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May 15, 2023

WNY AgTech Meetup Grows; Launch NY Lands $1MM Federal Grant

WNY AgTech meetup sold out at Kubed Root. Launch NY secures $1MM in federal funding. Pitch Hamburg gives five startups $5,000 each at its first event.

Check out what happened in the WNY Startup Community this week and what you can look forward to next week.

Weekly Recap

May 8-14, 2023

BootSector in the Community

BootSector's WNY AgTech Meetup is Growing!

Led by Dan Abbotoy (404 Link Removed) , BootSector's Director of Innovation, the first ever WNY AgTech meetup was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who joined. Stay tuned for information on the next meetup, and we can't wait to see what ideas and insights our community will bring.

A special thank you again to everyone who helped make our kickoff event such a success - Sophia Marshall (404 Link Removed) at 43North and Elias Martinez (404 Link Removed) at Kubed Root.

BootSector Goes International (Right Here in WNY)

BootSector had the pleasure of speed networking with dozens of entrepreneurs from Bosnia and Herzegovina as a participant in the BOLD Program. This program is a project of the U.S. Embassy to provide leadership opportunities to young leaders that implement projects in their communities and support each other in their efforts to make positive change.

Special thanks to Celine Krzan (404 Link Removed) for the invite!

Startup Coffee - All Summer Long

The weather might be getting nicer, but that doesn't mean that Startup Coffee is taking a break. In fact, you might start catching Startup Coffee on the HANSA patio. Looking for a cup of coffee and a top notch bagel? Then come on in. Buffalo Startup Coffee →, every Tuesday from 7:30-9am at HANSA. Can BootSector Help Your Community Project? Email us!

Startup Community Events

Pitch Hamburg - Community Pitch Event

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dqUeqkq_JaWcf325Hl6uoCIoZYOQQW03nXWLUam9el4/viewform

Pitch Hamburg is hosting their first community pitch event that will help support the creation of new businesses in the village by providing resources, support, mentorship and incubator space for aspiring entrepreneurs. Five new businesses have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of judges and the audience for a chance to win $5,000 towards their business!

Sign up here

More Upcoming Events

Looking for something entrepreneurial to do? Why don't you come out to these upcoming events Powered by BootSector?

And here's a few other startup community events to check out this week:

But wait, there's more! You can see all of the WNY Startup Community Events on BootSector's Venture Herd Calendar. Click the button below to see more! Check here for more events!

In Case You Missed It

So Much To Share - News Briefs

We're running out of real estate in this Weekly Update, but we have so much more to share. Check out these news briefs:

Did we miss something? Get your ICYMI featured!

Funding & Opportunities

Have you met LaunchNY?

Here's a message, edited by BootSector for brevity, from WNY startup legend, Dan Miner (404 Link Removed) :

There is a network of people and services in Buffalo that have been created to support you in your entrepreneurial journey. One of those support nodes is a Empire State Development Corp. tax incentives program called START-UP NY, which supports small businesses and startup companies as they grow. START-UP NY is administered through state colleges and universities, and the University at Buffalo has an extremely active program that has led to the creation of thousands of jobs over the past decade.

Companies who are approved for START-UP NY have some powerful tools at their disposal. The most famous of these tools is the exemption on state income taxes.

Some small business owners use START-UP NY to put themselves on the payroll and take advantage of this tool. Other companies use it as a recruiting mechanism as they seek to build teams in a very competitive labor market. Other tools include exemptions on NYS corporate income tax and NYS sales taxes (that you pay, of course, not that you'd charge).

There's a few catches. 1) retail, restaurant and other Main Street companies can't participate. 2) a company is only eligible when it works out of a pre-approved facility. 3) for employees of that company to qualify, they have to work fulltime at that site.

The details are complex, but we at UB are here to make it easier. START-UP NY is a good jumping off point to the broader question, "What support is out there for me?" and we're happy to play the role of benevolent traffic conductor if we think another regional program is a better fit.

If you want to talk more about this, fill out the inquiry form at buffalo.edu/startupny. That will come right to the Startup Ventures team at UB. Then we can get to work!

Dan Miner

Start-Up NY program manager

University at Buffalo

716-783-2734

America's Seed Fund

America's Seed Fund Week is an online event to connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them to America's Seed Fund, the country's largest source of early-stage funding!

For more info, see here (404 Link Removed)

Empowering Education with AI

Now Powered by BootSector! Think you can enhance education through AI? Join the University at Buffalo in daily learning sessions (TED Talk style discussion) and presentations, integrated with immediate application of the knowledge via a team idea challenge. Finally, the challenge will be supplemented by mentoring and coaching, punctuated by a final pitch presentation.

Want to know more? Register here

ROC the Pitch!

RIT's Center for Urban Entrepreneurship is hosting a Pitch Competition for businesses operating within Monroe County. The goal of the competition is to provide a unique opportunity for businesses that are challenged by the need to secure access to capital to help such businesses grow and provide services.

Please send proof of residency/identification, business plan, and proof of at least two years of revenue to Assunta Davidson at axdvpr@rit.edu

Pax Momentum is Looking for SAAS Businesses

https://www.paxmv.com/

PAX's virtual accelerator seeking B2B SaaS founders companies for pre-seed investment. Final Deadline Applications for Fall 2023 are open through June 13. Read more about this program here →

Is there an opportunity we missed? Let us know!

BootSector's Weekly Ask

BootSector's purpose is to grow Western New York's Startup Community. Here's one thing you can do this week to help us educate, encourage, and empower the next generation of startup community leaders.

This week, we want your help providing mentorship to Blackstone Launchpad at UB. They are looking for mentors and speakers passionate about supporting our students as they explore and innovate over this summer! Register to share your expertise as a mentor, judge, reactor, or speaker today → ! I want to sign up!

Startup Jobs

We're always on the look out for job opportunities in the Western New York Startup Community. Post your openings on the WNY Community Slack → ! And let us know if you have a position to fill using the button below.

From Buffalo Inno

From Blackstone LaunchPad

From Marc Chapman on the WNY Startup Community Slack

Got a job you want to post? Send it to BootSector!

Parting Thoughts

Live Up to Your Obituary

When asked how to avoid making mistakes, Warren Buffet gave shareholders a succinct and powerful answer: "You should write your obituary and then try to figure out how to live up to it."

Morbid as it might seem, it's great advice. Should your obituary proclaim how you increased sales 78% year-over-year in Q2'23? Or maybe that you were the hottest startup IPO in WNY history? Or maybe that you're a devoted mother? Leader in your community? The guy everyone wanted to have a beer with?

If you have 15 minutes this week - and you do - scratch out a few bullet points for your obituary and stash it in a drawer. Next time you have a tough decision, give it a quick read for some solid advice.

Jordan Walbesser Executive Director, BootSector Share this mailing list with your friends!