The Stats Behind Who Shows Up at Startup Boston Week

If you want to truly tap into the pulse of Boston’s startup scene, there’s no better place than Startup Boston Week. This isn’t just another conference - it’s a dynamic, five-day celebration of innovation, connection and opportunity that draws the people shaping the future across industries, roles, and stages.

Wondering who you’ll meet? The answer is simple: the right people. And the numbers from last year’s event tell the full story.

A Community of Builders from Every Corner

Startup Boston Week brings together a uniquely broad and vibrant mix of attendees - from scrappy early-stage startups to thriving scale-ups, from solo founders to teams within big companies. Here’s a snapshot from last year:

• Over 21% of attendees came from startups with 2 to 10 employees - the scrappy, hungry teams that often spark the biggest innovations

• Another 13.9% hailed from growing companies with up to 50 employees, scaling up their impact and influence

• Established players weren’t missing either: nearly 10% represented companies with 51 to 1000+ employees

• And while Boston is a hub for startups, the crowd was enriched by students (19.8%) eager to learn, explore and launch their own ventures, alongside solopreneurs (17%) who are building something from the ground up on their own terms

This mix means you get to connect with people who understand the hustle at every level - and who might just be your next collaborator, customer or investor.

A Cross-Section of Roles Powering Boston’s Innovation

SBW is not just for founders (though they make up a hefty 34.4% of attendees). It’s for every team member critical to startup success:

• Innovation teams (engineers, product managers, designers, data experts) make up the largest single group at 26.9%, highlighting how deeply SBW dives into the nuts and bolts of creating great products.

• Nearly 20% are on revenue teams - marketing, sales, customer success - the frontline players driving growth and scaling

• Operations pros (10.1%) ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

• And with nearly 9% attendees bringing other backgrounds and perspectives, SBW truly reflects the full spectrum of the startup ecosystem

  
  

Leadership at Every Level

The event draws the entire leadership chain:

• Close to 30% are founders, the visionaries steering their companies forward

• Another 16% hold C-suite or VP roles, leading strategy and big-picture growth

• And about 18% are managers and directors, managing day-to-day execution

• Nearly 20% are students, representing the future of Boston’s innovation scene

Industry Diversity That Inspires Collaboration

Boston’s strength lies in its diversity of industries, and SBW reflects that:

• B2B software, from SaaS platforms to developer tools, comprises 28%

• Strong representation comes from cutting-edge fields like AI/ML/data science (7.5%) and life sciences, biotech, and med devices (6.4%) - industries driving real-world impact

• You’ll also find people in healthcare and healthtech (10.5%), fintech (9.6%), consumer goods (5.6%), edtech (4.1%), and more

• Plus, there are voices from climate tech, legaltech, martech, and transportation, sparking new cross-industry partnerships

Why Startup Boston Week Is Your Can’t-Miss Event

Here’s the real story: SBW is where the whole ecosystem converges - from scrappy founders to seasoned execs, from curious students to solo entrepreneurs. It’s a space buzzing with fresh ideas, new partnerships, and the collective energy of Boston’s innovation scene.

If you’re looking to:

• Discover emerging startups and breakthrough tech

• Connect with the people who can help grow your business or career

• Learn from real stories and practical insights from founders and experts

• Join a community that’s building the future

…then Startup Boston Week is your stage. It’s an event where sparks fly, collaborations ignite, and the next big thing gets its start.

Don’t just take our word for it, come see for yourself why thousands are joining each year to be part of this vibrant community.

We look forward to seeing you September 8 - 12 for Startup Boston Week at Suffolk University (or virtually!).