In 2025, Boston and New England’s startup ecosystem is thriving, fueled by bold ideas, relentless innovation, and a strong sense of community. At the forefront of this growth are the women driving change - founders, investors, and ecosystem builders who are shaping the future and pushing boundaries.
This group includes both rising leaders - women who are actively building startups and creating content to support fellow founders and operators - and seasoned experts with deep experience in Boston’s startup ecosystem. Together, they are launching initiatives and sharing insights that uplift female founders, embodying the spirit of “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
The 2025 Women Leaders in the Boston and New England Startup Community
Alexa Jackson (Boston City Lead, Women and Climate) - As the Boston City Lead for Women and Climate, Alexa fosters a supportive and inclusive community where women and nonbinary professionals can learn, connect, and take action on critical climate issues. Committed to increasing women's leadership in the climate space, she helps create a joyful and safe environment that inspires more women to engage in climate work while empowering those already making an impact.
Anna Palmer (Cofounder & General Partner, XFactor Ventures and Cofounder, Boston Unity Soccer Partners) - Anna invests in tenacious female founders and mixed-gender teams tackling billion-dollar markets at the pre-seed and seed stages through XFactor Ventures. Anna’s advocacy also extends to the world of sports as a co-founder of Boston Unity Soccer Partners, leading the charge to bring a National Women’s Soccer League team to Boston in 2026, further championing women’s leadership and visibility on and off the field. Previously, she co-founded Dough, an e-commerce marketplace designed to amplify and support women-led brands through curated shopping experiences and live events.
Bobbie Carlton (Founder, Innovation Women and Editor in Chief, Lioness) - As the owner of Lioness for the Female Entrepreneur, Bobbie is strengthening its impact as a premier media outlet that provides women with the news, tools, and resources they need to launch and scale their startups. She is also the founder of Innovation Women, an online speaker’s bureau designed to increase visibility for entrepreneurial and technical women by connecting them with speaking opportunities at conferences, trade shows, and events.
Chareeda Rustanavibul (Cofounder, A2C Boston) - As Co-Founder of A2C Boston, Chareeda has built a thriving network of 200+ diverse founders and investors and creates founder-centric programs that prioritize equity and impact. Her leadership has been recognized by organizations such as The Commonwealth of Massachusetts AAPI Commission and Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program. Beyond A2C, Chareeda continues to champion underrepresented entrepreneurs through her work at Gold House and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), ensuring that more voices have a seat at the table in the startup and investment ecosystem.
Isabella Mandis (Founder, Girls Into VC) - As the founder of Girls Into VC, Isabella is creating pathways for young women to break into the industry. Since launching in December 2022, she has grown the community to over 8,000 members across 60 countries and six continents, fostering a global network of support, mentorship, and opportunity.
Gabrielle King Morse (President & CEO, Center for Women & Enterprise) - As President and CEO of the Center for Women & Enterprise, Gabrielle leads efforts to provide women with the tools, training, and support they need to launch and grow successful businesses. Under her leadership, CWE empowers women to achieve economic independence and build thriving enterprises.
Jessica Angeles (Community Manager, MassChallenge) - With a strong focus on community-driven impact, Jessica has championed first-generation professionals through initiatives like Class Action’s First Generation Leadership Development Initiative and the First Generation Student Summit. Now, as a Community Associate at MassChallenge, she connects startups, experts, corporations, and diverse communities to drive meaningful business and economic transformation.
Kara Peterson (Co-Host, Building AI Boston and Cofounder, Descrybe.ai) - As the co-host of Building AI Boston, Kara leads open and engaging conversations that demystify artificial intelligence, ensuring that AI is accessible to all. She is also the co-founder of Descrybe.ai, a justice tech company leveraging AI to democratize access to the law and, ultimately, justice itself. With a deep commitment to the intersection of technology, ethics, and innovation, Kara is dedicated to breaking down barriers and ensuring that AI serves diverse communities in meaningful ways.
Kat Lazell (Senior Program Manager, Cambridge Innovation Center) - As the leader of the CIC Social Impact Cohort, Kat supports BIPOC, female-identifying, and veteran-led businesses through targeted acceleration programs in Massachusetts. She drives program development, secures strategic partnerships with governments and universities, and ensures access to critical resources for underrepresented founders.
Kristina Tsipouras Miller (Founder, Boston Business Women) - As the founder of Boston Business Women, Kristina has built a powerful community that fosters connection, education, and empowerment through networking events and online workshops. Under her leadership, Boston Business Women has become a hub for collaboration and support, bringing together some of the city’s most successful women to share knowledge, build relationships, and elevate their careers.
Lisa Hillman (Boston Chapter Chair, Women in Bio) - Lisa Hillman is a dedicated advocate for women in the life sciences, committed to advancing their careers and expanding opportunities in the industry. As Chair of the Women in Bio (WIB) Boston Chapter, she leads professional development, leadership programs, and mentorship initiatives that empower women at all stages of their careers.
Marisa Nieves (Cofounder, A2C Boston) - As Cofounder of A2C Boston, she is dedicated to increasing access to capital, fostering community, and building meaningful connections for diverse leaders in the startup space. Previously, as Director of MA Programs at Innovation Studio, Marisa led the development of entrepreneurial programs and ensured that founders - especially those from underserved communities - had access to the resources, support, and spaces they needed to thrive.
Megan Marszalek (Program Director, Entrepreneurial & Regional Ecosystems, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) - At Mass Tech Collaborative, Megan drives strategic investments and community-building initiatives that create opportunities for startups and founders to succeed. Her work spans ecosystem development, incubator and accelerator design, scale-up support, and revenue generation for entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs).
Nana Younge, M.Ed. (Founder & Executive Director, Get Girls Going and Program Director, Innovate@BU, Boston University) - As the Founder of Get Girls Going, she helps Black teen girls build businesses that address real-world challenges, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and resources to lead. In her role as Program Director at Innovate@BU, she supports student entrepreneurs at Boston University in developing and scaling their ventures.
Shweta Agrawal (Co-Director & Chief Product Officer, Boston New Technology) - As Co-Director and Chief Product Officer of Boston New Technology (BNT), she plays a pivotal role in connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow. At BNT, she specifically leads Techstars Startup Weekend Boston, where she provides aspiring founders with a hands-on, immersive experience in launching a startup. Through this fast-paced, hackathon-style event, participants learn to validate ideas, build prototypes, and pitch their ventures—gaining invaluable insights and connections along the way.
Tara Greco (Investor at CNote, Portfolia, Chloe Capital) - As an investor and member of Chloe Capital, she supports female-led tech startups while helping to educate the next generation of investors. Through her involvement with Portfolia’s FemTech Fund, she backs high-potential companies addressing critical women’s health needs, from fertility solutions to menopausal care. Additionally, as an investor at CNote, Tara directs capital into financially underserved communities, supporting women- and BIPOC-led businesses, affordable housing, and job creation. Her work is driving meaningful change by expanding access to capital and championing underrepresented founders.
Tasneem Dohadwala (Founding Partner, Excelestar Ventures) - As the Founding Partner of Excelestar Ventures, she drives investments in groundbreaking medical and deep technology, with a portfolio that includes successful exits like Augmenix and nVision. In her role as Managing Partner of the Golden Seeds Boston Chapter, Tasneem actively supports women founders, helping them access the capital and mentorship needed to scale their businesses. Tasneem has been recognized for her impact, with Excelestar Ventures named one of The Boston Globe’s Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts. Through her leadership, she is championing a more inclusive and equitable venture ecosystem.
This is by no means an exhaustive list - countless individuals contribute to making the Boston and New England startup ecosystem thrive. We encourage you to explore the 2024 Women Leaders, 2023 Women Leaders, and 2022 Women Leaders lists to discover more of the incredible women driving innovation, fostering connections, and shaping the future of our startup community year after year.
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