where MISTI Fits Skill Development Idea Generation Incubation Transition Stages of a Startup

18. Where MISTI Fits Skill Development 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

19. 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

20. Personnel Faculty Leadership Prof. Paul Gray 14 th President MIT Prof. Akinwande MIT EECS Student Leadership Advisers, Former AITI M. Gordon, PhD Postdoc MIT EECS Zawadi Lemayian Sloan, PhD Cand. Paul Njoroge AITI Founder CSAIL PhD Martin Mbaya AITI Founder MPP HKS Bryant Harrison MBA Harvard Staff Leadership Pat Gercik Associate Dir. MISTI Prof. Amarasinghe MIT EECS

21. Spotlight: Richard, Amiri, Clarisse, & Jean Rwandan CS undergrads June 2010 –Little practical programming experience –No entrepreneurship experience –No mobile technologies experience

22. 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

23. Survey If you are interested, please visit: http://bit.ly/mit-uom

24. Questions?