I've been volunteering as a marketing mentor with MITX's "MITX Up" program since the beginning of this year. MITX Up is essentially a "hack" for start-ups that is dedicated to solving marketing problems, as opposed to grinding out code. MITX has assembled a diverse and dedicated cast of marketing pros who meet monthly at start-up venues like MassChallenge, TechStars, and the Harvard i-Lab to assist entrepreneurs at various early-stage companies. The teams of marketers are assigned to different start-ups each month and collectively help outline marketing strategies and plans, develop messages, focus positioning, identify new target audiences, and brainstorm both launch and post-launch marketing and communications programs. I've worked with start-up companies that are trying to crack industries as different as food, sports and healthcare and have met some really fantastic fellow marketers in the process. The sense of passion and community is palpable at these sessions and I've learned as much from the start-ups and my marketing teammates, as they have from me.
Our next MITX Up event will be dedicated to working with student entrepreneurs at Northeastern University, which will be a different type of experience than the previous gatherings...and I can't wait.