MIT SANDBOX INNOVATION FUND FAQs
Mentor guidelines
1. How do I meet with mentors after receiving funding?
Many of you have already been assigned a mentor or are working with VMS. For teams who
have been approved for the $1k or $5k level of funding, instead of being assigned a mentor, you
will be invited to sign up for mentor office hours throughout the summer. We expect that you
will meet with a mentor at least once per month and send a brief update to [email protected]
detailing your discussion.
This initial mentorship session and subsequent monthly sessions are a requirement of the
program. Sign up for your Initial Mentor Meeting. Our initial mentors are fantastic and most of
them have reviewed several applications. They offer a range of expertise in start-up advising and
mentoring. This meeting is required to kick off your project and to get your budgets reviewed
and approved.
2. What are the guidelines for the initial meeting with my mentor?
Please review the guidelines for the initial meeting with your mentor. Make sure to include in
your presentation your approved budget and the feedback you have gotten from either the
reviewers or the funding board.
3. What if I am not in Boston to schedule a mentor meeting?
For those that are away from the Boston area, we can set you up with mentor meetings via
Skype.
4. What if I need to change the timing of a mentor meeting?
If you sign up to a session, please make your best effort to make the session. Do not cancel or
change the time at the last minute. Of course, things that are out of your control happen. In
that case, please email [email protected] if you need to make last minute changes (within 24
hours of your meeting). If you do change the time of your mentor meeting, please make sure
that you update the signup sheet by adding the new time and removing yourself from the time
slot you won’t be using.
5. What is the format of the mentor reports, which should be sent after a mentor meeting?
Make sure to send a meeting report to [email protected] as well as your mentor within 24
hours of the meeting. The report should include a summary of the meeting and clearly state the
agreed-upon next steps. To make it easier for us to file the reports properly, please include the
team name in the subject and the weekly report date, e.g. “Team SuperUber - Mentor Report
05/27/2016”.
General resources
6. Who do I contact if I have any IP-related questions or general questions about filing patents,
provisional or otherwise?
The Technology Licensing Office, Afarin O Bellisario, will be holding office hours in the Sandbox
Office 1-207 on Tuesday afternoons. Sign up for TLO Office Hours if you have any IP-related
questions or have general questions about filing patents, provisional or otherwise. Office hours
are also available for remote teams via Skype.
7. Who do I contact to get information on MIT library resources on innovation and
entrepreneurship?
The MIT librarian for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Nicholas Albaugh, will be holding office
hours in 1-207 on Wednesday afternoons. Feel free to stop by as the library conversations can
be easily shared among groups. Office hours are also available for remote teams via Skype.
8. What if I need Maker Space on campus?
If you will be needing Maker Space on campus, including wet lab space, please fill out the
Summer Maker Space Survey. We will be able to secure space as well as training, so make sure
to let us know what you need.
9. Where can I get information about Sandbox Resources?
Make sure to check out the Sandbox Resources Page for information about reimbursement
processes and for all info session presentations.
10. How can I participate in Sandbox summer programming?
We will be updating the Sandbox website with information about events, including workshops,
networking and social events, and other special events. Please visit often to find out what’s
coming up. We encourage you to participate in as much programming as possible.
11. How can I view the Sandbox workshops if I am currently not on campus?
For those of you who are not on campus, we will be posting videos of our workshops on a closed
YouTube channel after each event. Links to the videos will be emailed.
Reimbursement process
12. How can I get reimbursements?
Information about the reimbursement process is available on the MIT Sandbox website, here:
goo.gl/2GmEmw
13. How can I get an internship acceptance letter for my OPT?
If you are in need of an internship acceptance letter for your OPT, please contact the sandbox
team ([email protected]) and let us know when your OPT starts. We will send you a letter as
soon as possible. Please keep in mind that until your OPT starts, you may not participate in the
MIT Sandbox program.
14. How will I receive my stipend payments?
If you have been approved for a summer living allowance, please read below to find out how
you will be paid. The process is different for different students. See the table below for more
information.
Current student
or Graduated in
June 2016?
Current Student
Graduated in
June
Citizen,
Permanent
Resident or
International?
Citizen or
Permanent
Resident
Bachelors,
Masters, or
PhD?
Payment Process
All
International
All
Citizen or
Permanent
Resident
Bachelors or
Masters
International
Bachelors or
Masters
Citizen or
Permanent
Resident
PhD
International
PhD
You will be paid at the end of each month,
based on the stipend amount for which you
have been approved. You will receive your
payment via direct deposit, so please make
sure you have set up a direct deposit
account in Atlas.
The process is the same as above, however
international students must receive their
payment by check. Please contact us at
[email protected] to tell us your mailing
address for the summer and your country of
citizenship.
You will need to be set up with an hourly
appointment through MITemps. The rate
will be $10/hour, and you will need to
submit weekly time sheets. Please contact
us at [email protected] to begin the
process.
The process is the same as for citizens
(above), but will not begin until you receive
work authorization (e.g. OPT).
You will be set up with a Postdoctoral
Researcher appointment and will be paid
stipend at the end of each month, based on
the amount for which you have been
approved. You will receive your payment via
direct deposit, so please make sure you have
set up a direct deposit account in Atlas.
The process is the same as for citizens
(above), but will not begin until you receive
work authorization (e.g. OPT).