Paul Cheek

Practitioner-educator who translates startup engineering experience into classroom practice. Cheek has moved between founding technical startups and teaching MIT students; he designs coursework (e.g., 15.388 Venture Creation Tactics, New Enterprises) and executive programs to deliver tactical, repeatable methods for early-stage founders. mit+2

Hands-on technical founder and product builder with a sustainability angle: co‑founder and technical lead for Oceanworks, a marketplace and supply‑chain platform for recycled ocean plastics, showing a mix of platform engineering and mission-driven product work. paulcheek+1

Public-facing author, speaker, and ecosystem leader: Cheek authors practical startup guidance, speaks widely (executive education and conferences), and has held leadership responsibilities at the Martin Trust Center, positioning him as a connector between students, corporates, and the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem. wiley+2

Builder of community and tooling for entrepreneurship education: as MIT's first Hacker in Residence he developed Orbit to digitally scale mentorship, team formation, and program access—an example of combining product engineering with educational outcomes. mit+1