Explore how high-energy, immersive MIT Bootcamps learning experiences unlocked key innovation…

Explore how high-energy, immersive MIT Bootcamps learning experiences unlocked key innovation insights for learners around the globe

By Mariah Rawding

This summer, the MIT Bootcamps team traveled to Croatia to connect innovators from around the world with Institute experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and product strategy through two educational programs: MIT Bootcamps Trek and MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp. Working with Algebra University, a private institution based in Zagreb, these programs provided immersive learning experiences aligned with MIT’s “learn by doing” approach to over 50 participants.

MIT Bootcamps Trek

The MIT Bootcamps Trek, a three-and-a-half-day program focused on product strategy, offered participants a deep dive into the Croatian technology ecosystem along with a cultural experience. Highlights from outside of the classroom and workshops included trips to the Pula Arena, one of the largest surviving Roman arenas, and the Visnjan Observatory in Rovinj.

From the coastline to the heart of Zagreb, participants spoke to product strategy teams from both large and small companies alike. Hearing about product challenges and solutions from these organizations, participants were able to grasp insights from industries and organizations very different from their own.

Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to communicate with their customers across various channels. Started by a pair of brothers, Silvio and Robert Kutic, Infobip is Croatia’s first unicorn company. During the campus tour participants heard from Mihovil Mader, products director for infrastructure and data, who spoke about building and managing global IT infrastructure — and all that it takes to keep such a complex organization running.

During the Bootcamps Trek program, learners attended workshops led by MIT and Algebra alumni who are product experts in their respective fields. Ruben Lozano Aguilera, a senior product manager at Google Maps and MIT Sloan alumnus, spoke about generative AI and machine learning for product managers, as well as developing sustainable products that drive global change. Luka Maricic, head of product for Happening, shared strategies for startup ideation, and Ana Zrno, Director of Product Operations and Strategy at Wrike, discussed insights on scaling and decision-making.

Rimac Group, encompassing Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Technology, is a Croatian unicorn company that builds high-performance electrified hypercars, including the Rimac Nevera. Participants toured the Rimac assembly line and had the opportunity to discuss physical products innovation with Rimac engineers, a contrast from many digital products they interacted with during the MIT Bootcamps Trek program. Touring Rimac was a Trek highlight for many learners.

MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp

Held at Algebra University in Zagreb, the MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp brought together 42 participants from 23 countries to learn from MIT’s leading experts in a growing innovation ecosystem. Embracing MIT’s motto, “mens et manus,” or “mind and hand,” the program is designed to help participants build a business from scratch in just six days.

Participants were grouped into teams of five to six, with the goal of maximizing the diversity in background, skills, and interest on each team. After the teams got to know each other, they were paired with an MIT-trained entrepreneur, who provided guidance through team dynamics, ideation, and answering any questions about the curriculum.

Each day began with lectures from MIT instructors on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Paul Cheek, executive director of the MIT Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, spoke about how to win market share, while Erdin Beshimov, Hanna Adeyema, and other MIT coaches discussed a range of topics, such as primary market research, go-to-market strategy, and value proposition.

Participants applied these concepts during team work in the afternoons and evenings with support from their coaches and other mentors. Teams worked tirelessly through the week to conduct primary market research, receive feedback from their coaches, and work on building their final pitch.

“Going through this methodology is so important especially when the participants are so engaged. They see the opportunity to learn these different methodologies of entrepreneurship, not within just the context of the projects they are working on, but within the context of their careers and where they will go as innovative, principled leaders.”

— Paul Cheek, executive director of the MIT Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship

“Working on a team is one of the more magical experiences of the program. In six days, team members may go from being strangers to developing life-long friendships. The strong ties to others from new cultures and diverse professional backgrounds are formed not without conflict. While working through friction on their teams, bootcampers — unexpectedly — learn more about themselves. Through this process, they discover the ability to look at both sides of a relationship and see the team and themselves in a new perspective.”

— Hanna Adeyema, MIT Bootcamps Director

On the final day of the Bootcamp, teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, with the top three teams advancing to the final round of the competition. The jury featured executives from top companies in Croatia, including Hrvatska Posta, Infobip, and other local executives and venture capitalists.

“It was very emotional and very educational,” says Alen Ivancec, chief technology officer at Hrvasta Posta, the Croatian postal office, and a member of the winning team, SafeBrew. “We went beyond our limits. It was a unique experience that I don’t think I could repeat anywhere else.”

To cap off the program, Paul Cheek had a short message to all future Bootcampers, “The hardest part of the entrepreneurial process is getting started. So don’t delay. Start now.”

Explore how high-energy, immersive MIT Bootcamps learning experiences unlocked key innovation… was originally published in MIT Open Learning on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.