Paul Cheek

Paul Cheek is an expert in innovation-driven entrepreneurship and serves as a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Cheek is a technology entrepreneur, entrepreneurship educator, software engineer, author, and patented inventor with extensive experience in the startup and innovation sectors. He was MIT's first Hacker in Residence and has taught, mentored, and advised entrepreneurs globally. Before joining MIT, Cheek co-founded three ventures and was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for his contributions to entrepreneurship.

As executive director of the Trust Center, Cheek developed strategy and operational plans for MIT's entrepreneurship programs and courses. He teaches entrepreneurship across MIT's five schools, including undergraduate, MBA, PhD, and executive education, and collaborates with universities worldwide to deliver entrepreneurship education programs. Cheek designed and leads the advanced course "Venture Creation Tactics" and teaches the "New Enterprises" course to MIT and Harvard students. His contributions to entrepreneurship education at MIT have been recognized with the Adolf F. Monosson '48 Prize.

Cheek is the author of "Disciplined Entrepreneurship: Startup Tactics," a field guide for transforming ideas into functional, funded, and staffed startups. His book and teaching materials are used by educators and innovators internationally. Cheek is also a co-founder of Oceanworks, a company focused on ending plastic pollution, and previously co-founded Work Today, a digital staffing and recruiting company. He has developed technologies for and consulted with companies including LogMeIn, BlackRock, Prudential, and Mazda.

Cheek founded the AI-Driven Enterprise Institute, a data company providing corporate boards and executives with data and insights for AI strategy, and Entonomy, which develops software for AI agent-run businesses. He serves as a senior advisor to the College Board, advancing business and finance education, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Carroll Center for the Blind. Cheek also serves on the CNBC Disruptor 50 Advisory Board, the MIT Sandbox Funding Board, and judges the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's CO—100 Awards. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine.