We're proud to share that Elaine Chen, Cummings Family Professor of the Practice in Entrepreneurship and Director of the Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts, has been recognized by Startup Boston alongside leaders from Harvard Innovation Labs, Boston University’s Innovate@BU, and Babson's Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, in the Universities & Talent Pipeline Builders category.
"I am beyond humbled to be included alongside my collaborators across the Boston startup ecosystem," Elaine shares. "I look forward to continuing our partnership to bring innovative cross-university programming to ever more students in the Greater Boston ecosystem."
At the Derby Entrepreneurship Center, Elaine leads the undergraduate academic program as well as innovative co-curricular programming that delivers hands-on, experiential learning opportunities, including competitions, accelerators, 1:1 coaching, mixers, workshops, hackathons, and online learning resources.
Along with other ecosystem builders in the Greater Boston area, Elaine has supported student entrepreneurs well beyond the Tufts campus. She was one of the original collaborators behind the Cross University Student Innovators Mixer series, which brings together students from universities across New England several times a year. She also serves on the steering committee to promote shared entrepreneurial programming among schools and colleges within the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
Elaine is also a sought-after voice in entrepreneurship education nationally and internationally, most recently speaking at the 2025 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers on topics at the intersection of entrepreneurship, AI, and the future of work.
Congratulations, Elaine — this recognition reflects the vibrant entrepreneurial community being built in Boston and beyond.
Read the full StartupBOS feature here.
Learn more about Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts here.
