"The Institute will continue to serve as one of the most powerful engines of innovation and entrepreneurship in the world. MIT VMS has been and always will be critical to that mission. VMS makes a unique contribution to entrepreneurship at MIT by engaging its large group of highly qualified volunteer mentors to guide aspiring entrepreneurs as they develop the skills to bring their ideas to fruition."

Dr. L. Rafael Reif, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT is recognized worldwide as a leader in innovation and enterprise. The Institute counts many industrial leaders among its graduates, including Alfred P. Sloan, Arthur D. Little, Alfred du Pont, William R. Hewlett, Amar G. Bose and Robert M. Metcalfe. In recent decades MIT alumni and faculty have founded thousands of successful companies and created millions of jobs.

Today's emerging MIT entrepreneurs, however, face an unusually fast-moving and competitive business environment. The speed of technological changes, accelerated product cycles, global competition and sophisticated financing strategies often demand resources and experience beyond the reach of the typical start-up. Through its unique mentoring process, VMS offers the help that's needed to confront these complexities.

The MIT Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) is an organization formed to support entrepreneurial activity throughout the MIT community and, thereby, to further the educational mission of MIT. VMS believes that the active support of entrepreneurial activities contribute to the entrepreneurship education of the MIT community, strengthens MIT's role as a world leader in innovation, and broadens MIT's base of potential support.