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Five Interesting Things (that are not insurance)
Nathan Therrien
January 20, 2025
I’m Nathan Therrien, founder of Business Insurance & Benefits Services of MA, the go-to resource for #startups on all things insurance.
I spend a lot of time discussing insurance and employee benefits for startups, but there are other things people would rather hear about. So, I started a newsletter—a quick read covering five things and a few more that are a little more interesting than insurance.
This week, we have some cool startup events, including a startup space yard sale in Cambridge, some newsworthy articles, including one about climate tech VC funding being declined for the 3rd year in a row, and a special wildcard!
Event: Nail Your 60-Second Pitch at Bucket List
Wednesday, January 22, 6:00-8:00 pm
Savills Boston, 800 Boylston St, Suite 1510, Boston, MA 02109
Step up and wow the panel at Bucket List, where founders give a 60-second pitch followed by fun, actionable feedback. Names are drawn at 6 p.m., so bring your energy, support your peers, and capture content to share.
Event: Stand Out in the Job Market with Recruiter Insights
Thursday, January 23, 5:00-6:00 pm
Venture Café, Cambridge, MA
Unlock hiring tips with recruiters from Akamai Technologies, Wayfair, Acquia, and Robert Half. Learn what makes candidates shine, how AI impacts resumes, and which job platforms recruiters use most. Don’t miss this chance to connect and elevate your job search!
Event: Connect with Boston’s Top Startup Minds at Blue Hour
Thursday, January 23, 5:30-8:00 pm
Venture Lane, 55 Court St, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02108
Venture Lane | Startup Hub’s Blue Hour is back! Connect with 70+ founders, mentors, and investors for an evening of networking and inspiration. Don’t miss the chance to share ideas and build relationships in this vibrant, collaborative space.
Event: Build Connections and Conversations in Healthcare and Health Tech
Thursday, January 23, 6:30-8:30 pm
Mighty Squirrel, 1 David Ortiz Dr, Boston, MA 02215
Hang out with professionals and enthusiasts in healthcare and health tech at this casual happy hour. Supported by Health Tech Nerds, a 5,500+ member global community fostering learning, networking, and growth. Enjoy meaningful conversations and new connections with healthcare innovators and changemakers!
Event: Kick Off 2025 with Boston’s Startup Leaders
Wednesday, January 29, 5:30-7:30 pm
120 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02108
Startup Boston and the City of Boston are teaming up to connect you with 17 networking groups driving the local #startup scene. Whether you're launching a startup or scaling your business, meet leaders like Womenx Innovators, Mass Fintech Hub , and Venture Café Cambridge, and discover fresh opportunities to jumpstart your year
Event: Celebrate Connections at Mass Professional Networking’s 12th Anniversary
Wednesday, January 29, 6:00-8:00 pm
Howl at the Moon Boston, 184 High Street, Boston, MA 02110
Mark 12 years of networking success with Mass Professional Networking and AMA - Boston American Marketing Association at Howl at the Moon in Boston. Meet fellow professionals, share ideas, and grow your network in a relaxed, business-friendly atmosphere. Limited free tickets are available—register today and bring your business cards!
Event: Warm Up with Connections and Innovations at MassChallenge’s Winter Healthcare Meetup
Wednesday, January 29, 5:00-7:00 pm
MassChallenge Boston Fan Pier, 10 Fan Pier Blvd, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02210
MassChallenge’s Healthcare Community Winter Meetup brings together healthcare innovators, founders, and leaders for an evening of networking, inspiration, and seasonal treats. Discover groundbreaking solutions from the Healthcare cohort and learn about the 2025 US Early-Stage Healthcare Program. Connect, collaborate, and celebrate healthcare innovation in a festive setting!
Wednesday, January 29, 6:30-9:00 pm
Bell in Hand, 45 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
Looking to connect with Boston’s tech community? Tech Drinks & Startups is creating opportunities to build relationships and share ideas with founders, tech professionals, investors, and academics. Whether you’re seeking co-founders, funding, or inspiration, this event offers a space to network and grow with others passionate about AI, SaaS, Fintech, Web3, and more.
Event: Discover, Network, and Showcase at Yard Sale @ Cambridge
Thursday, January 30, 5:27-8:32 pm
Cambridge, MA
It’s time for innovators, founders, and thinkers to shine at Yard Sale @ Cambridge. Network with Boston’s boldest and Cambridge’s brightest, explore cutting-edge product demos, and connect with top talent. Don’t miss the grand finale—Yard Sale: The Best Finds—where top innovators go head-to-head to prove who’s shaping the future of tech. Get ready to meet brilliant minds, showcase big ideas, and experience innovation up close!
Event: Network with Digital Health Innovators and AI Leaders
Tuesday, February 4, 6:00-8:30 pm
Boston, MA
Connect with top minds in digital health and AI at an exclusive Boston event on Feb. 4. Join Dr. Amir Lahav, CEO of SkyMedAI, and hear Danny Sands, MD, MPH speak on "Driving the Future: The Symbiotic Evolution of Digital Health and the e-Patient." Enjoy an evening of networking, insights, and collaboration with healthcare professionals, startup founders, and investors shaping the future of health tech.
Event: Raise a Glass to Life Sciences Innovation at Boston Portal Pours
Wednesday, February 5, 5:00-8:00 pm
Portal Innovations, 135 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
Celebrate the start of a new year with the life sciences community at Boston Portal Pours. Network with local professionals, enjoy drinks and light bites, and explore cutting-edge innovation with lab space tours. Hosted by Portal Innovations, this laid-back event is the perfect way to connect and kick-off 2025.
Article: Startup Colossal’s Decacorn Status Sparks Buzz in De-Extinction
Colossal Biosciences, a de-extinction startup aiming to bring back species like the woolly mammoth, has achieved decacorn status after securing a $225 million Series B funding round. Backed by investors including TWG, the company’s rapid rise highlights growing interest in biodiversity restoration and genetic science innovation. Experts remain curious about the commercial viability of de-extinction technology and its impact on conservation efforts.
Article: Founder-Led Teams Gain VC Attention
Founder-led teams are becoming a focal point for VCs, according to a recent Crunchbase report. Investors are increasingly drawn to entrepreneurs with hands-on leadership and cohesive teams, believing this dynamic improves decision-making and adaptability. As competitive pressures grow, founder-backed companies could play a pivotal role in reshaping the startup ecosystem.
Article: Climate Tech VC Funding Declines for Third Consecutive Year
Venture capital investment in climate tech dropped for the third year, reflecting economic pressures and shifting priorities within the sector. While the number of deals and total funding have decreased, optimism remains as investors seek scalable solutions to the climate crisis.
Wild Card:
If you're a #startup, at some point, you're going to need to get #business #insurance in place. Yeah, it can be a bit of a drag, especially if you don't know where to start. Here's what you'll need
The Essentials
➡️ Workers Compensation
➡️ General Liability/Property/BOP
➡️ Professional/Technology Errors and Omissions (E&O)
➡️ Cyber/Privacy
Next Level Stuff
➡️ Directors and Officers
➡️ Employer Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Time for the shameless plug. If this is something you can use some help with, I would be happy to act as a resource. You can reach out and drop a line at https://lnkd.in/e8iBMjSR
Thanks for spending five minutes with me!
If you’d like to spend more time with me, check out Nate’s Pop-Up Podcast, follow my company, Business Insurance & Benefits Services of MA, on LinkedIn, or reach out through my website for help with all things insurance and benefits for startups.
