September 8 - 12
Boston, MA
HOST SIDE EVENT
Startup Boston Week is where New England’s boldest voices come together to shape the future of our innovation economy. By hosting a side event, you’ll be part of a week that showcases the builders, investors, and operators driving real change — and you’ll help educate, connect, and inspire the entire startup community.
Side Events are independently organized, in-person events held in affiliation with Startup Boston Week 2025. They run between:
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Saturday, September 6 – Sunday, September 14
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(Main conference dates: Monday, September 8 – Friday, September 12)
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Hosting a Side Event is a great way to engage with:
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7,000+ SBW2025 attendees
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Your own community and network
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The broader New England startup ecosystem
Approved Side Events will be promoted on the SBW2025 website and via select Startup Boston channels.
What You're Responsible For As a Host
As the organizer, you’ll handle:
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Event logistics, operations, and staffing
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Registration and promotion
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Venue rental and insurance
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Any associated costs
All events must meet the following:
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Targeted to 18+ audiences (21+ if serving alcohol)
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In-person only in Greater Boston
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No virtual events allowed
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Startup Boston Week does not guarantee attendance or registration numbers
Want Extra Visibility?
If you’d like Startup Boston to take a more active role in promoting or supporting your event, these optional sponsorship rates apply:
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Day-of email shoutout (M-F of SBW2025) - $1,500
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Curated invite list (up to 100 attendees) - $3,000
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Dedicated LinkedIn Post - $350
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Newsletter CTA (Wednesday's only) - $600
Submitting Your Side Event
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 2 at 11:59PM ET
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​How to Apply:
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Decide the type of event you're hosting (e.g. happy hour, career fair, networking night, industry or department-specific meetups, outdoor group activities, breakfast/dinner gatherings)
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Write a clear, catchy title - Should quickly communicate what the event is and who it's for
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Write a short, clear description - Include: purpose, target audience, activities, and what attendees should expect
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Pick your date and time - Event must take place between Sept 6 – Sept 14
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Choose your venue - Recommended: near Suffolk University at 120 Tremont St, Boston
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Create your landing page - Use any event platform of your choice (Eventbrite, Tito, Splash, etc.); include registration form
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Add the following to your landing page (if approved) - The SBW2025 logo (we’ll provide it); Disclaimer: "[Event Name] is organized and operated solely by [Your Organization Name], and not Startup Boston or Startup Boston Week."
Important Notes
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​Not all applications will be approved
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SBW2025 reserves the right to remove approved events at any time
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There may be overlap with other SBW sessions, Side Events, or sponsored events
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SBW2025 is not sponsoring your event, we’re offering the opportunity to contribute to New England’s largest startup conference in a meaningful capacity.
Our Ask
You do not need to provide us with the registration list - but we will be asking about your attendee rate. While this is optional to provide us with, we’d greatly appreciate your transparency and feedback so we can improve this for 2026 and beyond.
Submit Side Event Below
Have questions? Reach out to hello@startupbos.org and we will respond shortly.
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