Innovate Series Boston 2025

A 6-week collaborative innovation program where teams work on technology solutions addressing real-world challenges. Teams progress through structured milestones from ideation to implementation, culminating in a showcase event.

November 1 2025: Kickoff & Team Formation

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)

Nov 8th 2025: Milestone 1: Problem definition and research (Week 1)

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

Nov 22nd 2025:  Milestone 2: Solution Design and Definition (Weeks 2 and 3)

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

Nov 29th-Dec 6th 2025: Milestone 3: Build and Iterate (Weeks 4 and 5)

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

Dec. 14th 2025: Milestone 4: Final Presentation & Showcase (Week 6)

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

1. 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.

2. Q: What's the time commitment? 

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

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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..

6. Q: What support is provided? 

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

7. Q: Can international students participate? 

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

8. 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.