Denis Opudo
MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) began Global Startup Labs (GSL) in 2000. The program advocates for the global advancement of entrepreneurship skills. Therefore, they recruit both undergraduates and graduates who spread the knowledge and skills globally.
Currently, the program offers projects in Rwanda, Germany, Nepal, Belgium, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, and Azerbaijan. Initially, MISTI GSL was launched as a pilot program in Kenya.
Lashan Silva from Sri Lanka, one of the GSL alumni, said that the program helped him overcome the fear to begin a business. He founded Enhanzer in 2013, and the startup enhances the efficiency of businesses by using automated processes. Besides, Enhanzer uses cloud data storage and ERP consulting services to obtain its goals. Silva gained confidence from GSL program that was organized five years ago. He also said that by the end of the seven-week program, he was connected to various CEOs and had a good network. Currently, his company takes pride of handling over 11,000 daily transactions. Moreover, he said that the program changed his career path from being a traditional engineer to a great entrepreneur.
The associate department head for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Professor Saman Amarasinghe expressed his delight with the program. He said that in many states, most MIT student instructors help in spreading entrepreneurship skills. Amarasinghe is also faculty co-director for MISTI GSL. Moreover, he added that many CEOs consult MIT student instructors. They do this to learn more and take advantage of entrepreneurship. In some instances, he added that he saw a vice chancellor of a leading university invite MIT students to elaborate how they handle their classes. Additionally, the freshman from MIT explained their class schedule while the university management listened.
In 2018, Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship and Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT will partner. The partnership will help the program since Martin Trust Center will facilitate predeparture training. Besides, The Legatum Center will develop strategies to ensure the program benefits many people.
According to Georgina Campbell Flatter, the Executive Director at Legatum Center, the program will help students globally. He said this since the training offered will help students to learn from entrepreneurs globally. Campbell is also a faculty advisor of MISTI GSL. Besides, he is a senior lecturer in entrepreneurship, strategic management, and technological innovation. Additionally, Campbell said that their programs advocates for sharing entrepreneurship knowledge with the students. The students then practice the skills learned in class then implement them in the society.
In the previous summer, GSL program catered for travel expenses of 25 MIT students. The students visited South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Germany, Peru, and Mauritius. While narrating their experiences, the group said that they learned on how to navigate foreign cultures. Moreover, from their written report, the group found it easy to adapt to new environment. They also said that the experienced helped in their intellectual enrichment.
