Boston Startup Community
Founders Network‘s Boston Chapter was launched in September of 2020 to support select tech founders across New England with a personalized and authentic peer mentorship community. Member benefits include local Boston mentorship programs, a global mentoring platform and a proactive member success team that facilitates support from over 600+ tech startup founders, investors and partners.
Nominee Preview Q&A
A live Zoom for nominated founders: how Founders Network works, what happens next, and open Q&A.
Upcoming Boston events
Our Local Leadership Team
Sepehr Kiani has spent more than 25 years building and scaling companies across life sciences, biotech, and advanced technologies, generating valuations exceeding 250 million dollars. He founded Fluent BioSciences in 2018 and led it through development and commercialization of a breakthrough single-cell genomics platform before its acquisition by Illumina in 2024. Earlier in his career, he held key roles at Teradyne, Helicos BioSciences, and GnuBIO, where he was part of the founding team and later VP and General Manager after acquisition by Bio-Rad. He is now the CEO of Vivid BioInnovations, founded in 2025, and serves as a Venture Partner at VC23 Partners and a Strategic Advisor to emerging companies in Boston and San Francisco. Sepehr holds more than 50 patents across genomics, microfluidics, fiber optics, molecular biology, and semiconductor automation. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and his B.S. from Cal Poly.
The Boston startup scene
Boston is the #5 startup ecosystem in the world, per Startup Genome, with an ecosystem value of $273 billion for H2 2023 to 2025, up 83% on the prior period.
In 2025, startups across Massachusetts raised $16.7 billion in venture capital, a 12% increase year on year. Startup Genome points to life sciences backed by Harvard, MIT and Tufts research, AI and big data, and fintech as the region's core sectors.
Founders Network in Boston
Founders Network is a peer mentorship community for tech startup founders. Membership is selective and by invitation, and founders can request an invitation.
Members get mentorship from other founders, chapter events, and introductions to investors and founders across a global network. The Boston chapter is run by volunteer member leaders, who are listed on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boston a good place to start a startup?
Startup Genome ranks Boston #5 globally, and Massachusetts startups raised $16.7 billion in venture capital in 2025. Local universities supply steady research and talent.
How do I meet other founders in Boston?
Go to local startup and industry events, or join a peer community. Founders Network members meet other founders through chapter events and introductions.
What startup events are in Boston?
Upcoming Boston chapter events are listed on this page. Members attend chapter events alongside other local founders.
What industries are strongest in Boston?
Startup Genome lists life sciences, AI and big data, and fintech as Boston's core sectors.
How do I join Founders Network in Boston?
You can request an invitation. Membership is selective and by invitation, so not every request is accepted.
Get an invitation to the community.
Founders Network is an invite-only peer mentorship community for tech startup founders. Drop your email — we'll take it from there.
No spam. We review every request individually.