MIT’s delta v Accelerator Receives $6M to Boost Student AI Startups

MIT’s delta v entrepreneurship accelerator has secured a $6 million donation from Klaviyo co-founders Ed Hallen and Andrew Bialecki. The funding is intended to strengthen MIT’s support for student-founded startups, with a growing emphasis on ventures using artificial intelligence (AI).

delta v, managed by the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, serves as MIT’s capstone accelerator program for student founders. The center recently reviewed its direction in response to the rapid changes AI is bringing to business formation and operations. Hallen and Bialecki, whose company Klaviyo provides customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, aim to help the next generation of MIT entrepreneurs build sustainable and innovative companies.

“In the early days of Klaviyo, we learned through hands-on experience,” Hallen noted. “MIT delta v offers students this same environment, paired with mentorship and resources.” Bialecki added, “Boston is a global innovation hub, and delta v is instrumental in helping students become enduring founders.”

With the new funds, delta v will increase the maximum equity-free funding per participant from $20,000 to up to $75,000. The program will also launch a new partner model, connecting students with leading founders from companies such as HubSpot, Okta, and Kayak, senior executives, subject matter experts, and early-stage investors for expanded mentorship.

MIT Provost Anantha Chandrakasan said, “The AI revolution is creating opportunities for students to tackle global challenges. The delta v accelerator supports this mission by enabling the creation of impactful companies.”

In recent years, several delta v alumni, including startups like Cursor and Delve, have achieved strong growth using AI-driven approaches. Other alumni, such as Klarity and Reducto, are providing software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions leveraging AI technology, while companies like Vertical Semiconductor are contributing to the energy infrastructure for data centers.

Applications for the next delta v cohort will open on March 1, with selected teams announced in May for the 2026 summer accelerator. The program continues to emphasize experiential learning, mentorship, and access to resources in helping student entrepreneurs develop and launch their ventures. Since its founding in 1991, the Martin Trust Center and its programs have cultivated startups active in sectors including AI, health care, climate, and fintech.

According to a ten-year review, delta v alumni companies have a five-year survival rate of 69% and have collectively raised over $3 billion in funding. Nearly 90% of these companies address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating the accelerator’s global impact.

The $6 million gift underscores delta v’s pivotal role in shaping the next generation of job creators and thought leaders as AI continues to transform entrepreneurship.

Source: news.mit.edu