GUIDELINES

What are we looking for?

We are looking for ideas(*) or early stage startups dedicated to solving problems experienced in Venice as well as other coastal and historical cities. Every MDXV edition will have specific themes. In 2024, the themes are: 


(*) At MITdesignX Venice, Intellectual Property (IP) is considered the property of the individuals and/or teams. MIT and SerenDPT will not stake IP or patent claims to new ideas developed at MITdesignX Venice. 

Who are we looking for?

MITdesignX Venice seeks diverse, interdisciplinary teams working on challenging ideas to design high-impact solutions and launch a real venture based in Venice. 

Ideal candidates are ideas with a connection to Venice, or to the problems the city experiences.

Ideas can be submitted by anyone, regardless of age and origin or background (whether students, professionals, or community members).

MITdesignX Venice is suitable for newborn teams or incorporated startups that are in the pre-seed or seed phase (*) or in the pivoting phase (unless technological pivoting).


(*) It is not necessary to have a registered startup at the time of application; click here to find out more about the startup phases & pivoting.

Application Requirements

Teams should be composed of at least 2 people and not more than 5.
Anyone can be a member of a team (*), regardless of age and origin or background (whether students, professionals, or community members). 

An individual cannot apply as a single proponent and cannot apply as a member of more than one team.

Participants are required to speak a good level of English. The entire program (workshops and final pitch) will be held in English.


(*) It is not necessary to have a registered startup at the time of application. Eligible applicants are teams of people with a business idea. 

Prizes & Benefits

MITdesignx Venice is a unique course offered by MIT Professional Education in English.

Participants who complete the program by satisfying the rules of attendance will access prizing the benefits and will be issued a certificate of participation signed by the executive director of MITdesignX and will be authorized to use the MITdesignX Venice logo for information purposes about the existence of an association relationship between the graduating startup and the program.

In 2024 Final Prizes(*) will amount to  €32.000


(*)  Prizes are awarded to the venture, not to individual team members. Prizes cannot be split. Only the startup and team members that participate in the Final Pitch will be eligible for the prizes (check the rules of attendance to access prizing).

Rules of Attendance

MITdesignX Venice is a in-person program on site, at H3 Factory, in Venice, Italy.
SerenDPT provides a workspace for the selected teams during the on-site workshops.

In-person attendance (at all fall workshops) by at least 2 applicants for each team is mandatory to access prizing and benefits. 

All the expenses for attending the program in person are borne by the participants.

How can you participate? 

Applications can be submitted online (in English) during the submission period. Applications in 2024 are open from May until August 11th.

We encourage individuals and teams to attend preparatory events that are programmed before the submission deadline. 

Up to 10 ideas will be selected to participate in the Fall program.

Evaluation Criteria 

Applications go through a selection process that reviews ideas based on:


Up to 10 teams are selected.

More questions?