MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund

MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund — Seed Grant

Supports MIT students with non-dilutive seed funds, mentorship, and reimbursement for early innovation.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program provides non-dilutive funding of up to $25,000 per idea to degree-seeking MIT students pursuing innovative ventures across any sector. The program has been operating for over a decade and has supported thousands of student innovators through a combination of seed funding, mentorship, and entrepreneurship education. Funding is disbursed through reimbursements on submitted receipts — recipients spend first and claim back eligible expenses — and no equity is taken in exchange.

At least one full-time MIT undergraduate or graduate student in a leadership role is required on every team, though teams may include non-MIT members. Special students, exchange students, postdocs, and EMBA students are not eligible. Teams whose total equity-based funding already exceeds $50,000 are also ineligible. The program operates on two internal tiers: an Exploratory level (typically around $1,000, faster review) and a Growth Stage tier ($5,000–$25,000, requiring a pitch deck and a presentation to a Funding Board composed of investors and industry experts). Requests under $5,000 go through a lighter review process.

Applications are accepted each semester. The Spring 2026 cycle ran January 6–15, 2026. Fall 2026 cycle dates had not been published as of May 2026. Upon acceptance, teams must attend a mandatory kick-off session, participate in monthly mentoring, complete at least two in-person workshops, submit monthly and final status reports, and attend a Funding Board Showcase. The program is based at MIT's iHQ building at 292 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts.