By Oak Marsh - 29th June, 2024

12 Startups, 1 Goal: MIT DesignX Pitches for a Better World

The MIT DesignX pitch event showcased 12 startup teams that have been developing innovative solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges throughout the spring semester. The teams presented their projects to judges and attendees, demonstrating a variety of approaches that apply technology and business models to create positive change.

Several teams addressed issues around supporting marginalized communities. The team One Community is building an online marketplace to help small businesses in Dharavi, India connect with customers as the area faces redevelopment. They conducted research in the community to understand needs and designed a platform for businesses like potters to sell directly online. Cortado aims to commercialize "coffee leather" made from upcycled coffee grounds to provide a sustainable material alternative. They have conducted extensive prototyping and testing to optimize the material properties. TOPPA designed an adaptive wheelchair cushion that uses pressure sensing to prevent injuries for users. Their solution aims to provide customized relief through an automatically adapting surface.

Other teams focused on improving healthcare access. Empati is developing a telehealth platform tailored for women's health needs in Indonesia by integrating an AI assistant, personalized dashboards, and navigation support. Civic Leaders of Today creates a network for public servants to share resources and collaborate more efficiently through an online platform with forums, webinars, and profiles. BridgeHealth AI is developing an AI-powered platform to streamline healthcare navigation for Medicaid patients, with the goals of helping more patients access care while reducing costs and frustration for both patients and care workers.

Additional solutions involved sustainable materials and agriculture. Graft designs modular building panels using plant-based composites for carbon-negative construction. They have secured a pilot project and partnerships to demonstrate their modular, scalable building component design. An agricultural AI platform from Semper will enable farmers to mitigate risks and increase profits through knowledge sharing on an integrated forum and database platform.

Innovations ranged from high to low tech, serving communities near and far. CNCF presented an approach to automate metal-part production for faster and cheaper prototyping using a drag-and-drop programming interface for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. Bend Shelters designs sustainable, modular bamboo shelters that can be easily deployed for refugees worldwide. They have begun implementing projects and expanding partnerships with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). bosai+ aims to help people prepare for emergencies by embedding critical items like whistles into (beautifully designed) everyday objects like jewelry. Mí.katã uses techniques like generative AI workshops and AR/VR to facilitate community engagement in urban planning, with a focus on ensuring diversity and equity in the development process.

Judges evaluated the teams based on innovation, impact, and presentation quality to award several prizes. The event highlighted how startups can leverage technology to directly address social challenges through compassionate design and new business models.