Hundreds of new companies are being launched in Upstate NY each year. Help UVC build the connected network for creating tomorrow's economic champions.
thINCubator Holds First MESH Event
On June 9th the thINCubator hosted the first in a series of networking events designed to connect Makers, Entrepreneurs, Students and Hackers (MESH). One of the common problems in our region is that there are young entrepreneurs who don't know the makers, who don't know the hackers, who don't know the seasoned entrepreneurs, etc. To build a startup ecosystem and to create a culture of entrepreneurship in upstate NY, there needs to be a focus on connecting these individuals on a regional level as well as a local level. Full recap here
1 Million Cups Launches in Albany
This is the second chapter to launch in 2015. Syracuse was the first in all of NYS. Brian Selchick and Matthew Wagoner of Wagoner| Selchick PLLC, share why they took on this initiative in the Capital Region.
"We are about putting time, energy and money where our mouth is - it is about doing it, making it happen - not just saying it. The mission behind launching the Albany Chapter is to assist, empower and support the efforts of local startups and entrepreneurs by providing an open, honest and welcoming forum. We consider ourselves entrepreneurs or "lawpreneurs" as the term goes these days. With the help of the community and by being involved with organizations like Upstate Venture Connect, UVANY, Startup Grind and One Million Cups, we were lucky enough to build a client base of over 100 companies, entrepreneurs and start ups, past and present, in less than 1 year. It can be done right here in Tech Valley if the focus remains on "creative collisions," and on getting "buy in" from the community."
Startfast Participants Pitch Ideas to Area VCs and Mentors
Startfast has taken on a permanent home at the Madden School of Business at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. Spawned from this partnership, each team in the accelerator was given the opportunity just weeks into the program to present their companies to members of the Madden School Advisory Board, community leaders and successful startup founders at “Dolphin Tank,” a practice your pitch day. The 2015 Startfast Class includes: SmartyPans, BitReady, Electronic Gaming Federation, HoverStat and Mogee Keyboard by Phronesis Techne.
“We met Chuck and Nasir at SXSW in Austin. When my brother and I first launched SmartyPans we received a lot of media attention, but we knew to scale properly, we’d need to take a step back and gain mentorship,“ said SmartyPans Co-Founder Prachi Baxi. “With another accelerator bid out of San Francisco on the table, it was hard to say no, but after meeting with Chuck and Nasir a week later in NYC, and learning of their track record for success, I know we made the right decision.”
In perfect pitch mode, each team took advantage of presenting their companies to the Dolphins, gaining feedback and having an opportunity to meet each of them in person at a cocktail reception immediately following Dolphin Tank. Dolphin Tank panelists included Wall Street investor Michael Madden, and former Alliance Bank CEO Jack Webb.
