Coming to You LIVE from SBW2025: Conversations with Boston’s Movers & Shakers
- Stephanie Roulic
- 11 hours ago
- 7 min read
The Podcast Stage was back for Startup Boston Week 2025! And it’s louder, livelier and more local than ever.
First launched at SBW2023, this stage quickly became the heartbeat of the week, greeting attendees as soon as they walked through the doors and shining a spotlight on the incredible podcasts telling the stories of Boston’s builders, dreamers and doers.
This year, we’re once again inviting top local hosts to record their shows live from SBW2025, capturing real conversations with the founders, investors, and innovators shaping New England’s startup scene.
Couldn’t catch it in person? Don’t worry — you can stream the action anytime. The live recordings are now available on demand below.
Marketing Nerds: Deborah Kurtz
Marketing isn’t over — it’s evolving. In this episode, Deborah Kurtz unpacks how the 2022 slowdown reshaped the marketing landscape, from hiring freezes and tech layoffs to the rise of AI-driven workflows. She shares practical advice on spotting early warning signs of layoffs, preparing for career pivots, and adapting your marketing playbook for a new era of uncertainty and innovation.
Marketing Nerds: Allison Campbell, Unburnt
Recorded live at Startup Boston Week 2025, this episode features Allison Campbell, founder of Unburnt, in a candid conversation about the hidden cost of hustle in marketing and beyond. After experiencing corporate burnout firsthand, Allison turned her recovery into a mission—helping professionals and teams recognize the signs early and build sustainable habits for long-term success. It’s an honest look at what it takes to stay creative and whole in a demanding industry.
Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast: Thomas "TK" Kindley, New England Free Jacks
This episode features Thomas “TK” Kindley, General Manager of the New England Free Jacks, sharing what it’s like to build a champion team in a startup sports league. As the Free Jacks celebrate three Major League Rugby titles, TK discusses the growth of rugby in the U.S., the challenges of fan engagement, and what it takes to scale a professional franchise in a rapidly emerging sport that’s equal parts speed, grit, and strategy.
Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast: Abe Stein, Look | Think | Move
Abe Stein of Look | Think | Move joins the Sawyer Business School’s Amplification Avenue Podcast to discuss how startups in the sports industry can strengthen connections with their local fan bases. Abe shares insights on driving authentic engagement, building community-driven brands, and helping emerging sports ventures thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Sawyer Business School Amplification Avenue Podcast: Amina Bulman, Boston Legacy FC
What’s it like to build a startup inside one of America’s fastest-growing sports leagues? In this episode, Amina Bulman, Chief Revenue Officer of Boston Legacy FC, shares what it takes to launch Boston’s return to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). From engaging fans and cultivating new communities to attracting sponsors and defining success in a mission-driven sports organization, Amina offers a behind-the-scenes look at the business of growing a professional team from the ground up.
The VentureFizz Podcast: Luisa Herrmann, Founder & CEO of AINovva
In this episode, Luisa breaks down her entrepreneurial journey—from building her own AI tool to tackling the realities of bootstrapping. After years in product roles at ZoomInfo, Validity, and other startups, she founded AINovva to solve her own problem: the constant context-switching burnout of modern work. Her product, AIFred, streamlines email prioritization, meeting prep, and relationship management so busy professionals can focus on what matters. Luisa also shares insights on networking, hiring your first product manager, and why holding off on outside funding can put founders in a stronger position long-term.
The VentureFizz Podcast: Izzat Jarudi, Co-Founder & CEO of Edifii
In this thought-provoking interview, Izzat Jarudi—founder of Edifii and expert in brain and behavioral science from MIT and Yale—explores how AI might shape (and possibly challenge) human cognition and creativity. Drawing on his neuroscience background, he discusses whether our problem-solving drive could fade as we increasingly rely on intelligent systems. The conversation also dives into his career journey from management consulting to VP of Product at Cambridge Mobile Telematics to founder, the mission behind Edifii’s AI- and neuroscience-driven mentoring platform, and his insights on what truly defines a great product manager.
The VentureFizz Podcast: Liz Graham, CEO, Board Member, & Startup Advisor
Liz shares insights from her journey through roles at HubSpot, Wayfair, Notarize (now Proof), and Ada IQ, as well as her work with MassChallenge and Women Applying AI (WAAI) — a new nonprofit empowering women to build confidence and capability in the AI era.
Business Mastery for Startups, Scaleups, and early-stage businesses!
We help early-stage businesses grow and scale — whether you’re a scrappy startup, an ambitious scaleup, or a funded venture ready for the next leap. Here, you’ll find real-world tips, step-by-step guides, and hard-earned lessons to help you thrive — straight from founders, industry leaders, and investors who’ve been there and done it.
Here were the four episodes recorded live at SBW2025:
Tricia Bitetto, Venture Cafe Cambridge; watch on YouTube
Anuj Adhiya, Growth Hacker; watch on YouTube
Julie Meyer, Executive Coach; watch on YouTube
David Chang, Angel Investor; watch on YouTube
Setting the Bar: Alon Rivel, Feast & Fettle
Maddie and Sarah sit down with Alon Rivel from Feast & Fettle for a lively, wide-ranging conversation that blends business insight with plenty of laughs. They dive into marketing strategy, hospitality, and brand building—while also venturing into Maddie’s dating life and a few unexpected topics (yes, even Louboutins). It’s a fun, unfiltered look at the human side of entrepreneurship.
Setting the Bar: Allison MacLeod, Flywire
Spotlights Allison MacLeod — CMO, Head of RevOps, and GM of Education at Flywire — in a candid conversation on leadership and growth. Allison shares how to scale scrappy teams without losing authenticity, lead with empathy, and keep human connection at the heart of innovation. Her perspective offers a refreshing reminder that even in the age of AI, great leadership is still deeply human.
Building AI Boston: Parag Shah, CarGurus
In this special episode of Building AI Boston, co-host Kara Peterson talks with Parag Shah of CarGurus about how AI and data science are reshaping the automotive industry. Parag shares how CarGurus is using AI to create a more transparent, personalized, and data-driven car-buying experience—benefiting both consumers and dealers. Their conversation explores Boston’s growing role as a global AI hub and offers a glimpse into the future of automotive commerce in an AI-powered world.
Building AI Boston: Brendan Witcher, Leading Voice in Customer Experience and Digital Strategy
Brendan Witcher, a leading voice in customer experience and digital strategy, joined us to unpack how AI is reshaping business, consumer behavior, and the startup landscape. He shared practical insights on how founders can harness AI for smarter growth, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities emerging from this rapid transformation. From Boston’s rise as an AI innovation hub to the next wave of digital change, Brendan offered a forward-looking vision for how technology is redefining what’s possible.
Boston SpeaksUp: Steve Walsh + Rob Hughes, The Funding Funnel
Steve Walsh (Hands On Angel, Pitch Lift) and Rob Hughes (Koo Capital, HelpBnk, Pitch Lift) kicked off the podcast with a dynamic conversation about balancing equity and debt financing. Steve emphasized that an investor’s network often outweighs their check size, while Rob unpacked how Koo Capital connects growth-stage companies with private credit funds for deals ranging from $500K to $600M. Together, they reframed capital strategy for founders—urging them to think beyond the “VC or bust” mindset.
Boston SpeaksUp: Clay Unicorn + Marc Gigliotti + Dylan Wilson: Rethinking Venture Studios
Clay McIlrath (aka Clay Unicorn), Marc Gigliotti, and Dylan Wilson explored how venture studios are redefining collaboration and innovation. Clay highlighted the move from traditional agencies to consultative, startup-minded studios, while Marc emphasized experimentation and speed over analysis. Dylan rounded it out by underscoring the irreplaceable role of brand and design in an AI-driven world—showing how creative perspective remains the true differentiator.
Boston SpeaksUp: AI Happy Hour with Clay, Marc + Justin Bingham
The live AI Happy Hour with Clay McIlrath, Marc Gigliotti, and Justin Bingham wrapped things up with an honest look at how far generative AI has come—and what it still can’t do. Justin traced the evolution from early curiosity to today’s agentic coding, where ideas instantly turn into prototypes, while Clay compared AI to “brilliant junior developers” who still need senior guidance. Together, they reflected on how this acceleration is reshaping hackathons, product building, and even fundraising, where weekend prototypes are the new napkin sketches.
PowerUp Boston: Aisling Carlson, Chief Growth Officer, Greentown Labs
From her beginnings in venture capital to leading growth at the world’s largest climatetech incubator, Aisling shares her journey, lessons in resilience, and the role of community in helping founders scale breakthrough ideas.
She also dives into the unique ecosystems in Boston and Houston, how Greentown connects startups with investors and corporate partners, and why finding your “why” is critical for any entrepreneur.
Tune in for insights on climate innovation, founder support, and the future of Boston’s startup community.
Happy Listening!
From AI to athletics, burnout to brand-building, the Podcast Stage at Startup Boston Week 2025 captured what makes this community so electric — real conversations with the people shaping what’s next. Whether it’s founders rethinking work, investors reframing capital, or creators reminding us that business can still have heart, these live recordings prove that Boston’s startup scene isn’t just talking innovation — it’s living it.
If you missed the buzz in person, now’s your chance to plug in. Stream the full lineup, discover your next favorite podcast, and hear firsthand how New England’s movers and shakers are building the future — one conversation at a time.
