AI’s Rising Role in MIT’s Startup Ecosystem
The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship has long been a hub for cultivating innovative student startups. This year’s delta v summer accelerator program highlighted a major trend reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape: the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in startup development.
During the 2025 delta v program, students explored how AI can streamline various aspects of launching a business—from coding and market research to drafting presentations and prototyping. Despite AI’s growing presence, Trust Center leaders emphasize that core entrepreneurial principles remain unchanged.
“The fundamentals of entrepreneurship haven’t changed with AI,” said Macauley Kenney, Entrepreneur in Residence at the Trust Center. “AI is just another tool in the toolkit. It accelerates processes but doesn’t replace foundational strategies like customer discovery.”
Learning to Build with AI
Throughout the accelerator, students employed AI tools to enhance productivity and gain insights. The Trust Center supports this integration, encouraging students to use AI thoughtfully while recognizing its limitations.
One of the major tools introduced is Jetpack, a generative AI app embedded in the Trust Center’s Orbit platform. Jetpack guides users through the 24 steps of disciplined entrepreneurship as outlined in Managing Director Bill Aulet’s book. It can suggest customer segments, pricing strategies, business models, and product plans based on a user’s startup idea.
“We see Jetpack as a jetpack in the literal sense,” said Kenney. “It can give you thrust, but you still need to steer.”
Ben Soltoff, another Entrepreneur in Residence, echoed this sentiment: “AI is reshaping how students build companies. But we’ve made sure it complements — not replaces — the entrepreneurial journey.”
Using AI for Strategic Advantage
As AI reshapes startup operations, the Trust Center has placed a spotlight on its strategic use. AI is not just about speed; it’s about enabling smarter decisions. However, both faculty and students acknowledge that AI cannot substitute for direct customer interaction.
“We reinforce that AI-generated ideas must be validated,” Kenney stated. “You can’t build a product for an ‘average person.’ You need to talk to real customers.”
Students like Aanchal Arora, an MBA candidate and founder of Mendhai Health, are using AI to enhance efficiency in solving real-world problems. Her company leverages AI and telehealth to provide personalized physical therapy for women facing pelvic floor dysfunction.
“AI has made things faster, but it can’t replace understanding your customer,” Arora said. “We still need to make careful, informed decisions.”
Delta V’s AI-Native Startups
This year’s delta v cohort featured startups that deeply integrated AI into their core operations. One such example is Cognify, co-founded by MIT Sloan MBA candidate Murtaza Jameel. Cognify uses AI to simulate user interactions with websites and apps, aiming to improve digital experiences through predictive behavior modeling.
“Our design intelligence tool replaces traditional product testing with instant simulations,” Jameel explained. “AI is part of everything we do—from brainstorming to deployment.”
Jameel even created a custom AI bot trained on proprietary company data to assist with daily decision-making, effectively making AI a constant collaborator in his startup journey.
AI’s Limitations and Entrepreneurial Realities
Despite AI’s potential, the Trust Center remains cautious. Many students feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of AI tools available, and faculty emphasize that no tool can replace real-world experience and human insight.
“AI can help organize emails or generate presentations, but it can’t tell you who your customer is,” Kenney said. “That requires talking to people and truly understanding their needs.”
Soltoff added, “AI hasn’t altered our curriculum’s core. You still need to identify your market, validate your product, and build a team.”
The challenges faced by this summer’s delta v teams mirrored those of previous years—team dynamics, customer discovery, and market validation. AI may be a powerful accelerator, but the entrepreneurial journey still demands human insight, resilience, and adaptability.
The Human Side of Innovation
Even amid the AI revolution, students emphasize the value of human mentorship and collaboration. Jameel noted that delta v’s access to experienced advisors was a key reason he chose MIT.
“The mentorship and guidance from people who’ve built companies before is invaluable,” he said. “AI is part of our journey, but the human network at MIT is what makes it truly special.”
As AI continues to evolve, the Trust Center remains committed to helping students strike the right balance between leveraging cutting-edge tools and adhering to time-tested entrepreneurial practices.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.