Apply to Present or Attend

We are selecting 25 MIT and Harvard-affiliated startups (with up to 2 founders per startup) to attend the Crimson Bridge Summit: Cambridge to Abu Dhabi, taking place in New York City in April 2026. Each selected startup will receive 2 complimentary summit tickets.

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Out of these 25 startups, 6 will be chosen to present on stage during the Crimson Founders Demo Session. By submitting this application, your startup will be considered for both attending the summit and potentially being selected as one of the 6 presenting startups.

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Eligibility

This application is exclusively for individuals who are students, graduates, or faculty of degree programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Harvard University. Eligible applicants include those enrolled in or who have completed bachelor's, master's, or doctoral programs, as well as faculty from either institution. Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply. Please note that certificate programs, online programs, and executive education programs do not qualify.

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By accessing and using this website, you acknowledge and agree to abide by these eligibility criteria. Any applications submitted by individuals who do not meet the specified eligibility requirements will not be considered.

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We reserve the right to verify the educational background of all applicants to ensure compliance with these eligibility criteria.

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If you have any questions or require further clarification regarding eligibility, please feel free to email us: founder@crimsonfounders.com.

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Disclaimer

Crimson Founders is an independent organization and is not affiliated with MIT or Harvard.

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Criteria​

1. At least one founder with a minimum of 5% equity must be a student, graduate, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and/or Harvard University. Students and graduates must be from a degree program (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral). Please review the Eligibility Disclaimer.

2. This application must be completed and submitted by the founder with MIT and/or Harvard affiliation.

3. Startups from all industries and regions are eligible to apply.

4. Startups must either (1) have raised funding from institutional investors at the Seed stage or beyond (including late or super seed, Series A, or Series B), or (2) demonstrate revenue generation or proof of concept, even if bootstrapped. Proof of concept includes (but is not limited to) having a functioning product, active customers, or demonstrated market interest through letters of intent or pilot projects. Idea-stage startups with no revenue and no institutional funding are not eligible.

5. The company must have been founded on or before March 1, 2025.

6. Non-profits are not eligible to apply.

7. This pitch competition requires in-person participation, with at least one founding team member physically present to deliver the presentation. Virtual participation is not permitted. The presenter does not need to be the MIT or Harvard-affiliated founder, but must be part of the founding team and be the same individual featured in the submitted pitch and demo video.

8. The application deadline is 11:59 PM (Eastern Time, New York) on January 7, 2026.

9. The results will be announced by 11:59 PM on January 21, 2026.

10. Applicants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation in New York City, as these costs are not covered by the organizers.

11. Kindly read the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

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