MIT Industrial Liaison Program (MIT ILP) and MIT Startup Exchange (MIT STEX) are are organizing a forum on the next generation of networks, taking place on October 28, 2025, in Cambridge, MA.
We are seeking 4–6 innovative startups to present and exhibit.
Networks underpin our digital society and economy. They increasingly connect everyone and everything – from families to factories and global supply chains.
Networks will be key to our AI-enabled future – from the data center to the smart phone, augmented reality experiences, connected vehicles, drones, and sensors. They carry the data, enable the applications, and deliver the experiences.
This forum will examine key technologies for our connected future – from integrated photonics and advanced microelectronics, through AI for networks and networks for AI, to software-defined networks and satellite communications.
Powering the next generation of the economy and delivering the distributed intelligence needed to tackle grand societal challenges means that next-generation networking must provide ever higher performance, robustness, pervasiveness, convergence, flexibility, and intelligence.
APPLY by August 18!
The 4-6 presenting startups will have:
- 5-minute presentation (live & streamed)
- Exhibit booth to showcase company/technology throughout the Forum
- Promotion via event marketing materials including the ILP and STEX websites, newsletters and social media.
By accepting to participate in MIT Startup Exchange startup lightning talks, live or virtual, you agree to adhere to the following:
- Commitment to the day/time of the event and related commitments (e.g. dry run presentations, preparation call/meeting).
- Commitment to the presentation and exhibition format/guidelines and deadlines, including but not limited to the submission of final presentation slides, signed consent form, requested company and speaker materials (bio, headshot, logo etc.)
- Commitment to completing the post-event feedback form by the noted deadline.
Disclaimer: MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.