Explorer Mentor Ressources

• Here is a link to the last email.
• Spring 2024 Previous emails are in this folder.
  
  

• A copy of the slides and agenda can be found here
• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces Session 3 : 

Below are some resources for your upcoming subsession #3.  

The slides here for session 3. It will be an interactive session as usual and will cover:

1. Elevator Pitch/Value Prop (10 mins)
2. Explorer gSheet Review (10-15 mins per team)
   • Monthly Report, Assumptions Framework, LBMC
   • Customer Discovery update (survey questions and interviews)
3. Pitch Deck Fundamentals (30-40 mins)
   • Advice on How to Pitch
   • Pitch Deck Format
   • Examples

• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resources:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #2.  While your mentors in your particular Group will customize the material, it is recommended you look at the slides before you attend the session.  

1. The slides for session #2 can be found here
2. Your goal before and during the session should be to come up with 2-3 assumptions that are essential to your business and prioritize them.  You will have an interactive session with your mentors regarding the assumptions (your hypothesis), questions you can ask (test), and who is your first customer targets to ask (action).
3. Make sure you have reviewed the Lean Launchpad slide already:
1. Recording of a webinar 
2. Lean LaunchPad Slides

General Guidelines:

1. Please update your Explorer gSheet (If you have not done so already, make a copy of the template and share it with your mentors). In particular update:
1. Lean Business Model Canvas
2. Budget (if you are requesting funding)
3. Monthly Report (You will review with your mentors)
4. Start on your assumptions Framewrok (come up with 2-3 assumptions to discuss with your mentors).
2. Start thinking about your Customer Discovery survey/interview questions and conduct initial interviews (where applicable).

See team Resources webpage and the “Ultimate List of Customer Questions”.

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Tuesday April 2nd, 2024) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session , and an update on the program.

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #1.  

1. Teams have already attended the kickoff session and “The Lean Launchpad” webinar (see above).
2. Slides for Session #1 can be found here
3. Session #1 general purpose is:

• General information on the Explorer program  
• The introduction of the Business Startup Canvas.
• Team introductions
• Project introductions

• Here is a link to the last email.
• Fall 2023 Previous emails are in this folder.
  
  

• A copy of the slides and agenda can be found here
• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces Session 3 : 

Below are some resources for your upcoming subsession #3.  

The slides here for session 3. It will be an interactive session as usual and will cover:

1. Elevator Pitch/Value Prop (10 mins)
2. Explorer gSheet Review (10-15 mins per team)
   • Monthly Report, Assumptions Framework, LBMC
   • Customer Discovery update (survey questions and interviews)
3. Pitch Deck Fundamentals (30-40 mins)
   • Advice on How to Pitch
   • Pitch Deck Format
   • Examples

• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resources:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #2.  While your mentors in your particular Group will customize the material, it is recommended you look at the slides before you attend the session.  

1. The slides for session #2 can be found here
2. Your goal before and during the session should be to come up with 2-3 assumptions that are essential to your business and prioritize them.  You will have an interactive session with your mentors regarding the assumptions (your hypothesis), questions you can ask (test), and who is your first customer targets to ask (action).
3. Make sure you have reviewed the Lean Launchpad slide already:
1. Recording of a webinar 
2. Lean LaunchPad Slides

General Guidelines:

1. Please update your Explorer gSheet (If you have not done so already, make a copy of the template and share it with your mentors). In particular update:
1. Lean Business Model Canvas
2. Budget (if you are requesting funding)
3. Monthly Report (You will review with your mentors)
4. Start on your assumptions Framewrok (come up with 2-3 assumptions to discuss with your mentors).
2. Start thinking about your Customer Discovery survey/interview questions and conduct initial interviews (where applicable).

See team Resources webpage and the “Ultimate List of Customer Questions”.

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Thursday October 18, 2023) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session , and an update on the program.
• Here is the recording

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #1.  

1. Teams have already attended the kickoff session and “The Lean Launchpad” webinar (see above).
2. Slides for Session #1 can be found here
3. Session #1 general purpose is:

• General information on the Explorer program  
• The introduction of the Business Startup Canvas.
• Team introductions
• Project introductions

• Mentor Training and Session 0 Preview (held Thursday October 5, 2023) (Slides are here) – This covered the showcase update, S23 Survey Update, and new apps review for F23 cohort.

• Here is a link to the last email.
• Spring 2023 Previous emails are in this folder.
  
  

• A copy of the slides and agenda can be found here
• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces Session 3 : 

Below are some resources for your upcoming subsession #3.  

The slides here for session 3. It will be an interactive session as usual and will cover:

1. Elevator Pitch/Value Prop (10 mins)
2. Explorer gSheet Review (10-15 mins per team)
   • Monthly Report, Assumptions Framework, LBMC
   • Customer Discovery update (survey questions and interviews)
3. Pitch Deck Fundamentals (30-40 mins)
   • Advice on How to Pitch
   • Pitch Deck Format
   • Examples

• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #2.  

1. The slides for session #2 can be found here
2. Your goal during the session should be to come up with 2-3 assumptions that are essential to your business and prioritize them.  You will have an interactive session with your mentors regarding the assumptions (your hypothesis), questions you can ask (test), and who is your first customer targets to ask (action).
3. It is very important that you view and review the webinar and slides on the Lean Business Model Canvas, Assumptions Framework and Customer Discovery and how to update your Explorer gSheet. This webinar was given on March 5,2021 by Richard Amster (long time Mentor). Webinar recording is here, and slides are here. There is a great example/discussion of a filled out LBMC and assumptions (some good and some need improving). Watch the webinar!

    

   General Guidelines:

   1. Please make sure to update your Explorer gSheet(If you have not done so already, make a copy of the template and share it with your mentors). In particular update:
   1. Lean Business Model Canvas
   2. Budget (if you are requesting funding)
   3. Monthly Report (You will review with your mentors)
   4. Start on your assumptions Framewrok (come up with 2-3 assumptions to discuss with your mentors).
   2. Watch/study the Session 2 webinar by Richard Amster (See above).
   3. Start working on your Customer Discovery survey/interview questions and conduct initial interviews (where applicable).

   See team Resources webpage and the “Ultimate List of Customer Questions”. 

   1. To share material with your mentors (survey questions, monthly reports, LBMC or any other material), use the Explorer gSheet and share it with your mentors (You can add tabs to it). Please do not email material to Explorer directly.

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Thursday April 12, 2023) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session ,  and an update on the program.

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #1.  

1. Teams have already attended the kickoff session and “The Lean Launchpad” webinar (see above).
2. Slides for Session #1 can be found here
3. Session #1 general purpose is:

• General information on the Explorer program  
• The introduction of the Business Startup Canvas.
• Team introductions
• Project introductions

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Thursday March 12, 2023) (Slides are here) – This covered the showcase update, F22 Survey Update,  and new apps review for S23 cohort.

• Here is a link to the last email.
• Here is a link to the recording of the metnor training session held on Sep 1st, 2022.
• Fall 2022 Previous emails are in this folder.
  
  

• A copy of the slides and agenda can be found here
• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces Session 3 : 

Below are some resources for your upcoming subsession #3.  

The slides here for session 3. It will be an interactive session as usual and will cover:

1. Elevator Pitch/Value Prop (10 mins)
2. Explorer gSheet Review (10-15 mins per team)
   • Monthly Report, Assumptions Framework, LBMC
   • Customer Discovery update (survey questions and interviews)
3. Pitch Deck Fundamentals (30-40 mins)
   • Advice on How to Pitch
   • Pitch Deck Format
   • Examples

• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #2.  

1. The slides for session #2 can be found here
2. See Empathy Map Resources here
3. There is a great example/discussion of a filled out LBMC and assumptions (some good and some need improving). This webinar was given on March 5,2021 by Richard Amster (long time Mentor). Webinar recording is here, and slides are here.  

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Thursday October 13, 2022) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session ,  and an update on the program.

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #1.  

1. Teams have already attended the kickoff session and “The Lean Launchpad” webinar (see above).
2. Slides for Session #1 can be found here
3. Session #1 general purpose is:

• General information on the Explorer program  
• The introduction of the Business Startup Canvas.
• Team introductions
• Project introductions

• Here is a link to the last email.
• S22 Previous emails are in this folder.
  
  

• Summer 2022 Kickoff Session (held June 7, 2022) (Slides, Zoom Recording) – This contains information about the program that was shared with all accepted teams.

• I-Corps Spark Workshop #1 Recording
• I-Corps Spark Workshop #2 Recording
• I-Corps Spark Workshop #3 Recording

• Explorer Summer Lessons learned (held July 14, 2022) (Recording)

• Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Thursday Mars 31, 2022) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session ,  and an update on the program.

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #1.  

1. Teams have already attended the kickoff session and “The Lean Launchpad” webinar (see above).
2. Slides for Session #1 can be found here
3. Session #1 general purpose is:

• General information on the Explorer program  
• The introduction of the Business Startup Canvas.
• Team introductions
• Project introductions

Session 2 : 

Resouces:

Below are some resources for your upcoming session #2.  

1. The slides for session #2 can be found here
2. See Empathy Map Resources here
3. There is a great example/discussion of a filled out LBMC and assumptions (some good and some need improving). This webinar was given on March 5,2021 by Richard Amster (long time Mentor). Webinar recording is here, and slides are here.  

• Mentor Training and Session 3 Preview (held Thursday June 9, 2022) (Slides are here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session ,  and an update on the program.

Resouces Session 3 : 

Below are some resources for your upcoming subsession #3.  

The slides  here for session 3. It will be an interactive session as usual and will cover:

1. Elevator Pitch/Value Prop (10 mins)
2. Explorer gSheet Review (10-15 mins per team)
   • Monthly Report, Assumptions Framework, LBMC
   • Customer Discovery update (survey questions and interviews)
3. Pitch Deck Fundamentals (30-40 mins)
   • Advice on How to Pitch
   • Pitch Deck Format
   • Examples

• A copy of the slides and agenda can be found here
• Agenda:
  • 5-minute pitches (or elevator pitch) and Q&A (at least 15 mins per team)
  • Monthly Goals/Reports (Explorer gSheet Review) (15 min)
  • Customer Discovery update (15 mins)
  • Wrap up and final reports discussion

• The kickoff session was held on April 12, 2022. Slides are here 

• Lean Launchpad  Webinar: All Teams should alook at before first meeting withe mentor.

  • Recording of a webinar 
  • Lean LaunchPad Slides

• Mentor Information and Review Training Slides (held October 5, 2021) (Slides) – This contains basic information about the Explorer program and the time commitment guidelines in addition to how to review new applications.
  
  
• New Teams Information Session (held July 7, 2021) (Slides, Zoom Recording) – This contains information about the program that was shared with all potential teams. The material is very similar to that of the mentor material but has additional eligibility and spending information.
  
  
• Fall 2021 Kickoff Session (held October 6, 2021) (Slides, Zoom Recording) – This contains information about the program that was shared with all accepted teams.

Session 1 : 

Mentor Training and Session 1 Preview (held Monday October 5, 2021) (Slides are here, Zoom recording here) – This covered signing up for mentoring, training material for Session ,  and an update on the program.

Slides for use in Session 1 can be found here (power point). 

General Guidelines (some more details than in the slides)

MIT Sandbox Mentoring Quick Reference Guide

• This quick guide is a summary of the document below and is not intended to be a substitute for reading it.

Detailed MIT Sandbox Mentoring guidelines

• Contains the detailed mentoring guidelines

Session 2 : 

Mentor Training and Session 2 Preview to be held Friday Nov 12, 2021 at 18:00 Morocco time, 12pm US Eastern time) (Slides and recording will be posted when available) –  We will cover material highlighted in the email sent out to all mentors.

The slides for session 2 can be found here: (pdf, PowerPoint).  Feel free to download the PowerPoint version, modify to your style and please share any modification with Explorer.

The Ultimate List of Customer Development Questions can be found here.

The email that was sent to all the teams regarding session 2 can be found here. Feel free to send your teams any other instructions and augment this email at your convenience.

Mentor Training and Session 3 Training (to be held June 8, 2021) (Session slides and recording will be posted after meeting) – This contains the training material for Session 3, update on Summer Internship Program and tentative dates for Showcase and Fall 2021 Cohort dates.

Slides for use in Session 3 can be found here. Updated slides.

Mentor Training and Session 2 Training (held Friday December 11, 2020) (Slides, Session Zoom Recording) – This contains the training material for Session 2 and cohort survey results.

Slides for use in Session 2 can be found here. Updated slides.

Mentor Training and Session 3 Training (held Friday January 8, 2021) (Slides, Session Zoom Recording) – This contains the training material for Session 3, update on spending procedures and tentative dates for Fall 2021.

Slides for use in Session 3 can be found here. Updated slides.

Mentor Information – This contains basic information about the Explorer program and the time commitment guidelines

Mentor Training Slides – Spring 2020 Cohort – This are the slides presented at the mentor training workshops  to potential mentors on Feb 4 and Feb 6, 2020

Explorer Program Information Session – Spring 2020 Cohort – This are the slides presented at the Explorer Program Information Sessions to the potential applicants  on Feb 4 and Feb 6, 2020

MIT Sandbox Mentoring Quick Reference Guide

• This quick guide is a summary of the document below and is not intended to be a substitute for reading it.

Detailed MIT Sandbox Mentoring guidelines

• This is the detailed mentoring guidelines

Subsession 1 resources:

• General Guidelines
• PILOT (Part II) RECORDINGS
  • Group 01: (Marwan Hassoun, Yassir Boux, Kaoutar Sellami)
    • Part II (April 2, 2020): Part II slides, and Part II audio/video Zoom presentation
  • Group 02: (Sami Jitan, Abdelhaq Ammani, Ikram Labtaini )
    • Part II (April 6, 2020): Part II slides, and Part II audio/video Zoom presentation.

Please plan on covering the following material

• The Business Model Canvas
• How to build canvas MIT tutorial
• Slides for Subsession #1 presentations here.  (Feel free to make it your own).
• PLEASE NOTE: The Pilot Session included a Part I that will no longer be offered as a group exercise (instead it will be made available as a recorded Webinar). Please make yourself acquainted with that Kick-Off tutorial video here,
• Also please watch this *Highly Recommended* recording of Sami’s (Pilot Session Part I) for how to manage Group Dynamics over Zoom:  Group02 audio/video presentation starting at time stamp 52:00
  • Group 01: (Marwan Hassoun, Yassir Boux, Kaoutar Sellami)
    • Part I (March 26, 2020): : Part I slides, and Part I audio/video Zoom presentation
  • Group 02: (Sami Jitan, Abdelhaq Ammani, Ikram Labtaini )
    • Part I (March 30, 2020): Part I slides and Part I audio/video Zoom presentation (these are virtually the same slides as Group01 above, slightly updated)

Subsession 2 resources:

• A Recording of the May 21, 2020 mentor training for Subsession #2 can be found here. The slides are here.
• You can look up the time slots for your Subsession #2 here
• Links for resources on the empathy map are in the slides but here are those links again: the canvas and an article from the designer of the concept.
• The Ultimate List of Customer Development Questions can be found here.
• Final survey results from Sub-session #1 (99 responses, 40% response rate) can be found here.
• Archive of all Explorer mentor email updates can be found here.
• If you wish to receive the teams weekly and occasional announcements (including workshops, webinars, resources, etc.) please sign up here.

Subsession 3 resources:

• Pitch deck examples:
  • Shark Tank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmenN7NEdBc&list=RDwmenN7NEdBc&t=125

• MIT Delta V Pitches: 
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUPpcRZouMs 
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjVRVNh2uk4

• Pure business pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScDKs8m3CdU
• The Assumptions Framework
• Pitch Deck