Startup Curious Track

Perfect for: those thinking of starting a company or switching careers to joining a startup.

"I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying." - Jeff Bezos

The startup community is always expanding. Thinking of joining in on the fun? We'll provide events that breakdown what startup life is all about and how you can get involved.

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Ready to connect with your peers who are interested in learning more about startup life? Grab your free ticket for Startup Boston Week 2023 on Sept 11th - 15th today!

Get Your Free Ticket >

All sessions are available BOTH in-person at Suffolk University and virtually.

Behind the Curtain: What Life is Like as a Startup Founder

Mon, Sept 11th: 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

A startup founder’s life is bespoke. They build their work and life structure as they develop their business. Our speakers will provide a glimpse into their day-to-day routine.

They will answer questions like:

What are the key components of a successful startup?
How do you make peace with nontraditional structure?
How do you approach time management?
How do you find your team?

This event is part of the Startup Curious Track, Student Track and Founder Track during Startup Boston Week 2023 and is perfect for aspiring and new founders.

whats hot

0 to 1: Am I the Founder to get the Job Done?

Mon, Sept 11th: 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

At each stage—idea stage, early stage, and growth stage—it is important to incorporate introspection into your go-forward plan. Ask yourself, ”am I or can I become the founder my business needs to progress?”

Our speakers will discuss the questions they have grappled with as they grow with their companies, including:

How should I leverage my past experiences when starting a company?
What technical training may I need to build my startup?
What factors may I keep in mind when thinking about starting my company—financial situation, work schedule, support system?
When my company grows, scales, and pivots, how do I know if I am still the right founder to run my business?

This event is part of the Startup Curious Track, Student Track and Founder Track during Startup Boston Week 2023 and is perfect for founders and startup curious folks in the idea and early stages of building their startup.

taking the leap

Product Assembly Required: Building an All-Star Product Team

Tues, Sept 12th: 9:15am - 10:15am EDT

Your product is only as strong as your product team. Evaluating the right fit from the perspective of both the applicant as well as from the hiring team is pivotal to the success of the broader startup. Aligning the team culture, filling in knowledge gaps with the right people, and establishing set roles and responsibilities for everyone on the team all contribute to running a well-oiled product machine.

This lightning talk style event will cover a variety of topics around getting the product team right including:

What does the role of a product manager and product designer mean in different stage startups?
Why is it so important to find the right fit, and how do you evaluate the right company/team for you?
How can you adequately prepare for successful interviews as an applicant?
What goes into the decision to set up the right team culture?
What can you do when the recent hire is not the right fit?

This event is part of the Product & Design Track, Startup Curious and Student Track at Startup Boston 2023. It is perfect for product managers, product marketers, engineers, students, and anyone who is looking to pivot careers or jump into product management at a startup of any stage.

canvassing

Decoding Your Path: Finding the Engineering Role that's Right for You

Wed, Sept 13th: 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

The engineering field is vast and rapidly evolving, and it can be challenging to determine which role aligns with your skills, interests, and aspirations. There is a need to have passion for what you are working on.

Join us for a fireside chat with experienced engineers who will provide insights and advice on how to navigate your career path in engineering. In this session, we'll answer the following questions:

How to determine if a new engineering role is right for you?
How to find and explore opportunities available for newcomers?
How to evaluate which engineering role is best suited for your skillset
What resources are available to help with continued growth in an engineering career?
What are some strategies for incorporating creativity into your engineering role?

This event is part of the Engineering Track, Student Track and Startup Curious Track for Startup Boston Week 2023. It is perfect for engineering professionals, students, and early stage founders looking to fully understand what “fit” means in the context of exploring engineering roles.

dippin

Level Up: How to Advance in your Career in Customer Success and Support

Thurs, Sept 14th: 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Upon entering a career track, you will want to understand how to advance on your path toward continuous growth. There are many ways to level up on your journey to success when serving customers.

Through this discussion, you hear advice from leaders in the field, including

What are the possible pathways into the Customer Success or Customer Support career
What folks have done that most-greatly contribute to their continued success
What folks wish they paid attention to earlier in their career
How to seek opportunities to learn and grow
How to manage work-life balance

This presentation is part of the Customer Success & Support Track for Startup Boston Week 2023. Growth-mindset individuals—especially folks early in their professional lives considering work with customers—will appreciate this discussion.

beyondthe

Choose Your Own Adventure: Navigating Corporate vs. Startup Life

Thurs, Sept 14th: 3:15pm - 4:15pm EDT

Choosing between working for a startup or a corporation can be a difficult decision. And, once you do choose one, it can be hard to figure out if it’s worth changing directions and going from the corporate world to the startup world (or vice versa).

Join us for a panel discussion featuring experienced business school students from top universities throughout Boston as they share their perspectives on navigating corporate vs. startup life.

This event will discuss:

What are the long term advantages and disadvantages of both corporate life and startup life?
As a student, how can you identify which career path is best for you?
How is the hiring process different for a corporate role vs. a startup role?
What skillsets lend themselves better to either environment?
What advice would you give something currently weighing the corporate vs. startup employment decision?

This event is part of the Student Track and Startup Curious Track for Startup Boston Week 2023. It is ideal for students, corporate employees, startup employees and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Anchor 1

Follow the Feeling: Discover Your Passion and Build Within Your Dream Industry

Thurs, Sept 14th: 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Discovering your passion and turning it into a successful career is the ultimate goal for many. Join us for an engaging panel discussion with founders from different industries who have chased their passion and built their dream businesses. Our panelists will share their experiences, lessons learned, and advice on how to identify your passion and turn it into a thriving career.

During this event we’ll chat about:

What steps can be taken in order to discover and define one’s passion?
What factors should a candidate consider when applying for a job?
What advice would you give for overcoming obstacles / hurdles during this journey?
How to discern between a leisurely hobby vs. a profitable passion?
Where to start if you have no background in a particular industry?
What factors should be considered when weighing the role passion should play in one’s professional life?

This event is part of the Student Track and Startup Curious Track for Startup Boston Week 2023. It is ideal for students, first-time founders, and entrepreneurs looking to align their purpose with their profession.

the golden age

They Made Me an Offer. Should I Refuse?

Fri, Sept 15th: 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

You just got a job offer to be an initial hire at an early stage startup…how will you evaluate it? It is important to set up a process for pursuing and evaluating these offers. This way, you may make systematic decisions about your career path.

During this presentation, you will get advice on how to structure your individual scoping process, including answers to questions like…

How do I evaluate the job offer?
What are the different ways I may be compensated?
What is the difference between working for a startup vs. working for a corporation?
What work styles lend themselves well to working with a startup?

This event is part of the Startup Curious Track and Student Track during Startup Boston Week 2023 and is perfect for those thinking about joining a startup company.

casting your net

What's Your Multiple: Quantifying the Size of Your Opportunity to Help Build Your Business Model

Fri, Sept 15th: 9:15am - 10:15am EDT

You need to understand the scope of your opportunity to consciously outline a business model. Ideally, this model will meet you where you are and follow you as you grow.

These subject-matter experts will answer questions from the moderator, including:

How may you split equity among the founders?
What is the purpose of non-disclosure agreements?
What is the need for IP protection?
What is the value of motivation systems in your employment contracts?
What is the importance of location and legal structure?

Money Talks: Outlining Your Options for Startup Funding

Fri, Sept 15th: 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Each year between 35 and 40% of startup ventures receive capital from friends and family. This contribution can include relatives, neighbors, colleagues, classmates, and other folks you have met throughout your life. However, friends and family aren’t your only options for funding, and it’s important you know where to start and where to progress when looking for investors.

The speakers will offer niche presentations addressing questions that include…

How may you build your network?
How much money may you need to establish your business?
How do you quantify the amount of money you need to get your idea off the ground?
What do you need to show, demonstrate, or prove when looking for funding?
Where may you look for potential investors?

This event is part of the Startup Curious Track and Founder Track during Startup Boston Week 2023 and is perfect for founders and startup curious folks in the idea and early stages of building their startup.

The ABCs of H1Bs: Navigating the Startup Job Market as International Talent

Fri, Sept 15th: 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Navigating the job market as an international student or founder can be a complex and challenging process. Join us for a panel discussion that aims to demystify the legal challenges and visa requirements for non-U.S. citizens launching businesses or seeking employment in the United States.

Our panelists include a mix of students, recent graduates, and professionals who have successfully navigated the H1B visa process, as well as experts in the field of international student support. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from their experiences and gain valuable insights into the world of international talent in the startup job market.

We’ll discuss:

What are the legal challenges faced when a non-citizen tries to launch their business in the USA?
How would the H1B visa requirements be fulfilled?
What challenges are faced as a new startup for international talent?
How do I find roles that are willing to sponsor my visa?
What resources exist for international talent looking for job placement in the U.S.?

This event is part of the Student Track and Startup Curious Track for Startup Boston Week 2023. It is ideal for students, new founders, and anyone interested in learning about the unique challenges and opportunities facing international talent in the U.S. startup ecosystem.