Startup Curious? These SBW2025 Sessions Are Your Perfect Launchpad

Curious about the startup world but not sure where to start? Whether you're exploring a career switch, dreaming up your first idea, or just want to understand what all the buzz is about, the Startup Curious Track at Startup Boston Week 2025 is designed with you in mind.

Happening September 8 - 12, this year’s conference is more dynamic than ever, with new sessions still being added and options to attend either in-person at Suffolk University or virtually. No pitch deck or tech background needed - just curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Explore the full Startup Curious agenda by clicking “Role or Journey” and selecting “Startup Curious.”

Check out a few of the can't-miss sessions from the track below, and don't forget to grab your free ticket right here.

Diving into the Startup Curious Track

Tech-Savvy Without the Code: Building a Startup as a Non-Technical Founder

Date: Monday, September 8 from 9:30am - 10:30am | View Session

You don’t need to code to build something great. This session gives non-technical founders a roadmap to navigate tech decisions, manage developers, and impress investors, while staying out of the weeds.

Perfect for: Aspiring founders without a technical background who want to turn an idea into a real product. 

Finding the Right Guide: How Early-Stage Founders Can Leverage Advisors & Mentors

Date: Monday, September 8 from 11:00am - 12:00pm | View Session

Your startup is only as strong as your guidance. This session shows how to identify, recruit, and collaborate with advisors and mentors who can accelerate your growth and help you avoid painful, expensive mistakes.

Perfect for: Anyone exploring the startup world and wondering how to find the right guidance early on. 

Founder Confessions: The Highs, Lows, and Rollercoaster Moments

Date: Tuesday, September 9 from 9:30am - 10:30am | View Session

Startup life isn’t just press releases and exits. This raw, real session will feature founders sharing the messy middle, the burnout, the pivots, the late-night panic, and the wins that made it all worth it.

Perfect for: If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to build something from scratch - the highs, the lows, and everything in between - this session pulls back the curtain.

No Meltdowns Required: Mastering Hardware-Software Integration

Date: Tuesday, September 9 from 9:30am - 10:30am | View Session

If you’re working in medtech, consumer electronics, IoT, or any smart device, this one’s for you. Aligning hardware and software teams at high-growth startups is hard, but necessary. This session brings in embedded systems pros and digital leads to talk about real tactics: from firmware versioning to QA strategies to building team structures that don’t implode under pressure.

Perfect for: Great for those exploring careers or startup ideas in hardware, IoT, or medtech, and want a behind-the-scenes look at how hardware and software come together in the real world.

Biology Really Bytes: Scaling Life Science Software Right

Date: Tuesday, September 9 from 2:30pm - 3:30pm | View Session

The labs of tomorrow are running on code, and this session unpacks how to design robust, scalable software in biology-heavy environments. Learn from engineers building the platforms powering breakthroughs in drug discovery, diagnostics, and digital therapeutics. Think: messy data, intuitive UX for scientists, regulatory rigor, and real-world deployment challenges.

Perfect for: Anyone curious about the intersection of biology and software; no PhD required just an interest in how code is transforming the future of healthcare and science.

But What If We’re Wrong? Testing and Validating Early-Stage Ideas

Date: Wednesday, September 10 from 9:30am - 10:30am | View Session  

Assumptions kill startups. This hands-on workshop gives founders and PMs the frameworks to pressure-test ideas before writing a single line of code. You’ll leave with a more straightforward product strategy, a prioritized test plan, and fewer blind spots.

Perfect for: Aspiring founders, first-time builders, and anyone exploring a startup idea who wants to learn how to test and validate it before diving in.

Smart, Safe, and Sound: Building Wearable Health Tech That Works

Date: Wednesday, September 10 from 4:00pm - 5:00pm | View Session

Building a healthcare wearable? It takes more than sensors and Bluetooth. This session is a deep dive into the real-world complexities of designing medical-grade devices that serve both patients and providers. Expect insights into product development, regulatory strategy, and opportunities to either integrate with the existing healthcare ecosystem or boldly go your own way.

Perfect for: Anyone curious about health tech, exploring startup ideas in wearables, or wondering what it really takes to bring a medical device to market. 

Standing Out in the AI Crowd: Strategies for Real Product Differentiation

Date: Thursday, September 11 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm | View Session

AI isn’t the moat; it’s the new table stakes. If you’re building an AI startup, this session is your blueprint for actual differentiation. Learn how to go beyond GPT-wrappers and build value through UX, GTM strategy, and product moats. Plus: investor perspectives on what they really want to see in 2025 and beyond.

Perfect for: Folks who are exploring an idea, considering a career in AI, or just trying to understand what’s beyond the buzzwords, this session breaks down what real innovation (and investor interest) looks like.

AI Gold Rush or Bubble? Investing in AI in 2026

Date: Friday, September 12 from 9:30am - 10:30am | View Session

From wrappers to deep tech, this investor-focused panel breaks down where the AI market is headed and how to separate signal from noise. If you're deploying capital or building in this space, this is a behind-the-curtain look at what’s fundable and fluff.

Perfect for: Whether you're exploring the space as a future founder or just trying to understand where the market's headed, this session offers a rare peek into what investors are really looking for.

Building a VC Fund from the Ground Up: What It Really Takes

Date: Friday, September 12 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm | View Session

Raising your first fund? Learn from solo GPs and emerging managers who’ve been there. This session dives into the mechanics, strategy, and legal considerations of building a lean, focused fund that actually performs.

Perfect for: Anyone intrigued by the idea of becoming an investor or starting a venture fund one day. 

Venture Capital Crystal Ball: What 2026 Holds for Startups and Investors

Date: Friday, September 12 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm | View Session

Where is the venture market going next? Hear from top-tier VCs and founders as they map out what’s working in 2025, and what it’ll take to raise, build, and exit in 2026.

Perfect for: If you're curious about how startups get funded, what investors care about, or what it takes to grow a company in today’s market, this session is a must.

This Isn’t Just a Conference - It’s a Launchpad

Here’s a stronger, more compelling version with a bit more energy and urgency:

Startup Boston Week isn’t just a conference, it’s your entry point into one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the country. It’s where ideas turn into action, connections turn into collaborations, and curiosity turns into confidence. Whether you're joining virtually or walking through the doors at Suffolk University, you’ll get insider access to the people and insights shaping the future - right here, right now.

Mark your calendar. Rally your crew. Bring your questions. Leave with clarity, confidence, and momentum.

More sessions are still dropping - grab your free ticket now.

About the author: Joe D'Agostino is a startup founder, developer, advisor, and active security practitioner. Today, he manages the product and application security team at an AI startup in Boston, MA. When he is not securing or building products, he enjoys spending time with his wife, their newborn daughter, and their dog, Josie.