Innovate Boston Spring 2026

What Happens:

• Virtual kickoff event with keynote speaker
• Team formation (3-5 members per team)
• Ice-breaker sessions and networking

Deliverable: Team registration with member details  

Submission: Google Form with team name, members, and initial idea(problem/solution)

What Happens:

• Teams identify specific problems
• Conduct user research and market analysis
• Define target audience and success metrics

Deliverables:

• Problem statement (500 words)
• User research findings
• Initial solution hypothesis

Submission: Upload to team folder in shared Google Drive

Feedback: Mentors provide written feedback within 48 hours

What Happens:

• Develop solution architecture
• Create wireframes/mockups
• Build proof of concept
• Validate with potential users

Deliverables:

• Technical architecture diagram
• Wireframes/design mockups (Figma/similar)
• MVP feature list with prioritization
• User validation report (min. 3 user feedback sessions)
• 3-minute  pitch of solution

Submission: Google Drive uploads 

Checkpoint: Optional 15-minute mentor check-in available

What Happens:

• Develop working prototype/MVP
• Conduct testing and iterations
• Prepare technical documentation
• Refine based on feedback

Deliverables:

• Working prototype (deployed or demo-ready)
• Source code repository (GitHub)
• Technical documentation/README
• Testing report with bug fixes
• Updated pitch deck (10 slides max)

Submission: GitHub repository link + deployed URL (if applicable) 

Review: Peer review session where teams test each other's solutions

Format: In person event in Cambridge on Dec 14th 2025

Location:  We will inform about this about two weeks prior to the event.  The event is expected to be within Massachusetts Greater Boston area.

What Happens:

• Public showcase event
• Live presentations to judges and community
• Networking and celebration

Deliverables:

• 7-minute live presentation + 3-minute Q&A
• Final prototype demonstration
• One-page project summary for website
• Reflection document on learnings

Q: Do I need a team to register? 

A: No! Register individually and we'll help you find teammates during kickoff, or come with a pre-formed team.

Q: What's the time commitment? 

A: Expect 5-7 hours/week including workshops, team meetings, and building.

Q: Is this a competition or collaborative program? 

A: Both! While teams can win awards, the focus is on learning, collaboration, and community building. Teams are encouraged to help each other.

Q: What technical skills do I need? 

A: Basic programming knowledge is helpful but not required. We need designers, researchers, project managers, and creative thinkers too!

Q: Is this remote or in-person? 

A: Primarily remote with optional in-person meetups if you're in major cities. Final showcase will be in person, 1 participant has to be onsite in Cambridge from the team..

Q: What support is provided? 

A: Mentorship, workshops, tool credits, technical resources, and a supportive community on Slack.

Q: Can international students participate? 

A: Yes! All sessions are recorded and we accommodate multiple time zones.

Q: What happens to our projects after the program? 

A: You retain full ownership! We encourage teams to continue development, open-source, or launch their solutions.