{"id":17754,"date":"2025-07-24T08:43:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T12:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/?p=17754"},"modified":"2025-07-24T08:43:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T12:43:29","slug":"how-allison-byers08-is-opening-doors-through-entrepreneurship-and-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/blog\/how-allison-byers08-is-opening-doors-through-entrepreneurship-and-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"How Allison Byers&#8217;08 Is Opening Doors Through Entrepreneurship and Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3911\" height=\"2200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-edited.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-edited.webp 3911w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-edited-1080x609.webp 1080w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-edited-700x394.webp 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3911px) 100vw, 3911px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Allison Byers walked into her first psychology class as a high school student, she thought she had her life planned out. A self-declared \u201cpsych nerd,\u201d her early academic path was laser-focused on a future PhD in clinical psychology. But what she couldn\u2019t predict then was that her journey would lead her not to a lab, but to the frontlines of tech entrepreneurship, capital equity reform, and national policy advocacy all rooted in a powerful foundation she built at Boston University\u2019s Questrom School of Business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Originally from the Boston area, Allison earned her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and began her career at a boutique management consulting firm. \u201cI loved understanding human behavior and using data to influence it, but I realized I didn\u2019t have the language or training of business,\u201d she recalls. \u201cThat\u2019s when I knew I needed an MBA.\u201d She found her home at Questrom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI chose Questrom not just for the business education, but for its emphasis on group dynamics and collaborative leadership. I was strong as an individual contributor but wanted to grow into someone who could lead in complex team settings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During her time at Questrom, Allison double-concentrated in Business Strategy and Marketing. She joined the leadership team for the school\u2019s flagship Business Symposium, leading the marketing efforts for a high-profile conference that brought together 500+ attendees and industry experts. But it was her relationship with Professor and now Dean Fournier that became a defining chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDean Fournier was my marketing professor, and her class changed the game for me. She made marketing feel accessible, and more importantly, she made the business world feel approachable. She helped me land my internship. She cared, truly. That left a mark on me.\u201d That mentorship became the bedrock of a career devoted to creating access for others\u2014especially for those historically left out of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After graduating in 2008, Allison pivoted into digital consulting and web analytics. But her path took a sharp turn after maternity leave. \u201cI was forced out of my job. It was a wake-up call. The system wasn\u2019t built for working mothers. It broke me and then rebuilt me.\u201d Allison channeled her resilience into launching a medical device startup, raising $10M and navigating the grueling startup ecosystem. But when she encountered another systemic barrier\u2014this time, being shut out of Series B fundraising\u2014she saw firsthand the gender bias in venture capital. Instead of giving up, she built a solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnly 1.8% of VC dollars go to women. In Massachusetts, it\u2019s just 0.6%. I couldn\u2019t unsee that. I decided to dedicate my professional life to fixing it,&#8221; Allison says. That mission became <em>Scroobious<\/em>, a platform Allison founded to transform access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs. And from its earliest days, BU has been woven into its DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCynthia Cohen, who awarded me a scholarship in my first year at Questrom, was the very first person I even talked to about the idea for Scroobious. We met at Pavement Coffee. She took me on a tour of the Innovate building, and it all started from there.\u201d Cynthia remains an official advisor to this day. As Allison shared, \u201cSome of my earliest memories before Scroobious was even incorporated happened with her guidance and BU\u2019s support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her connection to Questrom didn\u2019t stop at graduation. Over the years, Allison has actively mentored students, spoken in classes, participated in panel discussions, and collaborated with Innovate@BU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI come back to speak to students, work with classes, and support student entrepreneurs. I recently served as a pitch judge for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/profiles\/samantha-zyontz\/\">Samantha Zyontz&#8217;s <\/a>entrepreneurship class and was incredibly impressed with the rigor and professionalism of the student presenters. I&#8217;m also looking forward to speaking on the upcoming Startup Fundraising Panel at Innovate in July.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her ties run deep: her husband is also a Questrom alum, and several of her investors and collaborators are BU graduates. \u201cMy business partner, some of my investors, even my husband \u2014 so many of us are BU or Questrom alums. This isn&#8217;t just a business school, it&#8217;s a community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She even represented BU at SXSW, speaking on a national stage and attending the BU alumni brunch to reconnect with Terriers from across the country.<br>As she emphasizes, \u201cYou can\u2019t change what you don\u2019t measure. If we want to create a more equitable funding ecosystem, transparency is the first step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, Allison is a national voice in capital access and angel investing. She\u2019s advocating to modernize how the U.S. defines \u201caccredited investors\u201d to open the doors for more women and minorities to fund startups. Through speaking engagements, legislation, and personal investing, she\u2019s creating new on-ramps into entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She also co-authored a landmark California bill requiring venture capital firms to report demographic data on their investments a first-of-its-kind law that brought real transparency into a historically opaque space. Now, she\u2019s championing similar bills in Massachusetts and New York. \u201cBusiness leaders hold enormous power. If we want to build a better world, we need to act according to our values and speak loudly on behalf of our stakeholders and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her work is a masterclass in social entrepreneurship, building profitable ventures that also elevate equity, ethics, and human dignity. \u201cIf you&#8217;re going to build a business for a community, you need those members to be building alongside you. Questrom helped me understand these facets of business-building, which I&#8217;ve used throughout my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her advice to the next generation? \u201cDon\u2019t wait for permission to lead. If something feels broken, build the fix. If something feels too big, start small. What matters most is that you begin. You are more capable and more connected than you think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Allison Byers\u2019 story is not just one of professional success, but of legacy, advocacy, and unshakable purpose. Questrom gave her the tools, but she turned them into a mission. Now, she\u2019s opening doors for the next generation to walk through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1887\" height=\"1348\" data-id=\"17296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-2.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-2.webp 1887w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-2-300x214.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-2-804x573.webp 804w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-2-700x500.webp 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1887px) 100vw, 1887px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Working out of the BU@Innovate(BUild lab)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" data-id=\"17292\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-3.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-3.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-3-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-3-700x394.webp 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Allison (center) in green at the table of BU Questrom Women in Business Advisory Panel members and guests at Boston Business Journal event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1347\" height=\"1536\" data-id=\"17295\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-4.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-4.webp 1347w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-4-263x300.webp 263w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-4-614x700.webp 614w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1347px) 100vw, 1347px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" data-id=\"17293\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-5.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-5.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-5-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-5-560x700.webp 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Questrom Fall 2024 LAUNCH orientation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1828\" height=\"2560\" data-id=\"17294\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-7-scaled.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-7-scaled.webp 1828w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-7-214x300.webp 214w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-7-500x700.webp 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1828px) 100vw, 1828px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ceremony on CA Senate floor honoring Allison&#8217;s work co-authoring SB54.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"8256\" height=\"5504\" data-id=\"17297\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1.webp 8256w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/Allison-Beyers-2025-Alumna-Spotlight-1-700x467.webp 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 8256px) 100vw, 8256px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Allison speaking on a Fidelity panel about angel investing during Boston Fintech Week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interview by Jyotirmaya Patro\u201925<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Parts of this article were optimized with AI.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Allison Byers walked into her first psychology class as a high school student, she thought she had her life planned out. A self-declared \u201cpsych nerd,\u201d her early academic path [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17754","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Allison Byers&#039;08 Is Opening Doors Through Entrepreneurship and Policy - Boston University Questrom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With a foundation built at Questrom, Allison Byers made her way to the frontlines of capital equity reform and policy advocacy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/questrom\/blog\/how-allison-byers08-is-opening-doors-through-entrepreneurship-and-policy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Allison Byers&#039;08 Is Opening Doors Through Entrepreneurship and Policy - 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