Techstars Startup Weekend Boston

Oh Steve, you and the speeches. Welcome Shweta Agrawal! More #StartupWeekendBOS2025 updates on the way. We are looking for: --- Head Of Marketing --- Tech Lead --- Volunteer Coordinator --- Ops (logistical operations including catering, run of show, etc) --- People Ops (managing mentors, judges)

My conversation an hour ago or so with Anya N. Smith, MBA, MS ?? Smith reinforced what I’ve seen in her journey from Techstars Startup Weekend Boston 2024 to now: She is making real, measurable progress. Her pitch has evolved, her strategy is sharper, and she approaches every challenge with a willingness to learn and improve. More than just having a strong idea, Anya has demonstrated what truly makes a founder backable: relentless execution, a commitment to refining her approach, and the ability to take feedback and turn it into action. Being able to witness this firsthand and in the company of people like Jason Kraus, Shweta Agrawal, Parna Sarkar-Basu, Irina Sychov, Marsh Sutherland and more is a magical thing. What stands out most is her combination of competency, hard work, and a restless pursuit of progress—always with humility and heart. She is one of those rare who won't just speak about working just talk; she does it. That quality, more than anything else, is what separates great founders from those still waiting for the right moment. This is an eternal truth. Anya is creating something real, and she is doing it with intention. The Startup Oasis Network is grateful for founders like her—those who don’t just seek opportunities but actively build toward them. She’s earned every step of her momentum, and it’s only the beginning. If you’re interested in what she’s building, take a moment to check out SelfFull. It’s worth your time.

Congratulations Naman Gupta!

?? Win 2 Free Tickets to Startup Grind Global Conference 2025! ????? Do you know a founder, mentor, or startup leader who has made a meaningful impact in the Boston startup ecosystem? Nominate them for the Startup Impact Award and give them a chance to attend #SGGlobal2025 in Silicon Valley! ?? Nomination Deadline: March 1, 2025 ??? Conference Dates: April 29-30, 2025 ?? Location: Silicon Valley, CA ?? Submit Your Nomination Here: https://lnkd.in/eB9ZUU6i Let’s celebrate those who help make the Boston startup community thrive! ?? #StartupImpactAward #StartupGrindBoston #BostonStartups #MentorshipMatters #SGGlobal2025 Startup Grind Startup Grind Miami Boston New Technology (BNT) Greenberg Traurig, LLP HubSpot For Startups CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Prepare 4 VC Techstars Startup Weekend Boston Startup Grind Grand Rapids Mass Technology Leadership Council Startup Boston Better Business Bureau of Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island & Vermont MGMT Boston

3 days 200+ Entrepreneurs One mission- Build the future in 54 hours and create 20+ new ventures with the help of expert mentors, speakers and judges across the community May 30-June 1 at Suffolk University Led by the Boston New Technology (BNT) team, grab your ticket at https://lnkd.in/eMGAQtf2

There’s no coffee cup too big to drink out of, and no goal rough and tough enough that you and I can’t handle it. Today, we don’t need our GPT to tell us that we’re an unwavering beacon. Today we just Get-Shit-Done. Thank you to the ones who support us on our journey - customers, competitors (I’ll get to that in a second), partners and special people in our lives. Today we stop obsessing over our idea — and we start working on and scaling it. Competition— wait we have some? FANTASTIC. Thank you to them for giving us more wind in the sails. We have a rockstar team and partners who would walk through fire for us? GRAZIE (I’m like the Italian Jason Calacanis here). I appreciate you reading my ramble. Now let’s go make that coffee, chai, or energizing beverage of choice! (Kun Yang —- Pricklee perhaps?)

It's a wonderful day in the neighbourhood as we can announce it --- the band is getting back together at Techstars Startup Weekend Boston. You've got that right -- GT Law featuring community faves Andrew (A.J.) Tibbetts and Chinh H. Pham are coming back May 30th thru June 1st at Suffolk University (h/t Suffolk University Center for Entrepreneurship) to work with me, Shweta Agrawal our amazing Lead Organizer, and the wonderful Jason Kraus along with all our mentors, judges, partners, and...of course --- you the founder/team member who is maybe thinking about making a trip to see us? Come on down! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2025 GT Law Returns as a Proud Partner of Startup Weekend Boston Honoring the Impact of AJ Tibbetts & Chinh Pham in the Startup Oasis Network Boston, MA – Startup Weekend Boston is proud to announce the return of Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT Law) as a sponsoring partner for the 2025 edition of the event. As a global powerhouse in law, GT Law has consistently supported Boston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, offering startups critical legal guidance on intellectual property, emerging tech, venture financing, and more. As many people know --- GT Law has been an active force in the Startup Oasis Network, thanks in large part to the leadership and contributions of AJ Tibbetts and Chinh Pham. Both have played a significant role in supporting Boston’s founders through Boston New Technology (BNT) and beyond, offering invaluable insights that help early-stage companies navigate the complex world of innovation law. ?<<< AJ Tibbetts, a Shareholder in the Boston office, specializes in patent law and IP strategy for life sciences and tech startups, ensuring that founders build protectable, scalable businesses from day one. His deep engagement with the startup community, particularly in the biotech and health tech sectors, has earned him widespread respect. ? <<< Chinh Pham, Chair of GT’s Emerging Technology Practice, is a trusted advisor to countless Boston entrepreneurs, offering guidance on early-stage funding, strategic partnerships, and growth strategies. His work with BNT and the broader ecosystem has empowered founders with the legal knowledge they need to succeed. As Startup Weekend Boston continues to foster the next generation of innovators, having GT Law’s continued support reinforces our mission of equipping founders with not only the skills and connections they need but also the legal and structural foundation to build sustainable ventures. We look forward to celebrating this partnership at Startup Weekend Boston 2025, where AJ Tibbetts, Chinh Pham, and the GT Law team will once again play a key role in guiding, mentoring, and empowering Boston’s brightest entrepreneurs. Ready to sign up? Link in the comments below.

Call it a two scoop day.... The Startup Oasis Network (Prepare 4 VC, Boston New Technology (BNT), Startup Grind Boston, and Techstars Startup Weekend Boston) is feeling really good about this new crewmember joining Startup Weekend 2025! JENNIFER EJEH JOINS STARTUP WEEKEND 2025’S MARKETING SQUAD, ALONGSIDE ELIJAH LUMA Boston, MA – [February 17th] – Startup Weekend Boston is excited to welcome Jennifer Ejeh to the Marketing Squad for the 2025 edition of the event! Jennifer is widely celebrated for her impactful work with Techstars Startup Digest, where she has played a key role in curating and delivering startup and tech news to a global audience. Beyond her work as a trusted scribe, Jennifer brings a visionary approach and an exceptional ability to execute high-impact marketing strategies—making her an incredible addition to the Startup Weekend team. At Startup Weekend 2025, Jennifer will work alongside Elijah Luma and Steve Vilkas to craft and amplify the story of this year’s event. Together, they will ensure that the excitement, insights, and breakthroughs from Startup Weekend Boston are captured and shared dynamically across channels, engaging both local and global audiences. Jennifer's deep understanding of ecosystem storytelling, paired with her strategic acumen, will help take Startup Weekend’s marketing efforts to the next level. She has a talent for distilling complex startup journeys into compelling narratives, a skill she has honed through her work at Techstars Startup Digest and other initiatives. With Elijah Luma, BNT's maverick marketer, and Jennifer Ejeh’s expertise in startup ecosystem storytelling, Startup Weekend 2025’s Marketing Squad is set to deliver an exciting and engaging experience for participants, mentors, and the broader startup community. Stay tuned as Jennifer, Elijah, and Steve roll out updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and powerful stories from this year’s event. This is Startup Weekend Boston like you’ve never seen it before. For more information, visit our site (in the comments below)!

Time for a fresh scoop.... Brought to you by The Startup Oasis Network (incl Prepare 4 VC, Boston New Technology (BNT), Startup Grind Boston and...of course... Techstars Startup Weekend Boston) IRINA SYCHOV RETURNS TO STARTUP WEEKEND BOSTON—NOW AS A JUDGE Boston, MA – [February 17th] – The Startup Weekend Boston team is thrilled to announce the return of Irina Sychov, this time in the esteemed role of judge for the upcoming Startup Weekend Boston. Irina has been a cornerstone of our community, offering invaluable mentorship during previous events. Her dedication and insightful guidance have significantly shaped the journeys of numerous startups, making her elevation to the judging panel a natural progression. Beyond her contributions to Startup Weekend, Irina is the visionary Founder and CEO of ANIMA, a dynamic business community committed to empowering women entrepreneurs. Under her leadership, ANIMA has cultivated a nurturing environment where women can connect, collaborate, and thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Irina's passion for fostering female leadership has been instrumental in creating platforms that amplify women's voices in business. Irina's multifaceted career also includes her role as a Voice Skills Expert, where she leverages her background as a performer to coach individuals in effective communication. Her journey from overcoming personal challenges to becoming a breakout star on the X Factor UK exemplifies her resilience and commitment to personal growth. This unique blend of experiences enriches her mentorship, providing startups with perspectives that are both diverse and profound. Irina also has rich experience in the world of venture in general -- In addition to her role as Vice President of Investor and Public Relations at Dialogue Key, where she successfully raised $500,000 and guided the company to its public offering in 2020, thestartupstation.com Irina Sychov has founded five startups and has extensive experience working with family offices in London and Miami. Her recent tenure as a judge for Startup World Cup further underscores her expertise and dedication to the startup ecosystem. Irina's ability to critically assess and provide constructive feedback has been lauded by participants and fellow judges alike. In addition to her judging roles, Irina has been a pivotal contributor to the Startup Oasis Network's Precision Pitch Practice sessions. Her razor-sharp guidance has enabled entrepreneurs to refine their pitches, ensuring they resonate with investors and stakeholders. Stay tuned for more updates on the full judging panel and event details in the coming days. For more information, visit us at our site -- in the comments.

For me this photo captures one of the most epic moments in Boston New Technology (BNT) history: Shweta Agrawal had the opportunity to meet Yvonne Hao and Jason Snyder at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan AI Conference. This conference was THE central gathering spot for some of the sharpest minds in AI, business, and policy. Yvonne and Jason's work with the AI Taskforce is helping to shape the future of AI governance, and is an excellent example of how public and private sectors can work together seamlessly. I remember listening to Yvonne speak shortly after her success with PillPack at District Hall...and when Shweta showed me this picture I wore the biggest smile. Back to the scoop, however. The MIT Sloan AI Conference: The Age of Implementation was many things -- a deep dive into real-world AI applications—how companies are turning research into action, and an opportunity for enthusiasts from across the ecosystem to connect and converge. --- Ramin Hasani, the Co-Founder and CEO of Liquid AI provided a perfect levelset at the start. --- Vinod Khosla’s fireside chat was packed with hard truths, and Google's latest advancements pushed the conversation forward. --- The Product Management with AI panel, featuring leaders from OpenAI, Microsoft, and Cohere, tackled the challenge of making AI both useful and market-ready. --- The Transforming and Scaling Consumer Tech with AI discussion laid out the hurdles of building AI at scale. --- AI infrastructure and scalability were front and center in discussions led by Allen Bolourchi, PhD, MBA (Meta), David Garber (Waymo), and Nathan Beach (Google), shedding light on AI's role in consumer technology. --- Policy and governance were key themes, with Adam Thierer (R Street), Halie Craig (US Senate), and Ben Della Rossa (The White House) providing regulatory perspectives, moderated by Amy Nordrum (MIT Tech Review). The event also highlighted Swami Sivasubramanian (AWS) and Josh Gwyther (Google), presenting groundbreaking AI solutions, while Simon Tokumine (Google, NotebookLM) and Avijit Ghosh, PhD(Hugging Face) led discussions on AI’s evolving research landscape. One of the biggest drivers for our attendance at this critical gathering is simple and straightforward: At BNT, we remain committed to helping startups turn AI into something real, something that works. Talking with industry leaders and policymakers reinforced that mission. The ideas shared at this conference will shape how we help founders use AI wisely—navigating regulations, funding, and growth. A huge thanks to the organizers, speakers, and everyone who showed up. Here's what we know: Human-centered ways of looking at technology is the only way, because that's the thing with tech —it’s about the people building it, regulating it, and pushing it forward. We’re excited to keep these conversations going and to be part of AI’s next big chapter. Stay tuned—Shweta will have more to say soon! #boston #startups #AI