Today is IWD (International Women’s Day) and BNT is stoked to salute all the women who, from 2009 to now, have made this community so damn amazing. We also are giving an extremely special shout-out to Shweta Agrawal — Co Leader with Steve and Chief AI x Product Officer. Shweta is the heart and difference maker of all we do. She doesn’t stop moving or striving to provide inclusion inspiration education empowerment sustenance and sanctuary. #iwd #startupweekendwomen #sheleads
We want to pause and say thank you to everyone who supported Boston New Technology (BNT) this year.
This year confirmed something important: community is the point. From the earliest days with Chris Requena to every new person who walks into a BNT event curious and leaves feeling seen—this is what we’re building for the long haul.
BNT is ready for 2026:
• Our full programming is locked in — showcases, Precision Pitch Practice, and new formats we’ve been hinting at
• A brand-new website (built from scratch) + a community-contributed BNT calendar
• Interviews starting soon for organizers across 15+ tech verticals and a core volunteer crew
• Our first-ever BNT Impact Report drops Jan 23, 2026 — showing how far this community has grown
• The newsletter returns next year on beehiiv, driven by real demand from all of you
We’re building something meant to last.
Thank you for being part of it.
Our amazing partner @startupbosorg just released this and we’re honoured that BNT’s own Shweta Agrawal was included! Let’s continue building a better future together — one that is purposefully inclusive.
Last week, in the days following the beautiful chaos and energy of Techstars Startup Weekend Boston 2026, Shweta took part in her first Boston New Technology outreach and service activity post-weekend — serving as a judge for Technovation Massachusetts at Progress.
She came away from it energized, grateful, and deeply hopeful.
There is something profoundly moving about watching young builders stand before a room and share what they’ve made — ideas still fragile, ambitions still forming, courage appearing in real time. It is easy to talk about “innovation ecosystems” in the abstract. It is much harder, and much more meaningful, to actually show up for the next generation of founders, technologists, and creators.
Events like this remind us that Boston’s strength has never simply been its institutions or companies. It has always been its people: mentors who volunteer their time, communities that open doors, and builders who choose encouragement over cynicism.
Immense gratitude to the Technovation Massachusetts organizers, to Progress for hosting, and to every student, mentor, volunteer, and judge who helped create such a welcoming and inspiring environment.
We’re excited to welcome Shweta Agrawal as a Judge for the @Startup World Cup Boston Regional Pitch Competition during Boston @TECH WEEK by a16z.
Shweta is the force behind @Boston New Technology (BNT) , one of the most active startup communities in the region, connecting founders, investors, and operators across the ecosystem. She has worked with hundreds of early-stage startups, helping them refine their positioning, storytelling, and go-to-market approach.
Her perspective sits at the intersection of:
• Founder readiness
• Product-market fit
• Community-driven growth
For founders stepping onto the Startup World Cup stage, this is exactly the kind of feedback that matters.
📅 May 26 | 5:00–8:00 PM (EDT)
🎤 10 startups. 1 winner. Global stage ahead.
Boston’s top founders will pitch for a chance to compete in the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco for a $1M investment prize.
Join us for an evening of high-caliber pitches, investor insight, and a true community celebration of innovation.
🔗 Register + Learn More: https://zurl.co/CD7Ld
#StartupWorldCup #BostonTechWeek #StartupGrind #BostonStartups #VentureCapital #PitchCompetition
In a first for Boston New Technology, we had the massive privilege and best of times collaborating with the Boston Chapter of Code and Coffee. The purpose? To stage another Startup Weekend Simulation. So much fun and so grateful for our allies and friends in the community. Special thanks to Shweta, Karl Meissner, and all who made this possible!
#startupweekend #techcommunity
Shweta recently joined the Massachusetts AI Coalition gathering at WHOOP HQ in Boston, focused on women shaping the future of agentic AI in healthcare. BNT zooms in on events like this for the knowledge and catalytic convos.
Big takeaway: in healthcare, AI cannot just be powerful. It has to be trusted, responsibly deployed, and held in right relationship with human judgment.
Grateful to Massachusetts AI Coalition, WHOOP, micro1, and everyone involved in convening. Link to Shweta’s full post in our profile. More thoughts to come.
#BostonTech #BostonAI #HealthcareAI #AgenticAI #WomenInAI InnovationCommunity
We are proud to welcome Irina Gorbunova back as a judge for Techstars Startup Weekend Boston 2026. Since 2023, Irina has stood with this community year after year, bringing not only consistency, but real depth: sharp judgment, hard-earned experience, and the kind of grounded knowledge that founders can feel the moment she begins to speak. She is deeply experienced, highly disciplined, and fully locked in on what matters most — helping teams separate noise from signal, strengthen their thinking, and rise to the level the weekend demands. Her continued return is not incidental; it is part of the fabric of what makes this community serious, credible, and strong. #womenwholead
Workbar has become one of the brightest and most priceless gems in the startup community crown when it comes to community and coworking. What an absolute pleasure it was to have our own Shweta on a rockstar panel, which gave us an inside look at the real innovation happening here in Boston! #startups #womenwholead
How did BNT spend the weekend? Making matcha memories with @sundai_club . There is nothing more awesome than creating and connecting with friends who share a passion for making tech fun, accessible, humane, and future-facing. #tech
We are truly honoured, @startupbosorg .
The work we do together helps to provide open doors of access and open windows of opportunity for the startup curious and aligned support systems. With a common goal and a kindred spirit, we show up every day to make a meaningful difference. —- Shweta Agrawal, Co-Director of BNT
Coming up on the 31st, Boston New Technology’s 2nd Town Hall of 2026. Join our community in a quarterly update followed by YOUR questions and ideas in a free and open forum. We can only innovate as far as we all participate and collaborate.
Link in our profile.
