PRESS
Press Release
Seven Trailblazing Women Founders Shortlisted for TiE Boston Women Pitch Competition
First Place Winner to Represent Boston at the TiE Global Women Pitch Competition in Bangalore, India
BOSTON (August 22, 2024) - TiE Boston is proud to announce the seven exceptional women founders who have been selected to advance to the Boston Regional Finals of the 2024 TiE Global Women Pitch Competition. These founders will showcase their innovative ventures to a distinguished panel of judges from the New England startup ecosystem on August 29, 2024.
This year's applications reflected the vibrant diversity of the region’s entrepreneurial landscape, spanning sectors such as health tech, biotech, consumer products, and enterprise technology. The competition promises to be a testament to the strength and creativity of women entrepreneurs in New England. It is supported by the Subu Kota Foundation and the venue hosts this year are Ernst & Young, Boston.
Sunita Kanchinadam, Chair of TiE Boston Women and Board Member, said, "Narrowing down the shortlist from such a talented pool of applicants was no easy task. The quality of the submissions this year underscores the thriving nature of our ecosystem, filled with women founders who are developing game-changing solutions. I want to extend my gratitude to all the applicants and the screening committee for their dedication to advancing entrepreneurship for the common good."
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Purnanand Sarma, President of TiE Boston, added, "Congratulations to the finalists! It’s inspiring to see TiE Boston as a hub for so many driven women founders. Our mission is to empower and support women entrepreneurs, and the Global Pitch Competition is a key initiative in realizing that mission. We invite all women founders to engage with our programs and join us in fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial community."
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Congratulations to the seven shortlisted female founders:
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Ananya Zutshi, Co-Founder and CEO, Guardian Bio
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Christy Fernandez-Cull, Founder & CEO, Davinci Wearables
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Irena King, Founder & CEO, Surgicure Technologies, Inc
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Rachel Zayas, Founder & CEO, AGED Diagnostics
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Rashmi Agrawal, CTO, CipherSonic Labs
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Safia Rizvi, CEO, CILA Therapeutics
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Sarah Ostadabbas, Founder & CEO, AiWover
The First Place Winner will represent TiE Boston at the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition at the TiE Global Summit to be held in Bangalore, India in December 2024.
TiE Boston remains committed to helping female entrepreneurs by increasing visibility, providing mentorship, and creating pathways to access funding for their ventures.
Press Release
TiE Boston Celebrates Milestone with ConnectM's Nasdaq Listing
BOSTON (August 22, 2024) — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTM) began a new chapter by going public on Nasdaq in July 2024. This announcement has generated significant excitement within the TiE Boston Charter Membership and TiE Boston Angels community, which has invested substantially in and actively helped the company. TiE Boston Angels is a group of accredited investors dedicated to funding and supporting early-stage companies.
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"We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone in our journey towards transforming the electrification economy. The support and strategic guidance from TiE Boston Angels and TiE Charter Members have been invaluable in our growth and success. Listing on Nasdaq is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our vision for a sustainable future," said Bhaskar Panigrahi, CEO of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
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ConnectM's vision is to revolutionize the electrification economy through its advanced Energy Intelligence Network. This comprehensive technology platform monitors and manages electrified assets throughout their lifecycle, gathering anonymized performance data to enhance artificial intelligence models and continuously improve network performance. ConnectM's infrastructure empowers OEMs, third-party service providers, and consumers to effectively achieve decarbonization and net-zero goals.
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“It takes a community to drive a company to success. Beyond financial investment, we believe that TiE’s network, support, and experience can profoundly impact a startup’s journey. We are thrilled to support the ConnectM team in achieving their entrepreneurial dreams,” said Purnanand Sarma, President of TiE Boston.
Press Release
TiE Boston Announces Incoming President Purnanand Sarma and Treasurer Joe Falcão
To Begin Their Tenure July 1, 2024
JULY 1, 2024 - TiE Boston, one of the region’s largest organizations supporting the Massachusetts entrepreneurial ecosystem, announced today that Dr. Purnanand Sarma, who has been elected the 14th President, will begin his two-year term on July 1, 2024. Dr. Sarma replaces current TiE Boston President Yash Shah, whose two-year term ended on June 30, 2024.
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Dr. Purnanand Sarma stated, “As an entrepreneur, I am deeply honored to take on the role of President of TiE Boston. This organization has been pivotal in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. I look forward to building on the strong legacy left by my predecessors, enhancing our programs, and further supporting our vibrant community of entrepreneurs.”
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TiE Boston’s Immediate Past President Yash Shah remarked, “Dr. Sarma is a visionary leader whose extensive experience and entrepreneurial spirit make him the perfect choice to lead TiE Boston. During my tenure, we have significantly increased the engagement of our charter members and elevated our membership to its highest number to date. I am confident that under Dr. Sarma’s leadership, TiE Boston will continue to thrive and support the next generation of innovators.”
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Dr. Purnanand Sarma, is Consulting CEO at GelMEDIX Inc, and until most recently, served as the President, CEO, and Board Member of Immunome (IMNM:NASDAQ), which he successfully led through an IPO in 2020, a large pharma transaction with $2B+ potential in January 2023, and a merger bringing in a seasoned new CEO and a $125M concurrent investment in October 2023. Sarma has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology business across multiple therapeutic platforms, and in companies of various sizes ranging from start-ups to large cap pharmaceutical companies including start-ups in the Boston life science ecosystem.
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TiE Boston also announced today that the incoming Treasurer, Joe Falcao, will begin his tenure on July 1st, 2024. Joe Falcao has over 25 years of experience as a financial executive, leading transactions, corporate turnarounds, scaling organizations, and spearheading financial and operational improvements for global, middle market, and start-up companies across various industries including consumer, healthcare, telecom, and chemicals. Joe has held expatriate roles in Brazil, Belgium, and Malaysia and has been an active TiE member, particularly with TiE Boston Angels and TiE ScaleUp.
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Joe Falcao said, “I am thrilled to take on the role of Treasurer at TiE Boston. This organization has made a significant impact on the entrepreneurial landscape, and I am eager to contribute to its continued success and growth.”
Outgoing Treasurer Rakesh Kamdar, who continues as a Trustee on the TiE Global Board, said, “Serving as Treasurer for TiE Boston has been a rewarding experience. I am proud of what we have accomplished over the past two years, particularly in strengthening our financial foundation and supporting our members. I am confident that Joe Falcao will bring valuable insights and leadership to the role, ensuring our continued prosperity.”
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TiE Boston, the second oldest and second largest TiE chapter, currently has more than 225 charter members from various disciplines, such as technology, finance, life sciences, real estate and service industries.
Press Release
TiE Boston Women Application Portal Closes on June 30, 2024
JUNE 28, 2024 - TiE Boston today announced that the last day to sign up for the Boston region’s finals for the 2024 TiE Women Global Pitch Competition is June 30,2024. It is an incredible opportunity for women founders to showcase their innovative business ideas on a global stage.
TiE Boston invites all women entrepreneurs with a passion for innovation and a drive to make a difference to apply to participate in this prestigious program. It is open to applicants in all stages of the entrepreneurial cycle, from the early stages of launching a startup or an established business looking to scale, this competition offers a platform to gain visibility, network with industry leaders & investors, and access mentorship.
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The competition welcomes applications from women founders across all industries and sectors who meet the following eligibility criteria:
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Female-founded or co-founded startups ONLY. (The opportunity to pitch will only be provided to the female founder/co-founder).
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Female co-founder(s) must have minimum 33% equity in the company.
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Applying companies must have been in business for less than seven years at the time of application (Company registration must have been after Jan 1, 2017)
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Preference given to startups raising funds
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Idea Stage Startups do not qualify for screening
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TiE Women reserves the right to take a decision regarding applications to further the cause of the TiE Women mission.
The 6 semi-finalists chosen in the Boston regional competition will receive access to mentors, and a free membership to all TiE Boston events for 1 year, in addition to cash prizes. The 1st Place Winner will represent Boston at the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition and compete for additional equity-free money and prizes.
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To apply, please visit tieboston.org/women and follow the instructions provided.
Press Release
TiE Boston Announces Theme for TiECON East 2024: The Connected Entrepreneur – Boundless Innovation and Borderless Connection
JUNE 11, 2024 - TiE Boston announced the theme for TiECON East 2024: “The Connected Entrepreneur: Boundless Innovation and Borderless Connections.”
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Scheduled for September 13, 2024, at the Boston Sheraton Hotel, this year’s conference will spotlight the influential role of connected entrepreneurs in today’s dynamic business landscape.
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For the first time in the history of TiECON East, the conference will feature an alliance with the New York chapter of TiE.
Historically organized by TiE Boston, this joint effort signifies a major milestone, expanding the conference’s reach and influence. The involvement of the New York chapter brings a wealth of additional resources, expertise, and networking opportunities. This cooperation promises to enrich the conference experience by fostering a broader exchange of ideas, facilitating cross-regional partnerships, and providing attendees with diverse perspectives from two of the most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems in the United States.
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The synergy between the Boston and New York chapters is expected to elevate TiECON East 2024, making it an even more impactful event for all participants.
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“TiECON East is a unique convergence of forward-thinking individuals who are dedicated to innovation, growth, and transformative change,” said TiE Boston President Yash Shah. “This year, we are thrilled to focus on the theme of the connected entrepreneur, emphasizing the critical role of networking and collaboration in driving success. With the exciting addition of New York as a partnering chapter, TiECON East 2024 is poised to extend its reach and impact, fostering connections that transcend geographical boundaries.”
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The theme “The Connected Entrepreneur: Boundless Innovation and Borderless Connections” focuses on business leaders who effectively use their networks to foster professional relationships, access valuable resources, and leverage opportunities. Staying connected also means keeping abreast of market trends, innovations, and the latest business practices, making entrepreneurs particularly adaptable and often ahead in competitive environments.
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“The conference theme encapsulates the essence of modern entrepreneurship,” said Bhaskar Panigrahi, Chair of TiECON East. “It highlights the importance of connectivity in driving innovation, fostering growth, and staying ahead of market trends. At TiECON East 2024, we aim to showcase how these connected entrepreneurs navigate and thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape.”
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This year’s TiECON East will feature a diverse range of keynote speeches, startup pitches, networking sessions, and TEDx-style programs relevant to entrepreneurship, innovation, technology trends, funding strategies, and business growth. The conference will cover six key topics:
1. Cutting-edge and Emerging Technologies of the Future
2. Fostering Growth with a Focus on Best Practices in Sales and Marketing
3. Share Your Story with Real-life Inspiring Connected Entrepreneur’s Journey
4. Showcase Opportunities to Present Brand and Value Proposition
5. Market Outlook from Investors and Investment Banks
6. Exit Options: Learning from Experienced Entrepreneurs
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“The sessions have been meticulously designed to address the most pressing topics and trends in entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Nithya Iyer Singh, Co-Chair of TiECON East. “From exploring cutting-edge technologies to discussing best practices in sales and marketing, each session aims to provide invaluable insights and practical knowledge. We’re excited to offer real-life stories from inspiring entrepreneurs. Additionally, our focus on exit strategies will equip attendees with the know-how to successfully navigate their entrepreneurial journey.”
TiECON East 2024 is committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the tools and connections they need to thrive. The conference will be held at the Boston Sheraton Hotel. Tickets are available at tieconeast.com.
Press Release
Young Innovators Shine at TiE Boston’s TYE Final Pitch Competition
Pictured: TelePark, the winners of the TYE 2024 Boston Finals
JUNE 7, 2024 - TiE Boston is thrilled to announce the winners of the Final Pitch Competition for their TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Academy. The highly anticipated event, hosted at Suffolk University’s Law School, saw an impressive turnout with over 150 industry insiders, mentors, judges, participants, and family members in attendance.
TelePark, powered by team members Sai Bezawada, Maruthi Birudavolu, Sarada Koppana, Vani Mittal, Saachi Badgi, and Deepika Bhardwaj, emerged victorious with their innovative mobile app solution to urban parking challenges. The app, TelePark, promises to revolutionize the parking experience by offering a seamless and efficient solution to a common urban problem. Special recognition goes to their mentor, Girish Juneja, who has remarkably mentored TiE Boston’s winning team for the second consecutive year. The team has been awarded a trip to Silicon Valley in June, where they will represent TiE Boston at the TYE Global Finals. There, winning teams from over 25 worldwide chapters will compete for top honors and cash prizes.
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“We are immensely proud of all our participants,” said Yash Shah, President of TiE Boston. “The creativity, innovation, and dedication these young entrepreneurs have shown are truly inspiring. TelePark’s solution addresses a critical urban issue, and we are excited to see them represent Boston on the global stage.”
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Speaking on behalf of her team, TelePark CEO Vani Mittal said, “We are super excited to represent Boston in the TYE Global Finals. It took a lot of teamwork and perseverance to get this far but we’ve learned so much, not only in how to
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start a successful business, but how to work together as a team. We’re appreciative of the TYE team for helping us through our journey, and teaching us each step of the process of building a start-up; we not only were able to expand our entrepreneurship knowledge, but more importantly, we were able to meet new people and create new & lasting friends.”
Girish Juneja, mentor of the winning team, added, “It has been a privilege to work with such bright and motivated young minds. Their passion and hard work have paid off, and I am confident they will make a significant impact at the TYE Global Finals.”
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The first runner-up in the competition was SleepInform, who came up with a smart pillow that provides users with sound therapy and sleep tracking capabilities. The team members were Sahej Singh, Pranav Nandyalam, and Arush Shangari.
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MyPath, a web platform designed to guide students seeking non-traditional career paths, secured the second runner-up position. Team members were Parker Ferguson, Isha Shah, Kyan Sangani, Hannah Spratt, and Ashneel Ejenkar.
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Additionally, UVShield was recognized for their Lean Canvas Business Model. UVShield’s product is the world’s first biodegradable UV light tracker, developed to help prevent skin cancer. Team members included Neal Mahidhar, Siddharth Deshmukh, Neil Dutta, Ritvik Shetty, and Aaron Kunnikuru.
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IncluPlay, a toy company dedicated to empowering kids on the Autism Spectrum with customized toys for inclusive play, was also Prototype. Team members were Aneesha Aryan, Pranav Srinivasan, Aiden Suh, Kira Levin, and Ben Fox.
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The winning teams received cash prizes to encourage them on their entrepreneurship journey. The 2023-24 TYE Cohort created solutions for issues ranging from reducing food waste, skin cancer prevention, music therapy and language learning.
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Nilanjana Bhowmik, Past President TiE Boston and TiE Boston Foundation noted, “As a VC, I judge many pitch competitions. The TYE pitches are on par with any at the college and incubator level; the passion and idealism of the students stands out particularly. The TYE program does an outstanding job preparing students for the business world with practical know-how, critical thinking, team-work and effective communication. Congratulations to the class of 2024!”.
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Over seven months leading up to this exciting day, fourteen teams of high school students worked alongside experienced TYE mentors to learn how to start and run a successful business. They developed business plans and presentations based on their original ideas, which they presented to panels of industry-leading judges.
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During this event aimed at fostering and promoting youth entrepreneurship, students had the opportunity to connect with peers and receive valuable guidance from judges. The competition concluded with all participants emerging as winners, taking home valuable experience, important feedback, and lasting connections with other teams, judges, and organizers. TiE Boston extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the teams and looks forward to seeing their future successes.
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Founded in Boston in 2005, the TYE Young Entrepreneurs Academy has since been replicated in over 30 TiE chapters worldwide. Generous support for TYE comes from BNY Mellon, Babson College, Suffolk University, and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC).
TYE Boston’s Entrepreneurship Academy is dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders through the transformative experience of building a startup. Over seven months, exceptional high school students are taught a rigorous curriculum by startup founders and industry experts, collaborating with peers to create solutions to pressing problems they identify.
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Applications for the 2024-25 TYE Entrepreneurship Academy and the Summer Bootcamp are now open. Learn more by visiting www.tye-boston.org.
Press Release
TiE Boston’s Flagship TiECON East 2024 Set for Sept. 13; Bhaskar Panigrahi Named Chair, Nithya Iyer Singh is Co-Chair
MARCH 25, 2024 - TiE Boston announced that TiECON East ’24, its much awaited annual flagship event, will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston, on Friday, September 13, 2024. This is New England’s largest conference bringing together entrepreneurs, industry experts, corporate executives, academics and students alike.
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The conference will focus on the modern entrepreneur’s challenges and opportunities in facing new technologies. It will host keynote speakers, multiple tracks and panelists, a mentor lounge and an investor lounge. The objective of the conference is to bring rich content and networking opportunities for the entrepreneurial talent emerging from New England.
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“Save the date for an electrifying convergence of minds at our upcoming TiECON East 2024, where a dynamic community driven by disruption, relentless progress, and boundless innovation will get together for discussions over several tracks and panels,” said Yash Shah, President of TiE Boston.
Mr. Shah also announced that Bhaskar Panigrahi, Chairman and CEO of ConnectM Technology Solutions will be the TiECON East Chair, and Nithya Iyer Singh, Co-Founder of 2123iX will be TiECON East Co-Chair.
“I’m excited to chair the 2024 edition of TiECON East, knowing that in bringing people together, we’re building bridges that can lead to countless opportunities and collaborations.” says Bhaskar Panigrahi, TiECON East chair. “It’s about curating an environment where business leaders converge, ideas intersect, and new paths are forged, building on this very powerful legacy of the largest entrepreneurship conference on the East Coast.”
Mr. Panigrahi has 25 years as a serial entrepreneur and investor building successful organizations in clean energy and software/IT space. He is currently Chairman and CEO of ConnectM Technology Solutions – a vertically integrated clean energy technology company electrifying homes, businesses, and transportation by leveraging its Energy Intelligence Network. He is also an investor and board member in CCI Energy/Fairhaven Wind, One Way VC, Sure Ventures, BluStream Corp, and Blue Cloud Ventures. Prior companies as Chairman/CEO include Cambridge Clean Energy, Cambridge Technology Enterprises, CellExchange, E-Solutions, and Unique Computing.
“Humanity is at an important inflection point, given the pace of technological breakthroughs. We are excited to bring industry leaders, VC, mentors, entrepreneurs and start-ups to this one-day conference where we discuss what is possible and how to make it happen.” says Nithya Iyer Singh, TiECON East Co-chair. “From fostering innovation to addressing societal impact, our goal is to facilitate conversations that inspire action, drive progress, and shape the future of entrepreneurship in a rapidly evolving world.”
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Ms Iyer Singh is a seasoned Healthcare/Biotech professional. She has worked at GSK, Tesaro and Paratek and launched 2 antibiotics and immuno-oncology drugs in the treatment of endometrial cancer. She has also worked in the area of Specialty Pharmacy at Apria Healthcare and Express Script. Currently, Co-Founder of 2123iX which is in build mode. Her area of interest is in developing solutions using digital, AI and ML technologies in clinical drug development. She is Chair of the AIF NE Advisory Board and is involved in several other profit and non-profit organizations in an advisory role.
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TiE Boston will announce the speakers for TIECON East 2024 in the coming weeks. Past TiECON East speakers have included John Scully, Chairman of NirvanaHealth and former CEO of Apple; Jeff Bussgang, Co-Founder at Flybridge Capital Partners; Helen Grenier, Co-Founder of iRobot; Rama Ramakrishnan, MIT Sloan; Sam King, CEO of Veracode; Aron Ain, CEO of Kronos; Gail Goodman of Constant Contact; Deepak Chopra; Craig Newmark of Craig’s List; Diane Greene of VMware and Chair of MIT, and Rohit Prasad, Chief Scientist of Alexa, Amazon.
Founded in 1997, TiE Boston connects tomorrow’s founders with today’s entrepreneurs, executives and venture capitalists. Operating for 27 years now, TiE Boston’s unparalleled network of successful, serial entrepreneurs are deeply engaged and committed to giving back to the community by providing mentorship, tactical advice, and expertise to rising entrepreneurs through signature programs. TiE is the world’s largest not-for-profit network dedicated to helping startups grow. This ecosystem was established more than 30 years ago, rapidly expanding the TiE Network to 16,000 members across multiple countries and contributed to $250 billion in wealth creation. TiE Chapters around the world have become a vibrant platform for entrepreneurs, professionals, industry leaders, and investors to interact with one another & forge long-lasting relationships.
Press Release
TiE Boston Announces Shortlist for the 2024 TiE-U Global Pitch Competition for Collegiate Entrepreneurs
BOSTON- TiE Boston today announced the Shortlist for the Boston Finals of 2024 TiE U Pitch Competition, for collegiate entrepreneurs. The Boston Finals will be held on March 21, 2024 and the winning team will represent TiE Boston at the global finals of the TiE U Global Pitch Competition in Silicon Valley.
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Dr. Venkat Maroju, 2024 Chair of the competition, SourceTrace CEO and social entrepreneur said: "This year, TiE Boston Chapter received the highest number of applications in the North Americas for TiE U Pitch Competition. We have greater participation not only from universities from the New England area but also from a wider geographical spread. TiE U is definitely gaining popularity among the university students and helping nurture potential entrepreneurs right from their college days.”
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Yash Shah, President of TiE Boston said, “TiE U, at Boston, is now into its 3rd year and it has become an integral part of TiE Boston programming. The program offers incredible visibility and coaching to participating early stage companies where the founders are enrolled in a University or have graduated in the last two years. TiE Boston is proud to provide a full life cycle of programming geared toward fostering entrepreneurship to early, emerging and established entrepreneurs in the New England region.”
Shortlist for 2024 TiE U –Boston Finals:
Company | Name | Sector | University |
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Vitaliti | Zarah Lakhani, Co-Founder & CEO | Consumer | Boston College |
hydroGel | Arjav Shah, Co-Founder & CEO | Environmental | MIT |
Rooted Living | Rachel Domb, Founder & CEO | Consumer | Northeastern University |
MabLab | Skye Lam, Co-Founder | Life Sciences | Harvard University |
OLAKE LLC | Milan Tahiliani, Co-Founder | Enterprise Tech | Boston University |
SneakerSoul | Brock Alpher, Founder | Consumer | Babson College |
PriMetaz | Ryan McNaughton, CEO | Health Tech | Boston University |
Delineate | Emily Nieves, CEO | Health Tech | MIT |
Particle-N | Oliver Gilman, CSO | Energy | U-Conn |
As part of the competition, the shortlisted startups will present their ideas to a seasoned jury panel that will select the Boston winner. The winning team will then become part of the global cohort which undergoes extensive mentoring and coaching by international mentors. These mentoring sessions cover many skills from pitching, presentation design, defining value proposition, fundraising, financial models and many other aspects of entrepreneurship.
As they move on to the TiE University Global Pitch Competition, the cohort then presents to an international jury and competes for cash and in-kind prizes.
To learn more about this competition please visit https://tieboston.org/tie-boston-university. If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions, reach out to the TiE Boston office at info@boston.tie.org