The BNT Extra Byte

May 31st 2024: The First Edition

Prepared By Mohit Ravindra Kamble and Harshita Nimbal

Welcome to the BNT Extra Byte - your weekly dose of community news, views, events, and more from the heart of Boston's thriving startup ecosystem! We're thrilled to launch this new initiative, where we'll keep you updated on all the exciting happenings, spotlight local startups and partners, and foster a closer-knit community of innovators and changemakers.

For our inaugural edition, we're putting the startup spotlight on VERVERY, a promising local startup founded by Katelyn Alberts. Our partner highlight goes to Greenberg Traurig, who played a pivotal role in making Startup Weekend Boston 2024 a resounding success.

Let's get started!

Startup World Cup Returns to Boston!

We have some incredibly exciting news to share with the Boston startup community. We at Boston New Technology and Pegasus Tech Ventures are thrilled to announce that Startup World Cup, the premier global startup pitch competition, is making a comeback in Boston on August 28th, 2024 at Microsoft NERD.

Registration for founders to apply to pitch at Startup World Cup is LIVE now on Markit

We'll also be launching a dedicated Startup World Cup community on EKOS and across social media.

In the lead up to August 28th, we'll host plenty of Pitch Practice sessions to help entrepreneurs hone their skills. These will be announced soon, so keep an eye out!

BNT Co-Director Steve Vilkas had this to say: "When I first attended Startup World Cup years ago, I had no idea how monumentally it would impact my entrepreneurial journey. It was an early event I went to as a new solopreneur, and the pitches, atmosphere, and incredible blend of knowledge-sharing and fun changed everything for me. "

This year's event date holds special meaning, as August 28th would have been Steve’s mother’s 61st birthday. It's a touching tribute to honor her memory.

Startup World Cup's return represents an irresistible opportunity to recreate that magic for both new and veteran founders. Like our successful Techstars Startup Weekend Boston revival, we believe impactful community events that inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs should never be left behind.

So founders, get applying! Partners, reach out about sponsorship opportunities. Make it your goal not to miss this one.

Welcoming Shweta Agrawal To BNT

Shweta Agrawal recently joined the Boston New Technology team as our third and final Co-Director as well as serving as Chief Product Officer. Shweta brings a wealth of experience in multiple innovation fields and her leadership has been especially impactful.

The combined vision of Shweta, Steve Vilkas , and Jason Kraus will set the tone and standard of a special Q3 for BNT which has since enacted sweeping changes to our programming across all points of the proverbial compass.

Looking Back On Startup Weekend 2024, Looking Ahead To 2025

Startup Weekend Boston 2024 was an absolute blast, and we're still riding high on the energy and excitement it generated! From the incredible pitches to the invaluable mentorship sessions and the camaraderie among participants, it was a truly unforgettable experience.

Thanks to our partners, sponsors, and volunteers. We're very proud of the nearly 30+ startup teams who put their hearts into their ideas and brought their A-game to the event.

As we bask in the success of Startup Weekend 2024, we're already gearing up for the next one on April 25th 2025!

Three Events To Look Forward To (With Two Bonus Events!)

AI Meetup w/186 Ventures & Founder Collective (June 3rd, 2024)

Join 186 Ventures & Founder Collective for an AI-focused meetup with drinks, pizza, and networking opportunities for founders, developers, operators, and builders in the AI space.

Venture Lane Blue Hour + Cohort 5 Closing (June 5th, 2024)

Venture Lane's monthly Blue Hour event brings together over 70 founders, mentors, and investors. This installment will also celebrate the closing of their Spring cohort program.

Women in the Blue Economy (June 26th, 2024)

Hosted by the Office for Technology Transfer, this event features female leaders in the blue economy sharing their experiences, navigating challenges, and discussing the future of ocean-based technologies.

Bonus Events:

Startup Boston is hosting Panel, Networking and Tabling, Oh My!: The Greater Boston Accelerator Scene at Suffolk University on June 6th. This is an excellent opportunity to speak with and evaluate what programs might be right for you and your venture -- or if you're simply curious about the way accelerators and incubators work. Register here.

Later on June 26th, CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) will be hosting its Soft Launch Demo Day for its inaugural Social Impact Accelerator program with Prepare 4 VC at Venture Café Cambridge . Check it out here.

Weekly Startup (this week’s startup is VeryVery by Katelyn Alberts)

In this week's startup spotlight, we're shining a light on VERVERY, a hair salon discovery app founded by Katelyn Alberts that's revolutionizing the way we find and connect with hair stylists and salons in the Greater Boston area.

VERVERY is on a mission to facilitate better beauty connections by providing distinguishable, relatable, and searchable content about hair businesses before you even step foot in the door. The platform saves users time, money, and stress by making it easier to find the perfect hair salon and stylist match – your "hair home."

But VERVERY isn't just another directory – it's a game-changer for the beauty industry. By empowering consumers with comprehensive information about salons and stylists, VERVERY is driving transparency and helping people make more informed decisions about their hair care needs.

We're incredibly excited to see what's next for Katelyn and the VERVERY team as they continue to pilot and expand their innovative platform in the Greater Boston area.

Partner Spotlight on GT Law (Andrew Tibbetts, emphasize him and Pham’s role at Startup Weekend Boston)

This week's spotlight is on Greenberg Traurig, a top global law firm recognized for superior client service. At Startup Weekend Boston 2024, Andrew Tibbetts, a partner, provided invaluable legal guidance and mentorship to participants, drawing from his extensive experience advising entrepreneurs and startups. His insightful counsel and dedication to supporting founders were instrumental in helping teams navigate the complex legal landscape of launching a new venture.

Chinh H. Pham, a shareholder in the IP department, also made key contributions by sharing his deep expertise in intellectual property strategy and protection, which proved invaluable for many of the participating startups. Pham leads the firm's Emerging Technology Practice and advises clients on creating IP portfolios, evaluating innovations, and leveraging IP assets.

Greenberg Traurig's involvement through attorneys like Tibbetts and Pham showcases their commitment to fostering innovation and empowering startups. The firm is known for its community impact, diversity, pro bono work, and sustainability efforts like powering U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy.

We're grateful to have partners like Greenberg Traurig who embody the collaborative spirit driving Boston's vibrant startup ecosystem.

In Closing...

On behalf of BNT, we, Shweta Agrawal, Steve Vilkas, and Jason Kraus, want to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible BNT crew for their hard work and to our amazing community, thank you for your amazing support and engagement.

We are excited to continue building and growing together, and we eagerly look forward to connecting with you all again next Friday on the BNT Extra Byte Blog. Your presence makes our voyage truly fantastic!