Building the future of entrepreneurship through community.


Co-founded by Karen Kelly CEO & Stephan Smith CTO

Where Vision Meets Technical

Karen Kelly, CEO

Non-technical visionary who saw the democratization of technology coming. Karen is a 3x founder and ex-advertising exec who brings startup strategy, "find a way" thinking and a passion for empowerment through access, education, and network.

Stephan Smith, CTO

Techstars alum and technical expert with deep AI and low-code experience. Stephan bridges the gap between complex technology and practical founder execution. Stephan was a fractional CTO at Karen's company prior to jumping into this new adventure together - democratizing access to AI for everyone, everywhere.

We are Boston's Startup Community Leaders

Startup Boston Week Speaker

Karen has spoken several times at this event, most recently in 2025 on building without code as a non-technical founder to a crowd of 8,000 ecosystem builders.

Venture Lane Advisory Board

Stephan sits on the advisory board for Venture Lane, where Launch by Lunch calls it's home and venue for many community-wide events.

Cambridge Innovation Center (CiC)

We serve as teachers and mentors to the members in CiC's Social Impact Growth Stage accelerator cohort.

Our events sell out

We consistently sell out events and workshops with waitlists across topics from alternative networking, to finding your co-founder, to growing revenue through improved culture.

AI Like a Girl

Held at AXON's legendary "tron themed" office in Back Bay, Karen spoke on how women can take the helm at empowering their personal and professional lives with AI.

UPLEVEL with FoundersEdge

VC group FoundersEdge asked Karen to lead the vibe coding workshop at their recent invite-only conference for female founders and investors across the country.

We're scrappy & make it a point to know everyone

Stephan and Karen camped out in the lobby of Suffolk Law School during Boston Startup Week with a gamified offer for attendees. This led to our membership doubling that month.

Core values matter to us

One of our core values is that a rising tide lifts all boats. We believe community is the solution for not just weathering the uncertainty of AI, but also for the future of work. We partnered with the Afternoon Shift for an invite only half day workshop on career as a team sport.

Our 360 Degree Reach is Powerful

Our commitment to fostering a vibrant and active community is reflected in these key engagement metrics since opening our community in May, 2025:

59

Events Hosted

Facilitating learning & networking

9

Accelerator Cohorts

Nurturing entrepreneurial talent

51%

Daily Active Users

High daily interaction rates

82%

Monthly Active Users

Consistent engagement over time


Our Community Reach by the Numbers

250+

Paying Members

Since launching in August 2025

1K+

Newsletter Subscribers

62% open rate

$0

Marketing Spend

100% organic growth

53%

Men

47%

Women

20%

First-time founders just starting their entrepreneurial journey

60%

Multi-time founders with proven track records and networks

20%

Fractional experts bringing specialized skills and insights

Our Vision for 2026: Scaling Impact

Building on our success, 2026 is set to be a landmark year with ambitious initiatives designed to further empower our community with the right Boston-based partners.

100+ Community Events

A diverse calendar of virtual and in-person gatherings, from educational workshops and 'un-networking' sessions to dedicated co-founder matching, fostering continuous learning and connection.

12 Accelerator Cohorts

Launching a dozen intensive accelerator programs designed to propel startups forward, offering mentorship, resources, and strategic guidance across various industries and growth stages.

Boston's No-Code Conference

Pioneering the city's inaugural event dedicated to no-code innovation, bringing together pioneers, platforms, and entrepreneurs to explore the future of development and rapid prototyping.


Accelerator Partnership Opportunities for 2026

Attract talent with real-world expertise from Stephan Smith & Karen Kelly in AI, low code, and what's next for the tech industry.

Current rates available through 12.31.25.

Three Ways to Add Value with Launch by Lunch

Current rates available through 12.31.25.

Expert Learning Sessions

Bring Stephan Smith & Karen Kelly on-site for customized 1-hour workshops on AI, low-code, and emerging tech.


• On-site: $1,500
• Virtual: $850

Community Access for Your Cohort

Give your founders access to our thriving community of 250+ members, events, and resources.


• First 2 months: Free
• Ongoing: $8/month per member

Vibe Coding Accelerator

Offer your cohort a discounted seat in any of our accelerator programs at a special partner rate.



• 30% off standard pricing

Partner with Purpose

Join us in empowering the next generation of AI-enabled founders. Launch by Lunch isn't just a community - it's a movement toward a more accessible, collaborative future of entrepreneurship.

Ready to explore partnership opportunities? Let's build something meaningful together. Contact us at welcome@launchbylunch.co, or schedule a call to get started.

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