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Every year, Startup Westport gathers for one of its most meaningful traditions: the Innovator of the Year Awards. It’s our moment to honor Westport’s own — leaders who live and breathe the spirit of entrepreneurship — the risk-takers, the builders, the visionaries who transform industries and the changemakers who strengthen our community.

On October 8, Startup Westport will honor two extraordinary Westport-based leaders who embody that spirit in very different ways: Mark Shapiro as its 2025 Innovator of the Year and Sweet P Bakery as the recipient of its 2025 Community Impact Innovator Award.

At the event, Mark will sit down with CNBC anchor Sara Eisen for a fireside chat, “Pivotal Moments: The Risks That Paid Off (and the Ones That Didn’t).” In this candid conversation, Mark will share the decisions that shaped his career and the lessons that continue to guide him today.

Why You Should Come / What to Expect on October 8:

• The official recognition of Startup Westport’s 2025 award honorees.
• Big ideas and never-before-told stories from the front lines of leadership.
• A spotlight on innovators shaping culture — on the global stage and right here at home.
• A room full of founders, funders, and community builders who believe in bold ideas.
• Complimentary treats from Sweet P Bakery

Check out the StartUp Westport website for the full event details and agenda.

About Mark Shapiro

Some leaders follow the playbook. Mark Shapiro rewrites it. If you’ve ever watched a UFC fight, followed WWE, or noticed how WME has become one of the most influential agencies in the world, you’ve seen Shapiro’s fingerprints.

As president & COO of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and president & managing partner of WME Group, Mark has had a hand in shaping some of the most influential names in sports and entertainment. His career has been defined by bold calls — bets that others might not have made — that changed the trajectory of companies, industries, and even culture itself.

StartUp Westport selected Mark as this year’s Innovator of the Year because he represents the kind of leadership that defines entrepreneurship at its best: courageous, inventive, and unafraid to fail forward.

About Sweet P Bakery 

If Mark’s story is about reshaping industries, Sweet P Bakery is about reshaping community. Founded by Andrea and Bill Pecoriello, Sweet P started with a simple but powerful idea: create a bakery that provides inclusive hiring opportunities. The result? A thriving business that proves you can lead with heart, grow with purpose, and still make amazing cookies in town (and at Yankee Stadium!).

StartUp Westport is honoring Sweet P because they remind us that innovation isn’t only measured in scale — it’s also measured in impact. Their work shows that business can be a force for dignity, inclusion, and joy.

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