SUD Ventures
Online & In-Person @ MIT
Jan. 19, 2026 - Jan. 23, 2026
According to the CDC, one in seven adults in the United States will experience a substance use disorder (SUD) during their lifetime. If you live in the US, you likely know of a friend, family member, or colleague who has been affected by SUD. At the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Ventures program, our goal is to fuel the next generation of innovation in this space.
SUD Ventures is an intense and immersive hybrid program. Consisting of pre-recorded materials, ~10 live online sessions from October through December, and culminating in a five day Bootcamp at MIT in January 2026, our goal is to spark the creation of innovative ventures in the SUD space, a notoriously challenging problem area.
During the program, you will work with a team of exceptional SUD researchers and scientists. Together, you will learn how to come up with high-impact, fast scaling ideas, launch a scalable venture, and pursue the commercialization of SUD technologies. We focus on the following three areas: evidence-based prevention innovations, innovations supporting long-term recovery treatments, and research and data innovations that inform policy and decision-making at federal and state levels.
You’ll receive advice from entrepreneurs, investors, industry experts, and leaders working in this space. You’ll be immersed in the dynamic and high-energy environment unique to MIT Bootcamps and walk away with a community of innovators and a support system.
Understand the unique challenges of the substance use disorder space
Identify the most scalable opportunities for impact
Dive into case studies that dissect the challenges and opportunities in the SUD space. Learn how to navigate the complex system with practical advice from entrepreneurs and translate research into innovative health applications, all while practicing MIT’s innovation toolkit. Check out the sample schedule.
Practice MIT entrepreneurship and innovation toolkits
Learn from MIT’s top innovation, entrepreneurship, and health experts
You’ll be exposed to diverse knowledge in: entrepreneurship, SUD research, policy, and more. You’ll work with motivated, exceptional individuals with commitment to bring change to the space. All of your work will be focused on identifying and pursuing SUD-related innovations. Meet the teaching team for 2025.
Launch an SUD venture
Walk away with an innovation toolkit and system of support to take the next step
Your coaches, experts, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse’s team will support the ultimate creation of a new venture, or the acceleration of an existing one, with new knowledge and connections from the program.
“Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a multidisciplinary challenge with huge personal and societal impacts — this is about saving lives.” – Cynthia Breazeal, Dean for Digital Learning at MIT and Professor, MIT Media Lab
What to expect
This year the program is reserved for US-based, SUD researchers. We are especially looking for individuals who innovate in the one of the following areas: a) evidence-based prevention innovations, b) Innovations supporting long-term recovery treatments, or c) research and data innovations that inform policy and decision-making at federal and state levels.
-
>
Who is this program for?
Scientists, entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and public policy experts that conduct research in the SUD-related space and who would like to study the craft of technology commercialization, especially those with inventions and technologies relevant for substance use disorders.
-
>
What are the key focus areas?
- Participants will work on problems related to one of the following areas:
- Evidence-based prevention innovations
- Innovations supporting long-term recovery treatments
- Research and data innovations that inform policy and decision-making at federal and state levels
- Participants will work on problems related to one of the following areas:
-
>
Will there be a final pitch?
On the final day of the program, you’ll pitch to a panel of judges, including local investors, entrepreneurs, and instructors, and receive guidance on how to submit for SBIR grants from program officers.
-
>
What happens after the program?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a certificate from MIT Bootcamps. After the program, you'll join our amazing network of MIT SUD Ventures graduates, get exclusive access to content, and meet even more people to build your venture with.
How to Apply
Admissions
Our admissions team will review applicants in two stages. The first stage includes a resume submission and short video interview in which you will record your answers to a set of questions. If selected to move to the second stage, we will coordinate a live video interview with one of our team members. We expect the application process to be very competitive, especially due to the small size of the cohort.
Location
Online & Cambridge, MA, USA
Build rich connections with fellow researchers, enhance your network, and take advantage of being in-person at MIT.
Bootcamp Dates
Online Fall 2025 & In-Person January 19 - 23, 2026
A hybrid program consisting of online courses and webinars during Fall 2025 and an immersive five day in-person program on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus and the Boston startup ecosystem.
Tuition
$0 USD
SUD Ventures will award 15 fully funded fellowships to outstanding US-based biomedical and behavioral researchers and experienced medical professionals in SUD. These fellowships, financially provided by NIDA, cover tuition, travel, and accommodation.
Program Community
Intent on building a community of domain expert entrepreneurs, the SUD Ventures program brings together innovators to solve acute problems in the substance use space. The goal is to nurture the community of innovators brought together by this program, enabling them to bring their ventures to life and create meaningful impact to society. Hear about how the program has impacted learners and their ventures.
This MIT Bootcamp shook everything upside down and has given me the spirit of innovation and what it looks like to be able to work in a big way, and to be able to think in an even bigger way.-Melissa “Dr. Mo” Dittberner
"After many years of basic, translational and clinical research on methadone all — supported by NIDA — I experienced that a ha moment of recognizing a potential opportunity to apply the findings to benefit patients at scale. The NIDA-sponsored participation in the MIT SUD Ventures Bootcamp was the critical catalyst which ignited the inspiration and commitment to pursue commercializing our research findings into better treatments for opioid use disorder.”
“The program has been totally exhausting, totally energizing, and totally inspiring. I have made great relationships that I know will be enduring — personally and professionally. I’m energized to search for novel solutions, not only commercially, but in my clinical research and practice, too.”
"One of the things MIT Bootcamps does really well is bring multiple disciplines to innovate together. We have seen a lot of silo innovation happening [in health care]. We have also seen problems being solved in piecemeal. How can we come together as a collective force — clinician and entrepreneur, a technologist, someone who has gone through this experience themselves — to build a solution?"