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Stephanie Roulic
2nd degree connection
Connecting the Boston startup ecosystem | Founder, Startup Boston | ex-tech founder
Greater Boston
Contact info
- 11,458 followers
- 500+ connections
About
I'm absolutely obsessed with the startup community.
As the Founder and CEO of Startup Boston, my mission is to make it easier for founders, startup operators, and startup-curious individuals to navigate and thrive in the New England startup ecosystem. Startup Boston serves as the go-to platform for staying informed, finding opportunities, and making meaningful connections—across industries, departments, and company stages. We also provide community leaders with a platform to share what they’re building, amplifying their impact across the ecosystem.
I started Startup Boston in 2016 after realizing, as a first-time tech co-founder, that I had no idea where to turn for support. In 2017, with just a $300 marketing budget, I launched the first-ever Startup Boston Week—bringing together 2,500 attendees, 125 speakers, and 52 events, featuring industry leaders like Brian Halligan (HubSpot), Jules Pieri (The Grommet), Paul Liberman (DraftKings), and Raj Aggarwal (Localytics). From that initial event, Startup Boston grew into what it is today.
Now in 2025, Startup Boston continues to create events and content that educate, connect, and celebrate the Greater Boston and New England startup ecosystem.
Looking to get plugged into the startup community?
Check out our startup events calendar: https://www.startupbos.org/events
Learn more about Startup Boston: https://www.startupbos.org/
Notable Awards:
🏆 Nominee for Bostinno's "Ecosystem Support" Category - 2025 Fire Awards (Winner TBA)
🏆 Winner of "Community Champion" for New England Venture Capital Association's NEVY Awards - 2025
🏆 Entrepreneurial Leader for ALPFA Boston's Next 50 Awards - 2025
🏆 Winner of BostInno’s “Ecosystem Support” Category – 2024 Fire Awards
🏆 Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 – 2022
🏆 Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 – 2020
Featured
- I love this community.
What I love most about this ecosystem is how much of it runs on generosity.
People sharing knowledge. Making introductions. Lifting as they build. That’s the real work, and it often happens quietly.
Last night, I had the honor of receiving the Community Champion Award at the New England Venture Capital Association NEVY's for my work with Startup Boston.
Startup Boston exists to make the ecosystem easier to navigate and less fragmented. To lower the barrier to entry. Shine a light on what’s already happening here. And help bring people, resources and communities under one umbrella so more folks can find their way in and feel like they belong in the startup world.
This award feels like a reminder that those small, consistent efforts (over the past 9 years!) really do matter.
Thank you to the Startup Boston team for building alongside me, to the folks in this ecosystem have challenged me and push me to think bigger, and to the startup community that’s supported this work over the years.
I'm really proud of the work Startup Boston has done and even more excited about what we have in store in 2026! 💙
And a huge thank you to Rachel Leigh Gross and Ari Fine Glantz for organizing an incredible event last night and for this recognition!
- Pretty honored to share that ALPFA Boston named me a 2025 Entrepreneurial Leadership Award recipient as part of their inaugural Next 50 Awards.
This recognition means a lot. The Next 50 honors leaders who aren’t just building careers, but building community - creating opportunities, opening doors and making it easier for the next generation to dream bigger.
That’s the work I care about the most.
A huge thank you to ALPFA Boston and Natalia V H. for including me in this group of leaders who are moving our city forward.
hashtagBoston’s hashtagstartup ecosystem is powered by people who choose to show up, lift others up and make space, and I’m grateful to do that work every day through Startup Boston.
More to come, the team and I are just getting started!
- I'm ecstatic to share that the Startup Boston Team was honored to win the Ecosystem Supporter category at last night's BostInno Fire Awards!
I couldn’t be prouder of what this organization has accomplished since its inception in 2017.
Our mission has always been to connect the entire startup community across Greater hashtagBoston and hashtagNewEngland — across all industries, roles, and company stages.
We aim to be the go-to organization that simplifies navigating the ecosystem, whether you're looking to learn, connect, or collaborate.
A huge thank you to everyone who has played a part in shaping Startup Boston over the past 8 years. This recognition belongs to all of you:
🎉The organizing team members these past 8 years that have volunteered their time — your dedication to create top-notch programming, content and initiatives year after year has been extraordinary
🎉The folks that have raised their hands to support our events day-of — your help has ensured that every event is a seamless and welcoming experience for our startup community
🎉Sponsors who have put their dollars behind us in support of connecting the startup community — your support has fueled our mission to connect and empower the startup ecosystem
🎉Speakers who have donated their time — thank you for sharing your time, expertise and insights at Startup Boston Week and at our events throughout the year to support our startup community
🎉You, the startup community — thank you for spreading the word about Startup Boston and championing our mission to connect and strengthen the entire hashtagstartup ecosystem
This is just the beginning. There's still so much to do, and I’m incredibly excited for what’s ahead.
Thank you for making Startup Boston what it is today—and for being part of this amazing journey!
Here’s to the next chapter! 🚀
hashtagBostinnoFire hashtagstartupcommunity
Activity
11,458 followers
Experience
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At Startup Boston, our mission is to make it easier for founders, startup operators, and startup-curious individuals to navigate and thrive in the New England startup ecosystem. We’re the go-to platform for staying informed, discovering opportunities, and making meaningful connections—across industries, departments, and company stages. We also provide a platform for community leaders to amplify their impact by sharing what they’re building with the broader ecosystem. Our Flagship Event, Startup Boston Week: Every September, Startup Boston Week brings the ecosystem together for five days of learning and connection. With 100+ sessions and 300 speakers, this week-long event highlights the best of what the New England and Greater Boston startup community has to offer. But we don’t stop there—we host events and initiatives year-round to keep the momentum going. 👉 Learn more at startupbos.org 2024 Highlights: - Winner of BostInno’s “Ecosystem Support” Award (Fire Awards 2024) - 10.3K registrations across all events - 450K+ impressions on LinkedIn - Launched The Startup Directory in October 2024—a central hub for New England startup resources - 277 speakers shared their expertise - 344 volunteers helped power our initiatives - Launched the Community Bulletin, a hub for calls for speakers, mentorship opportunities, pitch competitions, grants, and more - Held our 3rd Annual Community Awards - 25K newsletter subscribers
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Education
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A minor in Spanish and Film Studies with a major in Communications; spent a semester studying in Barcelona to strengthen Spanish skills and to develop an understanding surrounding other cultures
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Yesterday at SXSW, I had the chance to speak on a panel at the Texas State Capital about national innovation ecosystems and represent Massachusetts and the Boston startup community.
A few quick reminders of just how strong Boston’s startup ecosystem really is:
- 3,700+ startups
- Consistently ranked among the top startup hubs globally (#6 globally, #4 in the U.S.)
- #4 for unicorns per capita, with 44 unicorns created right here in Boston
But what I enjoyed most about this conversation was hearing how different regions are thinking about innovation.
Every ecosystem has its own strengths: different industries, different resources, and different ways communities show up to support their founders.
And while capital is often where the conversation begins, it’s rarely where the story ends.
The real strength of an ecosystem comes from the people building companies, supporting founders, and creating the environment where new ideas can actually grow.
Grateful to represent Massachusetts at SXSW and proud to be building alongside this ecosystem!