Three Interesting Things (in the Boston Startup Space)

Author

Nathan Therrien
March 10, 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 an East Coast meetup at Google with Neural Magic (Acquired by Red Hat), Red Hat. We also have some newsworthy articles, including one about the funding decrease for women-founded startups, and a special wildcard from the latest ditch the deck.

Events:

Dive into vLLM Innovations with Neural Magic, Red Hat & Google

Tuesday, March 11, 5:00-9:00 pm

Google Cambridge – 355 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142

The first-ever East Coast vLLM meetup is happening at Google Cambridge! Hosted by Neural Magic (Acquired by Red Hat) and Red Hat, this event brings together vLLM users, developers, and engineers from Google, Red Hat, and more. Expect deep technical talks, insights on optimizing LLM inference, and plenty of networking. Don’t miss this chance to connect with experts shaping the future of AI performance.

Meet Mitch Kapor: Entrepreneurial Pioneer and Venture Capital Visionary

Tuesday, March 11, 6:00-7:00 pm

MIT Samberg Conference Center – 50 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142

Join the Trust Center's Spring Speaker Series with Mitch Kapor, Founding Partner of Kapor Capital. Hear from the tech pioneer behind Lotus 1-2-3 and learn about his work investing in startups that close gaps for underrepresented communities. Don't miss this chance to gain insights from one of Silicon Valley's most influential figures.

Venture Café Returns

Thursday, March 13, 4:30-8:00 pm

Venture Café - 1 Broadway, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA

Expand your network at Venture Café Cambridge's signature Connection Collider and meet innovators from Boston to Canada. Get expert insights at Office Hours with the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development and explore state resources to fuel your business growth. Plus, dive into Beyond the Hype: AI Tools That Actually Boost Productivity with Albert Chen and learn how to cut through the noise to maximize AI’s impact.

Celebrate Innovation and Leadership at the Tech Top 50 Awards

Thursday, March 13, 5:00-7:00 pm

McKinsey – 240 Devonshire St, Boston, MA

Celebrate the region’s top tech companies, leaders, and innovations at the Tech Top 50 Awards. Honoring individuals like CEO of the Year and companies driving AI, workforce culture, and community impact, this event will also recognize Pam Reeve with the Mass Technology Leadership Council Commonwealth Award for her contributions to Massachusetts' tech ecosystem.

Expand Your AI Investment Network in Boston

Thursday, March 13, 5:00-8:00 pm

Cambridge, MA

AI investors, this one's for you. Join a collaborative evening with fellow VCs and angel investors to share insights, discuss industry use cases, and explore how AI is shaping the future—all in a relaxed, no-pitch setting. Connect with peers, exchange ideas, and gain valuable perspectives on AI’s evolving landscape.

Dive Into Generative AI with Industry Experts at Boston's Meetup

Thursday, March 13, 6:00-8:30 pm

Microsoft New England Research and Development Center – 1 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA

Join top AI leaders at the Boston Generative AI Meetup! Hear from experts like David Chang, Sid Probstein, and Beth Porter as they explore the power of generative AI in business. After the panel, enjoy an hour of networking with fellow AI enthusiasts. Don't miss this chance to connect and learn from the best!

Pitch Night: See the Best of Boston's Pre-Series A Tech Startups in Action

Thursday, March 13, 5:30-8:00 pm

Venture Lane – 55 Court St, Boston, MA 02203

Venture Lane | Startup Hub Studio’s Pitch Night showcases six top pre-Series A B2B tech startups from Boston, selected from over 150 applicants. Join a dynamic audience of investors, entrepreneurs, and mentors to discover innovative startups and connect with the leaders shaping Boston’s tech scene. This is the perfect opportunity to network and explore high-growth opportunities in the B2B tech space.

Meet Women Innovators Shaping AI with Glasswing, Flybridge, and MTLC

Tuesday, March 18, 5:00-7:30 pm

Glasswing Ventures – 275 Newbury St, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116

Join the next Women in AI meet-up hosted by Glasswing Ventures, Flybridge, and Mass Technology Leadership Council. This event will feature three women leading in AI from diverse perspectives—founder, investor, and innovator. Enjoy plenty of time to network and reconnect with new and familiar faces while hearing from these incredible leaders in the field.

Unite with Boston’s Tech Communities for Networking and Collaboration

Tuesday, March 18, 5:30-8:00 pm

Pillar VC, 500 Boylston St, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02116

Join product managers, engineers, designers, and tech enthusiasts at Tech Communities Unite, hosted by Jovial and Jellyfish. Discover new groups, make valuable connections, and dive into an interactive activity that sparks fresh ideas. Don’t miss out—space is limited for this exciting evening of collaboration and innovation!

Launch Your B2B Startup with the Pearce Summer Fellowship

Wednesday, March 19, 5:30-7:00 pm

Underscore VC – 45 School St, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA

Turn your B2B software idea into reality with the Pearce Summer Fellowship Program, powered by Underscore VC. This summer accelerator offers flexible financing (starting at $50K), dedicated VC mentorship, and a collaborative workspace at Historic Old City Hall. Connect with the Underscore team and learn how this program can help you break into Boston’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Overcome Data Silos in Biotech with Experts and Peers

Wednesday, March 19, 6:00-9:00 pm

Vester – 73 Ames St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Join biotech founders, data leaders, and scientists for an evening of insights and networking at Mindvyne's Data & Drinks event, hosted by Mindvyne, Collaborative Drug Discovery - CDD Vault, and dovetail biopartners. Hear from experts on overcoming data silos and discover practical strategies to integrate data across teams and platforms. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with drinks and a roundtable discussion, followed by a panel of experts sharing actionable takeaways for startups.

Discuss the Future of Agetech at Boston Health Innovation Night

Thursday, March 20, 5:30-8:30 pm

Liberty Lobby Bar – 215 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Connect with healthcare innovators and investors at Boston Health Innovation Night. Hear Sumit Nagpal, CEO of Cherish, share insights on the silver tsunami and agetech while networking over drinks at the Liberty Hotel. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great conversations with industry leaders.

Build Your Cleantech Venture with Cleantech Open Northeast

Tuesday, March 25, 5:00-7:00 pm

Greentown Boston – 444 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Kick off the season with Cleantech Open Northeast at Greentown Labs for an evening of networking, insights, and opportunity. Learn how the accelerator program has helped startups raise over $2B and hear from alumni like Julie Bliss Mullen of Aclarity and Jyotsna Budideti of xFarm Technologies. Connect with mentors, investors, and innovators shaping the future of cleantech.

Scale Your Startup with FounderConnect’s Expert Network

Tuesday, March 25, 5:30-7:30 pm

Venture Café - 1 Broadway, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA

FounderConnect is back with even more resources to help you grow your startup. Meet legal advisors, marketing pros, funding strategists, and other key players in Greater Boston’s startup ecosystem. Thanks to CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center)'s Social Impact Cohort, this event brings together founders, mentors, and service providers for 1:1 conversations and networking designed to fuel your success.

Spot the Next Big Thing in Life Sciences Innovation

Wednesday, March 26, 4:00-8:00 pm

UMass Lowell iHub – 110 Canal St, 3rd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852

See groundbreaking biotech and medical device startups compete for a share of $200K in in-kind resources and $50K in cash at UMassM2D2's 2025 $200K Challenge Pitch-Off. Catch pitches from the top finalists, hear insights from keynote speaker Brian Hess, CEO and Founder of RevBio, Inc., and connect with industry leaders, investors, and life sciences entrepreneurs.

Explore the Future of Robotics and AI at BNT’s Next Generation Showcase

Thursday, March 27, 5:00-8:00 pm

Discover the latest in robotics, automation, and AI-powered systems at Boston New Technology (BNT)’s Robotics Startup Showcase. The evening kicks off with a Town Hall featuring industry experts and investors, followed by six cutting-edge startups presenting #innovations in industrial automation, medical robotics, autonomous systems, and more. Network with founders, engineers, and thought leaders shaping the next era of intelligent automation.

Articles:

Defense Tech Startup Epirus Lands Fresh Funding for Anti-Drone Systems

Epirus, a defense tech startup specializing in anti-drone technology, secured new funding to expand its electromagnetic weapon systems. Backed by 8VC, the investment highlights growing interest in counter-drone solutions as national security concerns drive demand for advanced defense technologies.

Funding for Women-Founded Startups Dropped 12% in 2024

Funding for women-founded startups fell 12% in 2024, just behind the broader market decline. The drop highlights ongoing challenges in accessing venture capital for women entrepreneurs, despite efforts to increase diversity in the startup ecosystem. As the market shifts, industry leaders are pushing for more targeted initiatives to support women-led innovation.

Growth-at-all-Costs Mindset Hurting the Internet, Startup Opportunities Arise

PR expert Ed Zitron argues that the “growth-at-all-costs” approach is damaging the internet, creating new opportunities for startups that focus on quality and sustainable growth. Zitron's perspective highlights how a shift in priorities could lead to more meaningful and long-term success for emerging businesses, especially as the current tech ecosystem faces challenges.

Wild Card:

Ditch the Deck Recap

Big shout out to Gregory Raiz and Jessica Lynch of FoundersEdge for another great #DitchtheDeck event. Five #founders took the stage to introduce their #startups and demo their product. No PowerPoint, no slideshows, it was ‘show us what you got’, and they delivered.

This edition of Ditch the Deck had a lineup of companies and their founders, including:

➡️ Naman Gupta, Co-Fonder of BaselineTech: Building simulator to make snowboarding cheap and accessible for snowboarders.

➡️ Torrey D Benane, Co-Founder of Epicly AI.ai:  The All-in-One AI Platform for Digital Content. Generate scripts and realistic voiceovers for social media, ads, and faceless YouTube channels.

➡️ Jason Syversen, #CEO of SportsVisio: SportsVisio’s AI technology delivers stat tracking and player highlights — all through our secure, easy-to-use app.

➡️ Kara Peterson, Co-Founder of descrybe.ai: Descrybe.ai is a singular way to search for and understand caselaw. Their unique process leverages generative AI to make complex legal information more accessible to professionals and laypeople alike.

➡️ Erwann Couesbot, Co-Founder and CEO of FlipThrough: FlipThrough is a platform powered by autonomous agents designed to support procurement teams and organizations of any size dealing with vendors.

It was a great showcase for live product demos with networking to boot. Looking forward to the next one. Congratulations and kudos to all the presenting startups, keep grinding. #Boston #innovation 

If you are a #startup interested in doing a demo at an upcoming event, you can submit a request at https://lnkd.in/eMAc7ZNe

 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.