Leading MassChallenge’s $16 Billion Startup Engine: Cait Brumme
From Shakin' Hands by Jack Moran
March 9, 2026 · 51 min · Season 2 · Episode 89
About this episode
Cait Brumme discusses the essential elements for startup success beyond funding.
Cait Brumme, CEO of MassChallenge, joins Jack for a sharp conversation on what founders actually need beyond funding: grit, customer proximity, the right network, and the ability to commercialize in hard markets. Drawing on her background across impact investing and Harvard Business School, Cait breaks down why MassChallenge is built to help early-stage companies get to real traction, not just better pitch decks. The episode dives into hiring, leadership, and the balancing act every founder f...
People in this episode
Host: Jack Moran
Guest: Cait Brumme
Topics covered
- startup funding
- leadership
- entrepreneurship
- impact investing
- hiring
Keywords
- MassChallenge
- founders
- traction
- customer proximity
- networking
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: MassChallenge, Harvard Business School
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