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WE BOS Week 2021 starts Monday, October 25

The series of free, virtual and in-person events will support and promote women entrepreneurs throughout Boston.

Mayor Kim Janey, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, and the Office of Women's Advancement today announced the seventh annual Women Entrepreneurs Boston (WE BOS) Week, a series of free, virtual and in-person events to support and promote women entrepreneurs throughout the City of Boston. Recognizing the challenges faced by business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, all programming will center around the theme of “Solidarity in Economic Recovery.” 

WE BOS
Photo from Open Newbury Street in 2021.

Programming will be held both in-person and online, expanding access to all events. All networking opportunities, business coaching, educational workshops, and guidance on funding resources are hosted by industry leaders to support the prosperity of women entrepreneurs and business owners across the City. For a full list of events, visit here.

WE BOS Week starts on Monday, October 25th with an outdoor, in-person Kick-Off at The Patios at City Hall that includes networking with Mayor Kim Janey and a Fireside Chat with Jody Rose, President of the New England Venture Capital Association. The WE BOS Week programming will reflect on the strides women entrepreneurs have made during the pandemic and the lessons learned to strengthen women-owned businesses during Boston’s ongoing recovery. The City of Boston will host a series of panels featuring women entrepreneurs who speak to their stories of resilience and innovative solution-making during Boston’s economic recovery.

“The ingenuity of women entrepreneurs during the historic challenges of the pandemic has helped keep our City going,” said Mayor Janey. “As the first woman Mayor of Boston, I’m honored to lift up the voices of women who are running small businesses so we can all learn from each other and ensure our continued economic recovery includes all our residents.”

“WE BOS Week is a celebration of women’s leadership, creativity, and vision in all sectors of our economy, from boardrooms to neighborhood shops and home-based businesses,” said Midori Morikawa, Chief of Economic Development. “It’s also an opportunity to recognize the resilience that female entrepreneurs in Boston demonstrated during the pandemic and how the WE BOS community can continue to support each other.”

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy,” said Natalia Urtubey, Director of the Small Business Unit. “WE BOS serves to ensure women have access to the tools and resources needed to be successful in their business endeavors. We are thrilled to be hosting this year’s series of events once again.” 

"Participation in the WE BOS program over the past few years has helped me broaden my networks and introduced me to new resources to grow my business,” said Cassandra Campbell, owner of Fresh Food Generation in Dorchester. “Building on this ongoing community of support, we will be launching our first full-service restaurant in Dorchester on October 28th!"

10/25/2021

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The Patios, City Hall 

Kick-Off and Fireside Chat with Jody Rose, of New England Venture Capital Association

  • Networking to feature special guest Mayor Kim Janey

10/26/2021

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Patios, City Hall

Women in the Food and Hospitality Business; Panelists include:

10/27/2021

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Virtual

Kickstart Your Social Media Blueprint for Boss Ladies; hosted by Dr. Allana Todman-Da Graca, of Turning on the Lights Global Institute

10/27/2021

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Patios, City Hall 

Black Women Entrepreneurs of Boston; Panelists include:

10/27/2021

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Virtual

Latina Entrepreneurship on the Rise; hosted by Amplify Latinx and Women of Color Entrepreneurs; speakers include:  

10/28/2021

2:00 - 4:00 p.m

The Patios, City Hall

Women Building Economic Opportunities for Small Businesses; panelists include:

10/28/2021

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Virtual

The Small Business Renaissance: Funding and Growing Women-led Businesses Post-Covid; Hosted by Mainvest. Panelists will include:

10/28/2021 

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Columbiana Restaurant

536 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain

10/29/2021

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Patios, City Hall

Women in Green Business Lunch and Learn

Over the past seven years, more than 6,000 women have participated in more than 100 WE BOS Week events. Each year, the City of Boston partners with diverse and dynamic organizations to host events, including Innovation Studio, Amplify Latinx, Mainvest, and TOLGI.

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development offers continuous resources for all entrepreneurs. Small Business Calls are held every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom and Facebook Live to answer questions and to share the most up-to-date information for small business support. Minority and Women-Owned Business certification office hours are held every Wednesday from 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. for those who need assistance in filing for this designation. The Small Business Unit’s office hours are every Friday from 9:00 - 11: 00 a.m. and 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. as an additional offering to answer questions for entrepreneurs. All office hours are conducted virtually. 

For a complete list of events happening throughout WEBos Week, visit boston.gov/we-bos or follow @EconDevBoston, @BostonWomen, and #WEBOSWeek on Twitter. 

ABOUT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Economic Development Cabinet's mission is to make Boston an appealing and accessible place for working families, entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors to innovate, grow, and thrive in a way that fosters inclusion, broadens opportunity, and shares prosperity, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Bostonians and the experience for all visitors. Learn more here.

ABOUT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT

The Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement creates specific programming and opportunities that support three priority areas: economic equity, safety, and representation. Some of the office's most recent work includes research on paid parental leave and childcare affordability; a multi-pronged approach to closing the gender pay gaps; reducing the demand for commercial sexual exploitation; and creating specific programming for women entrepreneurs. Learn more here.

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