Whiteboard by The Engine
A program for faculty and principal investigators exploring entrepreneurship in Tough Tech — move breakthrough ideas from the lab toward venture formation through hands-on learning, continued education, and a connected community.
Whiteboard focuses on activating the three pillars essential to Tough Tech company formation: Human, Intellectual, and Financial Capital.
Intellectual Capital
How to think about scientific, technical, scaling, and market risk, and how to build a plan to de-risk your technology over time, both in the lab and in a startup.
Financial Capital
How companies are financed from pre-formation through early fundraising, what different capital sources expect, and how to aim each raise at a clear next milestone.
Human Capital
How to design and build an effective founding team, understand common founder archetypes, and define a sustainable role for a PI over a 10–15 year company journey.
of pre-program participants have never founded a company
have founded a single company
*data from last two cohorts
“Whiteboard provided a framework for rapidly understanding the human considerations, evaluating the tech viability, and assessing the risks of commercializing IP from our lab. Since 2023, we’ve spun out three Tough Tech startups with focuses on sustainable agriculture and chemical production.”
Whiteboard meets researchers
where they are.
For PIs & Researchers
One day.
A new lens on your research.
An immersive full-day seminar hosted at The Engine in Cambridge, MA. Designed for cohorts of 20–30 principal investigators, Whiteboard gives researchers the frameworks, case studies, and peer community to move their science toward commercialization.
*For more than four PIs from a single institution, please see below for Private or Custom Whiteboard seminars
- Frameworks for Tough Tech venture formation
- Applied case studies from real university spinouts across sectors
- A peer network of PIs exploring entrepreneurship
- Access to pre-read materials and online content library
- Digital certificate of completion
- Admission into Whiteboard Alumni Community of Practice
For Institutions
Bring whiteboard to your campus
Tailored to your institution’s research community, ecosystem, and Tough Tech sectors.
Developed by The Engine, a nonprofit incubator and accelerator founded by MIT, whiteboard has helped PIs from over 20 universities explore entrepreneurial spinouts of their technologies.
Facilitated by The Engine team with speakers drawn from your local venture ecosystem and institutional leadership. With proven frameworks, case studies, and data from real Tough Tech company formation.
For Whiteboard Custom: Content customized to your institution’s research domains and sectors, spinout history, and faculty community.
Two ways to bring Whiteboard to your institution.
*For individuals interested in joining a Whiteboard Cohort see our For Researchers & PIs section.
Sample Seminar Agenda
- 8:00 AM — Welcome and introductions
- 9:00 AM — Tough Tech venture formation frameworks
- 11:00 AM — Case studies from university spinouts
- 1:00 PM — Working session: applying frameworks to your research
- 3:00 PM — Founder stories and peer discussion
- 4:30 PM — Next steps and wrap-up
FAQs
-
We cast a broad net and are open to all scientific and engineering disciplines. Areas The Engine has already invested in address challenges in climate change, human health and advanced systems and infrastructure but are by no means limited to that. We are constantly learning from researchers like you about new areas that are impactful.
The learning doesn’t stop at the end of the day.
Extended learning & community is available to alumni of both the individual and institutional programs. Launching June 2026.
Monthly Webinars
Deeper frameworks on key topics through PI-founders and university experts, plus interactive discussions and 1:1 office hours.
Whiteboard Portal
Webinar recordings, case studies, tools, and resources — all in one place for ongoing Tough Tech translation.
Peer Community
An online community connecting Whiteboard alumni across institutions for ongoing collaboration and support.
Featured Case Studies & Speakers
Expert Insights. Tough Tech Impact.
-
![]()
Understand typical financing strategies, sources of capital and support for Tough Tech ventures
Jim Matheson, PhD: Professor, Entrepreneurial Finance and Tough Tech Ventures, Harvard Business School, Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Engine Ventures, Former General Partner, Flagship Pioneering..
-
![]()
The importance of a founding team and the evolving role and impact of a PI
Josué J. López, PhD: Senior Associate at Fine Structure Ventures, Senior Associate at Fine Structure Ventures Board Member of Boston Metal, Caelux, Finwave Semi, and iPronics, Former CEO of MIT spinout, Kyber Photonics.
-
![]()
Entrepreneurial journey of a PI driving multiple successful spinouts in Tough Tech
Yet-Ming Chiang, PhD: Kyocera Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Co-Founder of Sublime Systems, Rock Zero, Form Energy, Addis Energy.
-
![]()
Understand the risks associated with your innovation and consider the de-risking approach and timeline
Ian Johnston, PhD: VP of Tech Translation and Ecosystem Development, The Engine, Former Investor, Engine Ventures.
