Community
Ready to connect with the entire startup community - all industries, all departments, all funding (and non-funding) stages? Grab your free ticket for Startup Boston Week 2026 on Sept 14 - 18 today!
This Is Just the Start of the Networking
The Community Track is only one piece of the networking happening throughout Startup Boston Week. You’ll find even more opportunities to meet founders, investors, operators, students, and startup supporters across the full SBW2026 schedule — with more events still to be announced!
What you’ll find below are the ways you can personally get involved in the Community Track. Whether you want to showcase your organization, share your expertise, help a startup, or simply make new connections, there’s a way to participate.
After all, Startup Boston Week isn’t just about bringing the community together. It’s about showcasing the incredible people and organizations that make Boston and New England’s startup ecosystem what it is — and giving you a chance to be part of it.
Excited to attend these events and take advantage of all these FREE resources to help your career and startup? Don't sleep on it. Grab your free ticket for Startup Boston Week right here.
Sept 14 - 18
SNAP & SHINE: GET YOUR FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS (presented by Three Circles Studio)
Time for a LinkedIn photo refresh? Three Circles Studio is offering free professional headshots to Startup Boston Week attendees throughout the week.
Stop by, flash your best smile, and leave with a professional headshot you can use for LinkedIn, your company bio, speaker applications, or wherever else you need to look like you totally have it together.
Exact times will be shared with SBW2026 registrants, so register for Startup Boston Week for free to participate.
Sept 14 + 15
SHOWCASE YOUR RESOURCE AT THE ECOSYSTEM FAIR
Does your organization help founders or startup talent succeed? Request a free table at the SBW2026 Ecosystem Fair and put your resources directly in front of the community.
Accelerators, incubators, nonprofits, government organizations, university programs, networking groups and community organizations are invited to participate.
Tables are free, but space is limited and being confirmed on a rolling basis. Request your table to participate.
Interested in checking out these resources? Register for Startup Boston Week for free.
Sept 14 + 16
PUT YOUR STARTUP TO THE TEST AT TEST STARTUPS IRL
You’ve asked your cofounder. You’ve asked your friends. You’ve probably asked ChatGPT. Now, how about getting feedback from actual people?
Request a free table at Test Startups IRL and put what you’re building directly in front of the Startup Boston Week community.
Demo your product. Have attendees test your app or website. Get reactions to a new feature. Validate an idea. Ask people to complete a task and see where they get stuck.
The goal is simple: get real-time, real-world feedback that can help you build something better.
Tables are free. Request your spot and come ready to put your startup to the test.
Want to be a tester instead? Register for Startup Boston Week for free and come ready to try something new and share what you think.
Sept 15
MEET YOUR NEXT CLIENT AT THE FRACTIONAL FAIR
Fractional CFO? CMO? CTO? Head of People? Sales leader? Or another fractional expert helping startups access experienced talent without making a full-time hire?
Table at the SBW2026 Fractional Fair and meet founders and startup leaders who may need your expertise as they grow.
The Fractional Fair is set up vendor-hall style, giving you a dedicated space to explain what you do, who you work with, and how startups can hire you for future projects or ongoing fractional support.
Tables are $250. Request your spot to participate.
Want to meet resources to help you scale instead? Register for Startup Boston Week for free and meet your next fractional partner.
Sept 16
GIVE BACK BY HOSTING FOUNDER OFFICE HOURS
Have expertise that could help a founder get unstuck? Volunteer to host free, in-kind Office Hours during SBW2026.
We’re looking for lawyers, accountants, HR professionals, bankers, marketers, sales experts, fundraising advisors, operators, and other startup experts willing to spend time answering founders’ questions one-on-one.
This isn’t about selling your services. It’s an opportunity to give founders access to expertise they may not otherwise have — and give back to the startup community while you’re at it.
Request a spot to host Office Hours and tell us how you can help founders.
Have questions for the experts? Register for Startup Boston Week for free and participate.
Sept 17
HIRING? TABLE AT THE SBW2026 CAREER FAIR FOR FREE
Your startup is growing. Maybe someone attending Startup Boston Week is exactly who you need next.
Companies hiring for internships, part-time positions, and full-time roles can request a free table at the SBW2026 Career Fair to meet startup talent face-to-face.
Share your open opportunities, introduce attendees to your company and team, and connect with people interested in building their careers in the startup ecosystem.
There is no cost to participate. Request your free table to join the Career Fair.
Looking for your next opportunity instead? Register for Startup Boston Week for free to attend and meet hiring companies.
Sept 18
GIVE BACK BY LEADING A MENTOR GROUP
Have experience that could help a founder navigate what comes next? Give back during SBW2026 by leading a small-group mentoring conversation.
Mentor Groups bring founders together around either a shared industry — like life sciences, AI, climate tech, or consumer — or a specific challenge they’re trying to solve, like finding product-market fit, fundraising, building a go-to-market strategy, landing early customers, or making their first hires.
As a mentor, you’ll guide the conversation, answer questions, share what you’ve learned from your own experience, and help a small group of founders learn from both you and one another.
Interested in giving back? Apply to lead a Mentor Group and tell us where your expertise could be most helpful.
Looking to participate as a mentee instead? Register for Startup Boston Week for free to join a Mentor Group and learn alongside other founders.
