WEIXUN H
- Research Program Mentor
MBA at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Expertise
Sports analytics, how to start a business, product design, manufacturing, sustainability, battery, robotics, technology, mechanical engineering, history
Bio
Hey, I'm Wei. I work as a product development engineer now where I design consumer products, figure out how to make 50,000+ units, and bring them to market so you can buy them at Walmart. Most recently before this role, I worked at two startups, traveled to over a dozen countries, and graduated from MIT in 2019. At school, I studied Mechanical Engineering, Design, and Entrepreneurship. I love spending time at this intersection. I was originally born in China and immigrated to US when I was 10. In my free time, I enjoy mentoring young people, cooking, exercising, reading, and most recently, driving. If you have any questions about product development, startups, college, career... feel free to reach out.Project ideas
Startup 101
Explore how new products and services come to life through the lens of entrepreneurship. Students interested in business, technology, or problem-solving can investigate how real founders identify unmet needs, test early concepts, and shape simple prototypes. Along the way, students can learn fundamentals such as customer discovery, opportunity evaluation, basic financial thinking, and how to translate insights into an initial business model. Students might gather information by interviewing potential users, reviewing competitor landscapes, or analyzing examples of successful ventures. Possible outcomes include a lightweight business concept, a user-research report, a prototype, or a pitch-style presentation that communicates their idea clearly and confidently. This project is ideal for students curious about how ideas become ventures—whether or not they already have an idea in mind.
Design the next iPhone
Students curious about how physical products are created can explore the full journey from identifying a need to shaping an early prototype. Drawing from real product development practices, they can learn how designers understand users, define clear problem statements, brainstorm multiple solutions, and use simple materials or digital tools to bring an idea to life. Information can be gathered through user interviews, observing how people interact with existing products, or studying examples of well-designed everyday objects. Potential outcomes include sketches, concept models, a low-fidelity prototype, or a website that showcases their design process and final concept. This project is a great fit for students who enjoy hands-on creativity and want to see how engineering and design come together to make something real.
Sports Analytics
Students interested in sports, statistics, or data storytelling can explore how analytics is transforming modern basketball. Using publicly available datasets, they can investigate questions such as how passing patterns differ across teams, what player combinations generate the most efficient offense, or how ball movement changes over a season (here's a sample project https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/123292) Students may gather information by analyzing open-source play-by-play data, studying visualizations used in professional analytics departments, or reviewing publicly shared models from sport analysts. Along the way, they can learn skills such as data cleaning, basic statistical analysis, and creating clear visual representations of complex relationships. Possible outcomes include data visualizations, an analytical report, a dashboard, or a presentation communicating their findings. This project is ideal for students who love sports and want to see how data can uncover hidden patterns behind great teamwork.
