Meet the Community Builder of the Year: Innovation Studio’s Marisa Nieves

Marisa Nieves is an important catalyst for change among underrepresented members of Boston’s startup community. Her work at Innovation Studio helps prospective and early-stage founders access the tools and networks they need to convert ideas into businesses. In fact it was her success at Innovation Studio – as well as volunteer efforts at MassChallenge and National Diversity Fairs – that clinched her spot as Startup Boston’s Community Builder of the Year.

To learn more, Startup Boston caught up with Marisa to discuss her career background, her current work, and her views on the startup community’s challenges in Boston.

Startup Boston: Before we dive too deep, could you provide a brief synopsis of your career background? You do so much – from judging at MassChallenge to directing MA Programs at Innovation Studio – that I think it would be helpful for readers to get an overview.

Marisa Nieves: My background is deeply rooted in community development, and my academic experience includes a master's in public policy. My minor in anthropology in undergrad also plays a role, as I view people, culture, and society from a people-focused lens, taking an "anthro-policy" approach to my work. 

Initially, I worked on campaigns and in youth development agencies, all rooted in the community. When transitioning careers, I aimed to blend my academic background with my skill set, and I found it important to focus on the areas of economic liberation and generational wealth through entrepreneurship. This approach allowed me to be part of systemic change and policy evolution without directly writing policy. My work is centered on being a catalyst for change and staying deeply involved with the community. 

SB: What communities are you focused on?

MN: I focus on underrepresented communities, particularly in Roxbury and Dorchester. I work with female founders, founders of color, and those without prior exposure to entrepreneurship. My goal is to support those entering new career paths or opening new doors for themselves, especially those who feel they are constantly struggling to keep up.

SB: What are the major challenges for these communities when they jump into entrepreneurship? Is it funding, connections, or all of the above?

MN: It's very intersectional. Connections and building relationships are crucial. The Boston ecosystem is very founder-focused, and once you get your first introduction, many people are willing to support you. The hardest part is knowing what resources are available and avoiding analysis paralysis from the abundance of options. Connections are an important challenge and help bridge gaps with funding, although people often don’t know what their options are. I do a lot of education work on the various funding options, depending on what stage you're at. 

I always tell folks I like to be a pipeline for future portfolio members. Many of the people I introduce aren't ready yet, but if they don't know about a specific program or firm, how can they see themselves in it? These are the biggest obstacles and barriers for those just jumping into entrepreneurship or the startup world: not knowing where to go.

SB: This brings us to your work at Innovation Studio. Is that your focus there?

MN: My focus is on programming and partnerships. I handle program curriculum, implementation, facilitation, and recruitment. A significant part of my role is networking and connecting with founders to help them navigate the ecosystem and understand the resources available. We support early-stage entrepreneurs, from ideation to accessing funding. Our goal is to prepare them for investor conversations and set them up for success.

SB: Are there any success stories you're particularly proud of?

MN: Absolutely. For example, florrent, a company that works with Greentown Labs and uses hemp for ultracapacitor batteries, has built relationships with indigenous farmers. florrent completed our Driving 2043 Program in partnerships with AAA NE at the end of 2022. They’ve reached new milestones since completing the program. Another is Cassandria Campbell from Fresh FoodGeneration, who recently partnered with the city for summer pop-ups. Dianne Austin from Coils to Locs creates medical-grade textured wigs for people experiencing medical hair loss. There are many others, and I'm incredibly proud of their achievements.

SB: Do you find it's getting easier to start a business and get funding now, or tougher, given the high interest rates we’re still experiencing?

MN: For traditional small businesses, it's still difficult due to the high startup costs in Boston. Local banks do offer support, and the challenge is connecting people with these initiatives. For high-growth startups, it's currently tough to get funding. Many of my founder friends say it's a challenging environment.

SB: What's next for Innovation Studio? Any big plans for the rest of the year or 2025?

MN: We recently opened our new Seaport East location, providing office and workspace rentals. We're preparing for our Life Science Day and ramping up for our fall programming. Our focus is on helping entrepreneurs with ideation, business model development, customer discovery, and funding avenues. We're also launching our pitch deck program for high-growth startups to prepare them for investor conversations.

SB: Do you have any ambitions to be a founder yourself, given your extensive work in the area?

MN: I've had some ideas, but I don't see myself as a founder. I'd love to work with a startup where there's alignment with my values and mission, but I prefer being part of a team rather than leading as a founder.

Want to read more investor stories as they're published? Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter in the footer below. 

About the author: 

Randall Woods is a former editor at Bloomberg News and currently is a Senior Vice President at SBS Comms, a communications agency for technology companies and startups.