Laura Teicher, the president and executive director of FORGE, leads the 501(c)3 nonprofit on its mission to help innovators with physical products navigate the journey from prototype to commercialization and impact – at scale.

Laura is responsible for organizational impact, strategy, and sustainability as FORGE helps emerging and scaling companies with their physical product development, manufacturing strategies, and localized supply chains. Under her leadership, FORGE has added hundreds of startups to the network it serves each year. Twenty percent of those companies are in mature production today, an incredible number considering that more than ninety percent of hardware startups fail.

Laura previously served as executive director of the Boston chapter of TiE – the largest global network dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. Her unique background includes experience in the nonprofit, private, and public sectors. Prior to joining TiE, she managed business operations at a growing financial firm, while serving as President of the Boston professional chapter of Net Impact. She has also served as an aide to the Massachusetts state senate.

Laura earned her M.B.A. from Boston University and holds degrees in English literature and studio art. She currently serves on the board of directors of ClimateXChange, a recognized leader in climate and economic policy research.

In her spare time, Laura loves spending time in the woods and at the beach with her dog Finn, reading, and making art. If you want to make her smile, start with a bad pun!

Contact Laura Teicher: laura@forgemass.org