MIT delta v2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
MIT's capstone summer accelerator for student founders, run by the Martin Trust Center. Teams get up to $75K in equity-free funding and finish at a September Demo Day.
- Up to $75K
- Funding
- No equity
- Equity
- About 3.5 months
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About MIT delta v
MIT delta v is the capstone accelerator for student founders at MIT. It is run by the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, which was founded in 1991. The program runs each summer on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and ends with a public Demo Day at MIT's Kresge Auditorium.
The funding increased sharply in 2026. Klaviyo co-founders Ed Hallen and Andrew Bialecki gave $6 million to the Trust Center to expand delta v. As a result, teams can now earn up to $75,000 in equity-free funding during the program, up from $20,000 in earlier years. MIT takes no equity, and the program lists more than $200,000 in perks from partners such as Stripe, Figma, and Vercel.
The 2026 cohort applied between March 1 and April 1, 2026, started on June 1, and presented at Demo Day on September 11, 2026. The Boston Globe reported 13 startups in the summer 2026 cohort. Applicants must be currently enrolled MIT students, and solo founders were accepted for the first time in 2026.
MIT reports that delta v alumni companies have a five-year survival rate of 69% and have raised well over $3 billion. Alumni companies include Klarity and Reducto. The 2026 gift also funds a partner model that brings in founders from companies such as HubSpot, Okta, and Kayak as mentors.
What MIT delta v looks for
MIT says delta v is for founders with strong conviction who are already actively building. Teams should want to work on the company full-time and go to market by the end of the program. They need a prototype, early product, or research they can demonstrate. MIT looks for a strong founding team with complementary skills, or a driven solo founder. It also wants early signals that customers or partners are interested in paying. Applicants must be currently enrolled MIT students.
How the MIT delta v program works
delta v runs full-time over the summer, from early June to mid-September. Teams work from the Martin Trust Center at MIT in Cambridge. Each team receives up to $75,000 in equity-free funding, released during the program.
Mentors include experienced founders, and the 2026 partner model adds founders from HubSpot, Okta, and Kayak. Teams set goals and report progress throughout the summer, with the aim of going to market by the end. Partners such as Stripe, Figma, and Vercel provide more than $200,000 in perks.
The summer ends with an Investor Showcase, held on September 8 in 2026, and a public Demo Day at Kresge Auditorium, held on September 11 in 2026 with a livestream. MIT takes no equity and charges no fee.
How to apply to MIT delta v
- 1Confirm you are a currently enrolled MIT student. Solo founders have been allowed since 2026.
- 2Attend an info session or office hours in March. In 2026 these ran on March 4 and March 18, with drop-in hours March 30 and 31.
- 3Submit the application during the spring window. The 2026 window ran from March 1 to 5:00 pm Eastern on April 1.
- 4If you are a finalist, interview in late April. 2026 finalist interviews were held on April 27.
- 5Expect a decision in the first week of May and plan to work full-time on the company from June 1.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable MIT delta v alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by MIT delta v.
MIT delta v vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIT delta v | Up to $75K | No equity | Cambridge, MA | Next deadline not announced yet |
| AWS Generative AI Accelerator | Up to $1M | No equity | Seattle, WA | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Conception X | Up to $390K | No equity | London | December 6, 2026 (40 days left) |
| WILCO | Up to $173K | No equity | Paris | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Microsoft for Startups (formerly Founders Hub) | Up to $150K | No equity | Online | Rolling admissions |
| KAUST TAQADAM Accelerator | Up to $140K | No equity | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia | Next deadline not announced yet |
MIT delta v FAQ
When is the MIT delta v application deadline?+
MIT delta v has not announced its next deadline yet (Summer 2027 cohort; 2026 applications ran March 1 to April 1, 2026). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
Does MIT delta v take equity?+
No. MIT delta v provides up to $75,000 in equity-free funding per team, and MIT takes no equity. The amount rose from $20,000 in earlier years after Klaviyo co-founders Ed Hallen and Andrew Bialecki gave $6 million to the Martin Trust Center in 2026.
Who is eligible for MIT delta v?+
The program is for currently enrolled MIT students. Solo founders were allowed for the first time in 2026. Teams should be ready to work full-time over the summer, have a demonstrable prototype or research, and show early interest from potential paying customers.
When and where is delta v Demo Day?+
Demo Day is held in September at MIT's Kresge Auditorium in Cambridge, with a livestream. In 2026 it took place on Friday, September 11, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, after an Investor Showcase on September 8. The 2027 date has not been announced.
Sources: entrepreneurship.mit.edu, entrepreneurship.mit.edu, entrepreneurship.mit.edu, news.mit.edu, bostonglobe.com