Explore how high-energy, immersive MIT Bootcamps learning experiences unlocked key innovation insights for learners around the globe

More than 50 learners participated in innovation programs in Croatia this summer.

MIT Open Learning
MIT Open Learning
5 min readAug 30, 2024

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Group photo of approximately 50 adults of different genders and nationalities posing outside of a university building with their hands in the air and cheering.

By Mariah Rawding

This summer, the MIT Bootcamps team traveled to Croatia to connect innovators from around the world with Institute experts in innovation, entrepreneurship, and product strategy through two educational programs: MIT Bootcamps Trek and MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp. Working with Algebra University, a private institution based in Zagreb, these programs provided immersive learning experiences aligned with MIT’s “learn by doing” approach to over 50 participants.

MIT Bootcamps Trek

The MIT Bootcamps Trek, a three-and-a-half-day program focused on product strategy, offered participants a deep dive into the Croatian technology ecosystem along with a cultural experience. Highlights from outside of the classroom and workshops included a trip to the Pula Arena, one of the largest surviving Roman arenas.

From the coastline to the heart of Zagreb, participants spoke to product strategy teams from both large and small companies alike. Hearing about product challenges and solutions from these organizations, participants were able to grasp insights from industries and organizations very different from their own.

Photo of 3 adults in business casual dress presenting in front of a group of 4 visible seated audience members. Podium on the left says “infobip” and the slideshow projected on the wall behind them says “ MIT Bootcamps Trek — Croatia. Building and managing global IT infrastructure for product scaling.”
Photo: Algebra University.

Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to communicate with their customers across various channels. Started by a pair of brothers, Silvio and Robert Kutic, Infobip is Croatia’s first unicorn company. During the campus tour participants heard from Mihovil Mader, products director for infrastructure and data, who spoke about building and managing global IT infrastructure — and all that it takes to keep such a complex organization running.

During the Bootcamps Trek program, learners attended workshops led by MIT and Algebra alumni who are product experts in their respective fields. Ruben Lozano Aguilera, a senior product manager at Google Maps and MIT Sloan alumnus, spoke about generative AI and machine learning for product managers, as well as developing sustainable products that drive global change. Luka Maricic, head of product for Happening, shared strategies for startup ideation, and Ana Zrno, Director of Product Operations and Strategy at Wrike, discussed insights on scaling and decision-making.

Left photo: A group of 10 adults wearing lab coats that say “Visitor” tour an industrial facility. Right photo: A group of 14 adults wearing business casual clothes pose on either side of a sports car. The wall behind them says “Rimac.”
Photos: Algebra University.

Rimac Group, encompassing Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Technology, is a Croatian unicorn company that builds high-performance electrified hypercars, including the Rimac Nevera. Participants toured the Rimac assembly line and had the opportunity to discuss physical products innovation with Rimac engineers, a contrast from many digital products they interacted with during the MIT Bootcamps Trek program. Touring Rimac was a Trek highlight for many learners.

MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp

Held at Algebra University in Zagreb, the MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp brought together 42 participants from 23 countries to learn from MIT’s leading experts in a growing innovation ecosystem. Embracing MIT’s motto, “mens et manus,” or “mind and hand,” the program is designed to help participants build a business from scratch in just six days.

Participants were grouped into teams of five to six, with the goal of maximizing the diversity in background, skills, and interest on each team. After the teams got to know each other, they were paired with an MIT-trained entrepreneur, who provided guidance through team dynamics, ideation, and answering any questions about the curriculum.

Each day began with lectures from MIT instructors on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Paul Cheek, executive director of the MIT Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, spoke about how to win market share, while Erdin Beshimov, Hanna Adeyema, and other MIT coaches discussed a range of topics, such as primary market research, go-to-market strategy, and value proposition.

Participants applied these concepts during team work in the afternoons and evenings with support from their coaches and other mentors. Teams worked tirelessly through the week to conduct primary market research, receive feedback from their coaches, and work on building their final pitch.

Left photo: A group of approximately 50 adults of different genders and nationalities wearing business casual clothes pose outside of an Algebra University building with banners for MIT Bootcamps at Open Learning in the background. Right photo: Candid group discussion between Paul Cheek, who is standing and speaking into a microphone, and 9 seated adults of different genders and races. The wall behind them says “MIT Bootcamps at Open Learning.
Photos: Algebra University.

“Going through this methodology is so important especially when the participants are so engaged. They see the opportunity to learn these different methodologies of entrepreneurship, not within just the context of the projects they are working on, but within the context of their careers and where they will go as innovative, principled leaders.”

— Paul Cheek, executive director of the MIT Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship

Left photo: 5 adults wearing casual clothes brainstorming in front of an easel holding a giant pad of paper and a table with paper notes, pens, and water bottles. Right photo: 5 adults wearing business clothes and lanyards, in a candid group discussion.
Photos: Algebra University.

“Working on a team is one of the more magical experiences of the program. In six days, team members may go from being strangers to developing life-long friendships. The strong ties to others from new cultures and diverse professional backgrounds are formed not without conflict. While working through friction on their teams, bootcampers — unexpectedly — learn more about themselves. Through this process, they discover the ability to look at both sides of a relationship and see the team and themselves in a new perspective.”

— Hanna Adeyema, MIT Bootcamps Director

On the final day of the Bootcamp, teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, with the top three teams advancing to the final round of the competition. The jury featured executives from top companies in Croatia, including Hrvatska Posta, Infobip, and other local executives and venture capitalists.

“It was very emotional and very educational,” says Alen Ivancec, chief technology officer at Hrvasta Posta, the Croatian postal office, and a member of the winning team, SafeBrew. “We went beyond our limits. It was a unique experience that I don’t think I could repeat anywhere else.”

To cap off the program, Paul Cheek had a short message to all future Bootcampers, “The hardest part of the entrepreneurial process is getting started. So don’t delay. Start now.”

Group photo of 6 adults of different genders and races wearing business clothes posing in front of a screen with the logo for MIT Bootcamps at Open Learning and says, “And the winning pitch is…Team 1 SafeBrew.”
Members of the winning pitch, SafeBrew, a safe and eco-friendly paper cup aimed at providing an alternative to traditional paper cups, which normally have plastic linings with harsh chemicals. Photo: Algebra University.
Group photo of 11 smiling adults wearing business clothes and lanyards standing in front of a sign for MIT Bootcamps at Open Learning.
Members of the runner-up pitch, Power Rangers, an app focused on matching families with local repairmen for odd jobs. Photo: Algebra University.

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