Bring Enzo to the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp!

Hi there, thank you for showing interest in my crowdfunding campaign!

I am Lorenz Ray “Enzo” Payonga, a young professional from the Philippines. I recently got admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

The MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is a new program from MIT for global innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers. Participants, including myself (hopefully), will go to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on February 10-16, 2018 for an intense program to learn how to build innovation-driven ventures that solve global challenges in the environment, agriculture and mining resources sectors. At this MIT Bootcamp, entrepreneurs from all over the world will come together, form teams, and be challenged with finding a scalable solution by applying new technologies and ideas to solve a problem relevant to one of these resource sectors.

It is a very selective program which has produced 381 Bootcamp graduates from more than 70 countries in its past five batches since 2014. So far, more than a hundred new ventures valued over $36 million have been launched by MIT Bootcamp graduates since then. It saw five alumni getting selected for the Forbes 30 under 30 and six eventually admitted to the MIT.

The Bootcamp’s theme for 2018, “Future of Sustainability”, is quite relevant to my advocacy on energy sustainability; that is, I want to make sure that innovations, technologies, and developments in the field of energy are truly environment-friendly, resource-efficient, and sustainable – not only at the point of end-use, but in its entire life cycle and the greater scheme of things. That is why the moment I saw the Facebook ad for the program, I didn’t think twice about taking a shot.

Armed with a three-year combined technical and commercial experience in an energy management and automation company, an internship in a solar power system integrator, research experience in energy harvesting, and strong interest in sustainability particularly in the field of energy, I believe there is so much for me to learn in the MIT Bootcamp that I can translate into more concrete and relevant solutions and initiatives in those fields with an entrepreneurial mindset.

The entire program costs 8000 USD, which includes the tuition fee of 6000 USD (EXCLUDING cost of travel and accommodation) and a three-day, three-night trip/trek to the Great Barrier Reef and potentially agriculture and mining sites before the MIT Innovation & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp officially begins on February 10, which costs 2000 USD. Such trip will allow participants to understand sustainability in the context of sectors important to Queensland State’s future. The trek’s cost already includes local flights to/from Brisbane, local transportation, shared accommodation, and food.

My transportation to and from Australia, and my accommodation for the duration of the Bootcamp proper is estimated to cost around 2000 USD, making my total funding target 10,000 USD.

A 3000-USD downpayment must be paid on or before December 1, in order to secure the slot.

Unfortunately, it will be difficult for me to push through with my participation to the Bootcamp without financial support. If you believe in my causes and my potential to eventually contribute more to society after the Bootcamp, please feel free to chip in any amount you are comfortable sharing, by either donating through this crowdfunding platform (which uses PayPal) or depositing to my bank account: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) account no. 0159 1673 99.

I truly appreciate your generosity. You can be assured that your support will mean a lot to me, and will never be put to waste.

If you have any concern, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

For more information about the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, go to: http://bootcamp.mit.edu/entrepreneurship/sustainability/

You can also visit my professional profile in LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/LRPayonga

Thank you very much! #BringEnzoToBrisbane

Sincerely,

Enzo Payonga

[Page main photo from MIT Bootcamp Website]