BUILD BOSTON
Launched in 2011
“Entrepreneurship is the hook; college and career success are the goals”.
PROBLEM:
A student’s opportunity is too often limited by their zip code, race, and socioeconomic class.

the build story
IN boston.
Before there was BUILD in Boston, there were three big-hearted champions of youth with a dream to make a difference in the lives of teens in their community. In 2008, Jeff Glass, Ajay Agarwal, and Scott Friend of Bain Capital connected with BUILD’s founder and then CEO, Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, and the plans to bring BUILD to Boston were born.
The Boston site was launched in 2011 with 90 students in four schools by Ayele Shakur, former CEO of BUILD National. Ayele brought decades of experience as an innovator in urban education to BUILD, including 11 years as a classroom teacher in Boston and Los Angeles Public Schools. Under her leadership, the Boston site grew to serve more than 300 students per year in six schools, launched several innovative pilots, and celebrated numerous achievements. Here are a few highlights that exemplify BUILD’s leadership and innovation in Boston over the past decade:
BUILD Boston launches
BUILD Boston launches in Boston Public Schools with the support of dedicated founding board members.Randolph High School
After years of successful programming in Boston, BUILD’s partnership with Randolph High School begins as a satellite program, and then officially becomes part of BUILD Boston in 2022.BUILD Boston Expansion
BUILD Boston expands to Salem, MA through a partnership with New Liberty High School.
Class of 2022 at Dearborn STEM Academy, Kanye is CEO of Petdanas, “a pet bandana (bandana, collar, leash) to keep your pet looking fresh and in style.” He shares his journey through BUILD and how his mindset has changed since operating his own business.

Graduated Senior and Valedictorian from Dearborn STEM Academy Lenylse spoke at the 2019 BUILDFest Pitch Challenge about her BUILD journey and relationship with her mentor and team Towel Tote.

BUILD students Alicia and Jamea showcase their product to help a fellow student help alleviate her stress and mental health. The product is a wellness app that helps track the user’s workout, meditation, and calorie plans.
Thank You to Our Partners
- All
- Angel $10K+
- Bay Area
- Boston
- Catalyst $100K+
- D.C. Metro Area
- Incubator $50K+
- New York City
- Regions
- Visionary $20K+


1434 Foundation

A.C.Ratshesky Foundation

Acceleration Partners

Bain Capital Children’s Charity

Bain Capital Ventures

Bank of America

BNY Mellon

Brookline Bank

Cabot Family Charitable Trust

Carl & Ruth Shapiro Foundation

Citizens Bank Foundation

Comcast NBCUniversal

Cummings Foundation

Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund

Drift

EngageSmart

EY

Flywire

Gemini Investors

Goodwin

GoTo

Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation

Harris Family Foundation

Hestia Fund

Hometap Equity Partners

Hubspot

JP Morgan Chase & Co

Liberty Mutual

M&T Bank

Mass Mentoring Partnership

McCance Foundation Trust

Needham Bank

PegaSystems

Public Consulting Group

PwC

Rapid 7

Santander

Silicon Valley Bank

State Street Foundation

The Charles Lawson Bauer Foundation

The City of Boston

The Walker Family Fund

Webster Bank

Wellington Management

Wells Fargo
updates & events.

BUILD.org Hosts Youth Entrepreneurship Competitions Nationwide to Celebrate 25 Years of Empowering Youth and Educators
As BUILD.org embarks on its 25th year, it proudly showcases the next generation of entrepreneurial changemakers through its innovative BUILDFest events in Bay Area, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York City over the next month. BUILD, a national nonprofit organization, is on a mission to use entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities, enabling them to build career success, entrepreneurial mindsets, and opportunity. BUILDFest events serve as vibrant celebrations of the transformational power of youth entrepreneurship, redefining education and creating opportunities for middle and high school students in under-resourced communities.
BUILDing moments of Gratitude
This past school year we were able to partner with 8 public schools to develop entrepreneurial skill sets and mindsets for over 470 students. We expanded outside of Boston and […]
EY Connect Day x BUILD
BUILD is proud to be a partner of EY and one of the signature initiatives for its global corporate responsibility program, EY Connect Day. On November 3, EY employees from […]
Boston 25 News | Anchor Venessa Welch & Patriots Legend Devin McCourty at BUILDFest Boston 2023
News Anchor Venessa Welch from Boston 25 News not only was the MC for BUILDFest Boston 2023, she also reported about BUILDFest Boston 2023 on Boston 25 News. Additionally, Patriots […]
BUILD.org Announces The Winning Team of BUILDFest Boston’s Youth Pitch Challenge
Boston, MA – May 25, 2023 – BUILD.org declared the winning high school team, Sweetify, from Charlestown High School, as the first-place winner of the 2023 BUILDFest Boston Pitch Challenge […]
BUILD Showcases Youth Entrepreneurship Competitions Across The Nation For Cash Prizes and Start-Up Funds
Official Press Release Redwood City, CA – April 19, 2023 – BUILD.org showcases the next generation of entrepreneurial student leaders and changemakers through its innovative BUILDFest events around the Nation […]the build greater boston team.


Alex Laser


Angela Stokes


Betsy Neptune


Lenworth A. Williamson


Shannon Fisher
Gira Wieczorek
Christian Souza
Loretta Alderman
Sarah Allaire
Kaitlin Moroney
Alankrita Narang
Stephanie Salzman
Kaela Schram
Amy Trutor
Anthony Craigwell
Matt Flanagan
Jamie Bader
Tony Bordon
Scott Friend
Jeff Glass
Robert Glazer
Frank Graziano
Keith Jackson
Jon Kanter
Victoria Kinnealey
Jon Lang
Cendy Moliere
Christian Souza
Donald Wright
Gira Wieczorek
Hayden Broberg
Tyler Kirk
BOston.
Mailing
BUILD Boston
198 Tremont St. #251 Boston, MA 02116
Contact
Storytelling