Game-Changers & Globe-Makers: Meet Some of the Diverse Speakers Shaping SBW2025

Dynamic. Bold. Visionary. Unstoppable. Authentic.

These are just a few of the words that capture the diverse voices powering the future of the New England startup ecosystem. At Startup Boston Week 2025, we’re thrilled to spotlight founders, investors and operators from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - each bringing something unique to the stage.

Below, meet 18 of the incredible speakers who reflect the rich diversity of our community. From tackling deep-tech challenges to championing inclusion and rethinking the future of work, they’ll be sharing insights that spark ideas and open doors.

And this list is just the tip of the iceberg - many more inspiring, diverse voices will take the mic throughout the week. Grab your free ticket, map out your sessions and get ready to be energized by the power of perspective.

18 Influential Diverse Leaders Speaking at Startup Boston Week 2025

Heena Purohit, Director of AI Startups, Microsoft

About Heena: Heena Purohit is currently the Director of AI Startups at Microsoft. She’s been building tech products for over 15 years, launching and scaling several B2B SaaS AI products. As part of previous experience, Heena was incubating a portfolio of GenAI startups at IBM’s Corporate Incubator program. Her responsibility included helping to identify and accelerate the transformation of high potential ideas into viable, new innovative software products and businesses within IBM. Heena has also been recognized as one of the Top Women Innovators in AI (AI Magazine, 2022), Top Women Leaders in AI to Watch (Data Tech Vibe, 2021), Top Women AI Leaders (RISE 2020), and Top 20 AI Mavericks to Watch (MKAI, 2020).

See Heena at SBW2005: Heena is speaking on a panel AI Gold Rush or Bubble? Investing in AI in 2026 on Friday, September 12. 

Pariss Chandler, Founder and CEO, Black Tech Pipeline

About Pariss: Pariss Chandler is a voice to be reckoned with. She started out as a software engineer, but her career transitioned after mobilizing a global community of Black technologists when a tweet, #BlackTechTwitter, went viral in 2018. Pariss is now Founder and CEO of Black Tech Pipeline, a job board, newsletter, and recruiting platform providing career opportunities to Black technologists and their allies. She also serves as Chair of the Museum of Science’s Innovators Society, a young professionals group focused on making science more accessible to all.  

See Pariss at SBW2005: Pariss is speaking on a panel DEI in the Crosshairs: Navigating Challenges and Driving Impact Through Inclusive Strategies on Thursday, September 11.

Adrian Mendoza, General Partner, Mendoza Ventures

About Adrian: Adrian Mendoza is both a veteran and a pioneer of the Boston startup scene, with 20 years of experience building technology products and teams. He’s the Founder and General Partner at Mendoza Ventures, which is both and Latinx- and woman-owned and the first Latinx-founded VC fund on the East Coast. Mendoza Ventures’ focuses on investments in fintech, AI, and cybersecurity. Diversity plays a key role in their investment decisions — about 90% of Mendoza Ventures’ portfolio consists of startups led by people of color and women.   

See Adrian at SBW2005: Adrian is speaking on a panel, “On Board and On Point: Turning Feedback into Strategic Wins”, on Tuesday, September 9. 

Dr. Rabeeh Majidi, CEO, President, and Co-Founder, OrthoKinetic Track

About Rabeeh: Rabeeh is the CEO, President, and Co-Founder of OrthoKinetic Track, where she leads the vision, innovation, and development of AI-powered, real-time orthopedic monitoring solutions. Her career spans analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, sensor development, and signal processing. Previously, Rabeeh held lead engineering roles at Sensata Technologies, where she directed design engineering projects and advanced complex sensor technologies for industrial and automotive applications. Outside of her work at OrthoKinetic, Rabeeh serves as Chair of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Boston Section and Vice President of Operations for the IEEE Sensors Council Boston Chapter. She’s also a member of the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs.    

See Rabeeh at SBW2005: Rabeeh is speaking on a panel, Engineering with Guardrails: Innovating in Regulated Spaces on Tuesday, September 9.

Joseph Adu, CTO, SpectrumAI

About Joseph: Joseph Adu is currently the CTO at SpectrumAi, a startup working to increase access to high-quality autism care. He’s spent his career building and scaling innovative technology teams. Previously, Joseph was CISO at PathAI, a Boston-based startup applying machine learning to better understand cancer and other diseases. He also held leadership roles at Fay School, Care.com, and Year Up. Joe is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at Bowdoin College and President, Board of Directors, at the Needham Soccer Club. 

See Joseph at SBW2005: Joseph is speaking on a panel Standing Out in the AI Crowd: Strategies for Real Product Differentiation on Thursday, September 11.

Sandra Ma, Co-Founder and CEO, Jovial

About Sandra: Sandra Ma is back again to speak at Startup Boston Week. Sandra is Co-Founder and CEO at Jovial, a consulting firm that builds high-performing, connected teams through tailored collaboration solutions. She created Jovial because effective collaboration is crucial no matter the role or organization, as well as the desire to develop more empowered, connected, and jovial workplaces that drive the world’s innovation. Sandra also serves as a Mentor at Her Workplace, an in-person and virtual career network for the next generation of women and nonbinary leaders to build relationships, share stories, and exchange knowledge.  

See Sandra at SBW2005: Sandra is speaking on a panel, Preventing Burnout in Startups: Creating a Sustainable, High-Performing Team on Thursday, September 11.

Nirav Shah, CEO, OnPoint Insights LLC

About Nirav: Nirav Shah is CEO of OnPoint Insights, where he leads data scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, and software developers to help organizations unlock the power of data, analytics, and AI. With 22 years of experience in business, consulting, and technology, Nirav has worked across various industries like life sciences, healthcare, retail, and wearable devices. He’s also an Adjunct Professor at Tufts University, where he teaches graduate-level courses in the data analytics program. 

See Nirav at SBW2005: Nirav is presenting, Data Gold Rush: Mastering Acquisition and Annotation for AI Success on Thursday, September 11.

Sandra Quintero, Strategic Customer Success Manager, AuditBoard

About Sandra: Sandra Quintero is passionate about helping companies build trusted client partnerships, drive adoption, and grow sustainably. She’s brought that drive in her current role as a Strategic Customer Success Manager at AuditBoard, a global platform for connected risk. Born in Colombia and raised in the U.S., Sandra is a first-generation college graduate who brings grit, empathy, and a deep sense of purpose to her work. Outside of her work, Sandra can be found exploring new hiking trails, training for marathons, or spending time outdoors with friends and family. 

See Sandra at SBW2005: Sandra is speaking on a panel, The Crystal Ball: Mastering Health Scores to Predict (and Prevent) Churn on Monday, September 8.

James Massaquoi, Senior Associate, Glasswing Ventures

About James: James Massaquoi is currently a Senior Associate at Glasswing Ventures, which invests in preseed and seed AI/frontier tech startups in the cybersecurity and enterprise sectors. Before joining Glasswing, he worked at Osage Venture Partners, where he invested in early-stage B2B software companies across vertical SaaS, supply chain, and cybersecurity. James also worked at Amazon and 360VR Technology. Outside of work, he serves as a Board Director and Treasurer of the Seybert Foundation, a Philadelphia-based philanthropic organization. James made the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “25 Under 25” for his leadership in civic innovation and entrepreneurship. 

See James at SBW2005: James is speaking on a panel Gut Feel or Game Plan? Mastering Early-Stage Due Diligence on Friday, September 12. 

Sheila Phicil, Founder and CEO, Phicil-itate Change

About Sheila: For Sheila Phicil, her career started at the ripe old-age of eight co-hosting a radio show. That radio show eventually became a non-profit when Sheila turned 14. Now Sheila is the Co-Founder and CEO of Phicil-itate Change, an innovation studio that supports early-stage healthtech startups design patient-centered solutions that work, scale, and last. She has about 20 years of healthcare innovation experience, holding positions at various hospitals including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center. Sheila also serves as a board member at Care 2 Communities and Boston University School of Public Health. 

See Sheila at SBW2005: Sheila is speaking on a panel Innovations in Life Sciences: From Lab to Market on Thursday, September 11. 

Vincent Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO, Thinkverse

About Vincent: Vincent Zhang is a veteran EdTech founder. The Harvard Business School MBA graduate is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Thinkverse, an AI education platform on a mission to provide an AI math tutor to every student. Backed by top investors, Thinkverse partners with U.S. K-12 school districts to improve math outcomes. Thinkverse is Vincent’s third time as an EdTech founder. Prior to Thinkverse, Vincent founded two education ventures with one exit, including the largest college tutoring company for international students in Canada and a global language learning startup. Outside of work, Vincent loves playing basketball and board games. 

See Vincent at SBW2005: Vincent is speaking on a panel Founder Confessions: The Highs, Lows, and Rollercoaster Moments on Tuesday, September 9.

Lakshmi Balachandra, Founder/President, Resonance Business Insights

About Lakshmi: Lakshmi Balachandra has had a remarkably diverse career spanning teaching, research, and policy. An expert in entrepreneurial pitching, she’s currently teaching Entrepreneurship and Negotiation/Conflict Resolution at Harvard University and consulting with top management teams. Lakshmi is writing a book on what makes some entrepreneurs more “fundable” than others and recently spent three years in the Biden Administration working on innovation policy to increase funding for entrepreneurs, especially women. She’s also dabbled in standup and improv comedy, bringing her curiosity and creativity to every endeavor.

See Lakshmi at SBW2005: Lakshmi is speaking on a panel On Board and On Point: Turning Feedback into Strategic Wins on Tuesday, September 9. 

Oliver Sanchez, CEO, Extrasense Technologies

About Oliver: Making invisible threats to public health more detectable is a lifelong mission for Oliver Sanchez. Oliver is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Extrasense Technologies, a company transforming how cities and industries detect and manage pest threats through AI-powered vision and real-time monitoring. Raised in Mexico, Oliver’s early exposure to public health efforts, such as visiting a sterilization facility combating the screwworm fly, is where his passion started. Previously, Oliver led tech and innovation initiatives as a managing partner at AccelHUB, supporting early-stage LatAm entrepreneurs. He also founded Plug Cambridge, a coworking space focused on immigrant founders, which was later acquired by Rent24. He’s also an avid tennis player and a proud dad to a 9-year-old daughter.

See Oliver at SBW2005: Oliver is speaking on a panel Feeding the Future: How Foodtech is Changing What (and How) We Eat on Friday, September 12. 

Sophia Lin, Partner/Founder, Dots Global/Esquare Lab

About Sophia: Sophia Lin is a seasoned entrepreneurial operator and investor who knows what it means to build from the ground up. She currently runs Ésquare Lab, an investment firm that acquires and grows small businesses with untapped potential. Sophia’s also a partner at Dots Global, a venture consultancy that helps founders and institutions turn bold ideas into real-world ventures. Throughout her career, Sophia has started ventures across hospitality, fintech, and consumer internet. Her work has been recognized by Girls in Tech 40 Under 40, and she’s a frequent mentor and judge for startup competitions, including the MIT $100K.

See Sophia at SBW2005: Sophia is speaking on a panel Tech-Savvy Without the Code: Building a Startup as a Non-Technical Founder on Monday, September 8. 

Amber Nigam, Co-Founder and CEO, basys.ai

About Amber: Amber Nigam is a veteran healthcare entrepreneur, with over 14 years of experience. He’s currently the Co-Founder and CEO of basys.ai, which focuses on generative AI to automate prior authorization and utilization management to make patient care more accessible and efficient. Amber has been an invited speaker at TEDx, Stanford and Mayo Clinic, sharing his vision for aligning incentives in healthcare through AI and automation. Outside of his entrepreneur work, Amber has taught at MIT and serves as a mentor to startups across the Harvard and MIT innovation ecosystems. He was recognized as one of the Top 50 in Digital Health by Rock Health, and has been awarded prestigious fellowships including the Cheng Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School and the Halcyon Fellowship for social entrepreneurship. Amber often writes op-eds on healthcare, technology, and equity in leading outlets such as STAT News, Becker’s Healthcare and Forbes.

See Amber at SBW2005: Amber is speaking on a panel, Healthtech Unplugged: How Technology is Revolutionizing Patient Care on Wednesday, September 10. 

Rizel Scarlett, Tech Lead of Open Source Developer Relations, Block, Inc.

About Rizel: Rizel Scarlett is the Tech Lead of Open Source Developer Relations at Block, where she helps developers thrive in open source. With experience at GitHub, startups, and nonprofits, she’s passionate about using technology to champion equity in tech. Rizel also advises G{Code} House, supporting women and non-binary people of color learning to code, and she brings vulnerability, honesty, and kindness into everything she does to support early-career developers.

See Rizel at SBW2025: Rizel is speaking on the panel Closing the Gap: Recruiting and Upskilling for AI Success on Tuesday, September 9. 

Betty Francisco, CEO, Boston Impact Initiative

About Betty: Betty is the CEO of Boston Impact Initiative (BII), where she’s driving change as a business executive, impact investor, and community leader with over 20 years of experience. Named one of Boston Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and a Boston Business Journal “Power 50” honoree, she’s widely recognized as a convener and changemaker. Betty also co-founded Amplify Latinx, a social venture advancing Latino economic and political power in Massachusetts. She brings legal and leadership expertise from her time as General Counsel at Compass Working Capital and currently serves on several boards, including The Boston Foundation and Roxbury Community College.

See Betty at SBW2025: Betty is speaking on the panel Leveling the Field: Building an Inclusive Startup Ecosystem in Boston on Thursday, September 11.

Felicia Jadczak, Co-founder, Inclusion Geeks

About Felicia: Felicia (she/her) is the co-founder of Inclusion Geeks, a workplace consultancy helping organizations build more inclusive cultures. A recognized speaker and thought leader, she draws on her own lived experiences around women in the workforce, multiracial identity, leadership, and disability. Before launching Inclusion Geeks in 2015, Felicia spent over a decade in tech leading innovative programs and solutions. She holds degrees from Haverford College and Boston University, plus a certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown.

See Felicia at SBW2025: Felicia is speaking on the panel AI in People Ops: How Startups Can Harness AI to Build and Support Sustainable Teams on Thursday, September 11. 

See You at Startup Boston Week this September 8 - 12

These 18 speakers are just a glimpse of the diverse perspectives and lived experiences you’ll encounter at Startup Boston Week 2025. Whether you’re building your first startup, scaling a company, investing in the next big idea, or simply exploring the ecosystem, their voices will challenge, inspire, and expand your view of what’s possible.

Want to learn from them and connect with them? Join us September 8 - 12 at Suffolk University or virtually from anywhere. Grab your free ticket today and be part of a week that celebrates the power of diversity in driving innovation forward.

About the author: Kathleen Ohlson is a Boston-based content writer with a background as a high-tech reporter and storyteller. With a passion for creating content that resonates with audiences, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.