The Why Behind the AI: Boston Women Founders on Purpose, Power & Origin Stories
Hosted by Women in AI Boston
Join us for an intimate New Year gathering exploring the human stories behind AI innovation.
Women in AI Club is expanding to Boston, and we’re kicking off the new year with a gathering centered on what matters most: the why behind the AI we build.
Founders are often asked for the 3-minute pitch, the traction slide, the TAM. But behind every meaningful company is a deeper story — a personal moment, a lived experience, or a problem in the world that refused to be ignored.
This evening brings together Boston’s women founders and funders in AI for a conversation centered on purpose, exploring the origin stories behind some of the most compelling AI companies being built here in Boston.
This is not a panel.
It’s a facilitated storytelling experience featuring 3–4 women founders sharing the journeys that shaped them — the ones that don’t fit neatly into a pitch deck.
Featured Founders:
Elizabeth McWhorter is a mission-driven founder who believes education equity starts with access and clarity. As CEO & Co-Founder of ThriveIEP, she is reimagining how families navigate the special-education process — equipping parents with generative-AI–powered insights, tools, and guidance so children with learning differences have a fair chance to thrive. Outside of work, Elizabeth trains for the Pan-Mass Challenge, hikes with her kids and dog, and loves cooking with her husband, bringing the same empathy, grit, and heart to parenting as she does to her work.
Sheila Phicil is a socially conscious technologist and founder who channels lived experience and urgency into building for systemic change. As Founder of Listen Phirst, she is designing an AI-driven, multilingual patient-insights platform centered on data sovereignty, ethical innovation, and health equity — giving patients control, voice, and compensation for their stories. With a deep commitment to ethical AI and social justice, Sheila’s work bridges community partnership, systems design, and human dignity.
Emily Leahy is a startup founder who challenges conventional productivity norms with a deeply personal lens. As Founder of InPhase, Emily is building a first-of-its-kind app that leverages physiological data and AI to help women in sales tune into their biology — syncing performance with their unique rhythms rather than forcing one-size-fits-all metrics. Emily is committed to performance equity and making work more humane, especially for women navigating hormonal cycles, reshaping how we think about productivity, health, and success.
At the event you will:
✨ Get to know the people behind the products and platforms
✨ Hear how their story shapes product decisions, ethics and innovation
✨ Join curated conversations between founders and funders designed for depth
Why Attend:
For funders:
You’re not just investing in ideas — you’re investing in humans. This is a rare opportunity to hear the motivations, clarity, and conviction behind Boston’s emerging AI leaders.
For founders:
It’s a chance to speak your truth, share your “why,” and connect with a community of women building with purpose.
Donate to be part of the future today!
As we celebrate our inaugural event in Boston, we’re inviting attendees to support Women in AI Boston through our Givebutter link - helping us continue to create spaces and programs locally that amplify women shaping the future of AI.
Come curious, come open hearted, and come ready to build technology that moves humanity forward.
Hosts of the Event:
Women in AI connects, empowers, and elevates female founders, investors, and engineers shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Through community, mentorship, and global events, we’re building a more inclusive AI ecosystem where women lead and innovate. 💜 Donate today to help us expand our impact and create a more inclusive AI future.
HSBC Innovation Banking commits to helping founders and their companies thrive. Specialists in the innovation economy, they support clients and investors through all business life stages — from pre-Seed to post-IPO — with deep sector expertise, stability, and global reach.
Thank you to our venue sponsor:
Venture Lane is Boston's leading B2B tech startup hub, helping founders and their teams impact the world through curated community, impact-driven programming, and an impressive network of peers, mentors, and experts.