October 28, 2026 · MIT

Apply to demo

The Early Stage is a demo day for Massachusetts' earliest-stage AI teams. Convened by MIT's Commonwealth AI Group (CAIG) & supporting VCs, we are bringing together founders, investors, and industry leaders who are specifically looking for early ideas & talented teams.

We are domain agnostic; our only ask is that you have a complete idea with AI or ML at the center of it, and some evidence that you're solving a real problem.

Selected teams get a short stage slot, a cohort experience with office hours and introductions, matched breakout conversations with investors, and prizes to be announced.

Criteria to apply: Massachusetts-based team, founded in the last 1–2 years, under $5M raised, 1-minute video submission.
Applications close September 23rd · Selected teams announced October 14
Founding team
This is how we'll send selection results.
Technical ownership
Tell us who on the team writes code or does other core technical work. If any of it was done by someone outside the founding team, please explain the scope and why.
Add one link per person.
Introduce yourselves
One minute. We want to see who you are and what you're pitching. Please include a one-minute pitch of the problem, breakthrough and opportunity that your company seeks to address. Google Drive, YouTube, Loom, or similar link.
Product
The basics
0/120
Optional.
Demo
Show us the product in action. A short screen recording is fine — max 3 min. Google Drive, Loom, or YouTube link. Optional.
What you're building
What does it do, who uses it, and what problem does it solve? Be specific.
Where are you based today, and what's your connection to the MA tech ecosystem?
Traction
Where you are now
What exists today, what's working, and what are you still building toward? Be direct — early is great!
Break it down by person, and note how much has been full-time.
How you build
Include the AI models and coding tools you're using.
Demo day readiness
Vision
Your insight
What drew you to this problem? What do you know about it that most people don't?
We're not looking for "no one else is doing this." Tell us what you understand about the space that your competitors haven't figured out yet.
How do you make money, and how big could it get? Honest best estimate.
Funding
Status
Be specific. We use this to make introductions and match you with the right people in the room.
By submitting, you're sharing this information with The Early Stage organizing team for the purpose of reviewing your application and, if selected, making investor and press introductions. It won't be sold or shared with anyone outside that review process. We retain applications for [TODO: retention period, e.g. "12 months after the event"]. To request deletion of your data at any time, email [TODO: privacy contact email].

Application submitted

We'll be in touch by October 14 with next steps. Thanks for building in Massachusetts.