Steve Jobs famously referred to the computer as “a bicycle for the mind.” However, the latest innovation from the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship promises to be even more powerful.
“Perhaps it’s not a Ferrari yet, but we’ve definitely got a functioning vehicle,” states Bill Aulet, managing director at the center. This exciting new offering, called the MIT Entrepreneurship JetPack, is a generative artificial intelligence tool that’s been developed using Aulet’s 24-step Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, designed to optimize prompts for large language models.
By introducing a startup concept into the Eship JetPack, users can experience the efficiency of having “five or 10 or 12 MIT undergraduates instantly conducting all the research you need based on your inquiries,” says Aulet.
Currently, this tool is being actively utilized by entrepreneurship students at MIT, as well as being piloted externally, with a growing waitlist available for potential users. Access is granted through the Trust Center’s Orbit digital entrepreneurship platform, which was introduced in 2019 to provide a responsive alternative to the more static Trust Center website.
“We weren’t adhering to our own entrepreneurial protocols,” notes Aulet. “We needed to engage students where they are, and increasingly that’s on their phones. I said, ‘Let’s create an app that’s more dynamic than a traditional website, which will allow us to connect with students effectively.’”
Thanks to efforts by Trust Center Executive Director Paul Cheek and Product Lead Doug Williams, Orbit has transformed into a comprehensive resource for student entrepreneurs. The platform’s back end offers leaders insights into user engagement, enabling them to analyze what content resonates with students.
Since Orbit’s launch, Aulet and his team have been analyzing this user data. This invaluable feedback has shown them precisely how students prefer to access information, whether related to course offerings, startup competition entries, or guidance for their entrepreneurial concepts, as well as support in connecting with like-minded co-founders and advisors. The team also consulted with Ethan Mollick SM ’04, PhD ’10, a professor at Wharton and author of “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI.”
Work on the Eship JetPack commenced approximately six months ago. Its name draws inspiration from the instant propulsion a jet pack provides and the importance of human oversight to steer its trajectory.
“Our evolution from merely capturing data to providing actionable guidance aligns perfectly with MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship and Startup Tactics frameworks,” explains Williams.
One of the tool’s first beta users, Shari Van Cleave, MBA ’15, showcased its potential in a YouTube demonstration. After inputting an idea for mobile electric vehicle charging, the AI quickly suggested target market segments, beachhead markets, business models, pricing strategies, testing methods, and a product plan—covering just seven of the 24 steps in the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework.
“I was amazed by how rapidly the AI provided comprehensive recommendations—from market sizing (TAM) to lifetime customer value models,” Van Cleave expressed in an email. “Having a high-quality rough draft allows founders, whether seasoned or new, to execute plans and fundraise more efficiently.”
This tool is equally beneficial for entrepreneurs who are already progressing through the 24-step process, Aulet notes. For instance, they might seek insights or quotes regarding performance improvement or explore alternative markets.
“Our ultimate aim is to uplift entrepreneurship as a whole, empowering more individuals to become entrepreneurs and excel at it,” concludes Aulet.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
