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:
2011
BUILD Boston launches
BUILD Boston launches in Boston Public Schools with the support of dedicated founding board members.
2020
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.
2023
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.
Featured Partner
Thank You to Our Partners
updates & events.
America’s Young Entrepreneurs Shine at BUILDFest 2025: A National Celebration of Youth-Led Innovation
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.
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 […]the build greater boston team.
Regional Teams
Associate Board
Advisory Board
Betsy Neptune
Regional Executive Director
Boston
Betsy Neptune
Position:
Regional Executive Director, Boston
Email:
bneptune@build.org
Shannon Fisher
Senior Program Manager
Shannon Fisher
Position:
Senior Program Manager
Email:
shayes@build.org
Sep Salimi *Co-Chair*
Vice President
SVB
Sep Salimi
Position:
Vice President, SVB
Sarah Allaire
Founder
Click Learning
Sarah Allaire
Position:
Founder, Click Learning
Natalie Cantave
Corporate Marketing Manager
Addepar
Natalie Cantave
Position:
Corporate Marketing Manager, Addepar
Anthony Craigwell
Sales Development Representative
Lumafield
Anthony Craigwell
Position:
Sales Development Representative, Lumafield
Derick Foster
Owner
Chez Vous Rollerskating Rink & Boston Swerve
Derick Foster
Position:
Owner, Chez Vous Rollerskating Rink & Boston Swerve
Katherine Man
Group Product Manager
Hubspot
Katherine Man
Position:
Group Product Manager, Hubspot
Kaitlin Moroney
Senior Manager
Attorney Development
Goodwin
Kaitlin Moroney
Position:
Senior Manager, Attorney Development, Goodwin
Joshua Ramgeet
BUILD Alumni
Northeastern School of Business
Joshua Ramgeet
Position:
BUILD Alumni, Northeastern School of Business
Kaela Schram
Manager
Sales Development
BeyondTrust
Kaela Schram
Position:
Manager, Sales Development, BeyondTrust
Amy Trutor
Portfolio Manager
State Street
Amy Trutor
Position:
Portfolio Manager, State Street
Sharom Urdaneta
Branch Manager
Berkshire Bank
Sharom Urdaneta
Position:
Branch Manager, Berkshire Bank
Gira Wieczorek
Founder
Aleberry
Gira Wieczorek
Position:
Founder, Aleberry
Matt Flanagan *Chair*
Senior Advisor
Public Relations
Marketbridge
Matt Flanagan
Position:
Senior Advisor, Public Relations, Marketbridge
Jamie Bader
Executive Advisor
EY-Parthenon
Jamie Bader
Position:
Executive Advisor, EY-Parthenon
Scott Friend
Managing Director
Bain Capital Ventures
Scott Friend
Position:
Managing Director, Bain Capital Ventures
Jeff Glass
CEO
Hometap Equity Partners
Jeff Glass
Position:
CEO, Hometap Equity Partners
Robert Glazer
Founder & CEO
Acceleration Partners
Robert Glazer
Position:
Founder & CEO, Acceleration Partners
Keith Jackson
SVB/First Citizens Bank
Keith Jackson
Position:
SVB/First Citizens Bank
Victoria Kinnealey
Portfolio Development
Ventures
Dell Technologies Capital
Victoria Kinnealey
Position:
Portfolio Development, Ventures, Dell Technologies Capital
Cendy Moliere
Search Engine Optimization Specialist
eGenerationMarketing
Cendy Moliere
Position:
Search Engine Optimization Specialist, eGenerationMarketing
Donald Wright
Deputy Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion
City of Boston
Donald Wright
Position:
Deputy Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, City of Boston
Elana Anderson
Growth Advisor
NxtERA Marketing
Elana Anderson
Position:
Growth Advisor, NxtERA Marketing
Hayden Broberg
Director of Partnerships
Capital One
Hayden Broberg
Position:
Director of Partnerships, Capital One
Tyler Kirk
Executive Director
Innovation Economy Banking
J.P Morgan
Tyler Kirk
Position:
Executive Director, Innovation Economy Banking, J.P Morgan
Daniel Laurent
Filmmaker
Entrepreneur
Manager
City of Boston Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion
Daniel Laurent
Position:
Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Manager, City of Boston Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion
Gira Wieczorek
Founder
Aleberry
Gira Wieczorek
Position:
Founder, Aleberry
BOston.
Mailing
BUILD Boston
198 Tremont St. #251 Boston, MA 02116
Contact
Storytelling
