Home / Founders+Funders Lab
Home for Deeptech, AI, and XR
Drawing on the innovation ecosystems of MIT and Reality Hack to empower visionary founders and forward-thinking investors, we support the creation of transformative deep tech ventures that solve meaningful, real-world problems.
Physical AI
Spatial Computing
Neurotech
Robotics
Wearables
Sustainability
Entertainment
Medicine
Aerospace
Manufacturing
Physical AI Spatial Computing Neurotech Robotics Wearables Sustainability Entertainment Medicine Aerospace Manufacturing
MIT Ecosystem
Direct access to world-class academic resources, talents, and experts from MIT
Industry Network
Partnerships with leading tech companies, nonprofits, and investment institutes
Learning Opportunity
Curated events and resources to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologeis
Startups (Early Stage)
Reality Shapers
An application-based global community for early-stage founders in AI, XR, robotics, and deeptech who are building ventures with real-world impact to shape our realities.
Connect with the MIT Community
Gain access to capital
Build alongside like-minded founders
Scaleups (Growth Stage)
Startup-in-Residence
An invite-only program for startups to scale with MIT and Reality Hack innovation ecosystem, gaining visibility, talent, and partnerships while building the future of realities.
Recruit talents directly from MIT
Gain visibility through media partners
Access to MIT research groups
Investors, Operators, Partners
The Orbit
A curated network of investors, operators, and partners who support and accelerate frontier founders and technologies. The Orbit creates the gravitational field around innovators, providing the resources, capital, and connections needed to scale reality-changing ventures.
Connect with top-tier founders in deeptech
Collaborate within MIT innovation ecosystem
Invitations to exclusive member events
Sponsors
Sponsorship
We offer tiered sponsorship opportunities—Title, Platinum, Gold, and Silver—to accommodate a range of organizational budgets. Each tier provides increasing levels of engagement and visibility within the Founders+Funders Lab community.
Recognition across events and content
Opportunity to co-launch the annual startup call
Amplify impact through thought leadership
Partners
Our Team
Nemo Shi
Managing Director
William Reed de Oliveira
Managing Director
Maria Rice
Executive Director, MIT Reality Hack
Volunteer with us!
2025-26 Season Sponsor
Season Sponsorship is Open
Title Sponsorship
A premier partnership for one funding organization or corporate partner, providing a unique opportunity to shape the Founders & Funders Lab community, support key initiatives, and gain exclusive visibility throughout the 2025-26 period.
Co-branding across all events, content, and communications*
Priority access to vetted startups in the network
Opportunity to co-launch the annual startup call
Free tickets to affiliated and partner conferences
Invitations to exclusive member events
Featured recognition on website and social media