Product & Design
Ready to connect with your peers in product and design? Grab your free ticket for Startup Boston Week 2024 on Sept 8th - 12th today!
More sessions are still being added to the SBW2025 agenda!
All sessions are available BOTH in-person at Suffolk University and virtually.
BUT WHAT IF WE'RE WRONG? TESTING AND VALIDATING EARLY-STAGE IDEAS
Perfect for: product managers and early-stage founders refining their first big idea
The best product ideas are built on solid assumptions - but how do you know if yours are right? This hands-on workshop will explore proven techniques for identifying, testing, and validating business ideas early in the product discovery phase.
This session will help you uncover blind spots and refine your product strategy before you even have a product. You’ll learn:
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How to articulate and understand the key assumptions behind your business and product idea
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Strategies for testing ideas before you build anything
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How to prioritize which assumptions to test now versus later
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What to do with assumptions that can’t be tested in advance
You’ll leave with practical frameworks for pressure-testing your product strategy and gaining confidence in your early-stage decisions.
PLUGGED IN: DESIGNING PRODUCTS FOR PLATFORMS AND ECOSYSTEMS
Perfect for: product, engineering, and UX leads building solutions within a larger product platform
In today’s interconnected world, products rarely stand alone - they often exist within larger platforms and ecosystems. This session will explore the complexities of designing solutions that need to work across multiple contexts and integrate with broader product environments.
Our panel of experts will share insights on how to navigate platform-based design, including:
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How user experience design changes when your product is part of a larger ecosystem
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Engaging with users when you don’t have direct access to them
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Engineering solutions that work seamlessly across different platforms and interfaces
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Managing the risks and challenges of working within a platform environment
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Deciding whether to position your product as part of an integrated solution or a standalone offering
You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to design flexible, scalable solutions that thrive in complex product ecosystems.
AI AT THE HELM: PROTOTYPING SMARTER AS A PRODUCT MANAGER
Perfect for: product managers exploring early-stage ideas or working without a dedicated engineering team
AI-powered tools are changing the game for product managers, making it easier to explore and iterate on solutions before bringing in an engineering team. This session will explore how product managers can use AI tools to create meaningful prototypes that support - not replace - good software engineering.
Our panel of experts will cover key insights and best practices, including:
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Which AI tools are most effective for prototyping product solutions
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How to evaluate which tools will work best for your specific context
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Building prototypes that empower engineering teams rather than undermine them
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Understanding the limitations of AI prototyping tools
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Identifying the right situations to create your own prototypes
Whether you’re working solo or collaborating with an engineering team, you’ll leave with actionable strategies for using AI tools to speed up product development and strengthen your design process.
BIG FISH, SMALL POND: NAVIGATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LARGE ORGANIZATIONS
Perfect for: founders and product managers exploring enterprise partnerships or co-development opportunities
Partnering with a large enterprise can be a game-changer for startups - but it comes with its own set of challenges. This session will explore the opportunities and complexities of working with large organizations, from co-development agreements to enterprise sales.
Our panel of experts will share strategies for building successful partnerships and avoiding common pitfalls, including:
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How to identify when a partnership is a smart strategic move
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Warning signs that a partnership may be headed off track
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Ways to protect your startup from the challenges of working with a large partner
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How to distinguish between a true market need and a one-off request from a partner
You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to approach, evaluate, and sustain partnerships with large organizations - without losing focus on your startup’s core vision.
SMART, SAFE, AND SOUND: BUILDING WEARABLE HEALTH TECH WORKS
Perfect for: founders, product managers, and designers working in the wearable health tech space
Designing healthcare devices isn’t just about cool tech - it’s about creating tools that serve both patients and providers. This session will explore what it takes to build effective, user-friendly devices that operate at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
Our panel of experts will dive into key considerations for designing and launching wearable health tech, including:
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Balancing the needs of two distinct user groups: patients collecting data and providers analyzing it
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Navigating regulatory constraints that shape product design and development
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Identifying opportunities for startups to integrate with existing healthcare solutions—or stand out on their own
Whether you’re building a next-gen health monitor or exploring the future of connected care, this session will equip you with insights to design devices that improve outcomes and enhance experiences.
FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE: DESIGNING PRODUCTS THAT LAST (AND LAST)
Perfect for: founders, product managers, and operators in green tech and sustainability-focused startups looking to create products that are both innovative and environmentally responsible
When building physical products, efficiency, longevity, and serviceability are a core part of product design and business strategy. This session will explore how startups can design products with the full life cycle in mind, from manufacturability to serviceability to end-of-life disposal.
Our panel of experts will dive into key considerations and opportunities for building long lasting products, including:
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How full-cycle requirements shape product design and market positioning
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The role of regulations and government programs in shaping a product’s design
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The design differences between pilot systems and production units
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Balancing the need to iterate and scale quickly with the goal of building something that will last
You’ll walk away with actionable insights on how to incorporate a broader range of capabilities into your product strategy from day one—without sacrificing growth.
Meet Brian Bozzuto! Brian is our Product & Design Track Lead for Startup Boston Week 2025. This is his first year on the Startup Boston Organizing Team.