Pitch Hamburg Awards $15k; Tool Library Moves to New Space

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

Weekly Recap

May 30 - June 4, 2023

BootSector in the Community

BootSector Lends a Helping Hand

BootSector is all about building a more entrepreneurial Western New York. And what better way to help than to support other groups that provide tools to growth. Literally! This past week, Kamal Patel (404 Link Removed) (BootSector's Director of Community Engagement) joined leaders of WNY's startup community (we see you Andy Hakes (404 Link Removed) , Zack Glick (404 Link Removed) , Jacob Opalinski (404 Link Removed) , and David Brenner (404 Link Removed)!) to help move the Tool Library into their new digs. Great work!

BootSector Lends a Helping Hand

Later on in the week, BootSector stopped by to support Pitch Hamburg's first ever Community Pitch Event. Five teams (Quick Wick (404 Link Removed) , Merit Badge Books (404 Link Removed) , Collective Distribution (404 Link Removed) , Clean Earth Refillery (404 Link Removed) , and Our Omphalos (404 Link Removed) ) pitched for the chance to win $5,000 for their startup businesses. Annamaria Masucci (404 Link Removed) rocked it as the master of the ceremonies, giving away $15,000 in prizes. Let's go! Can BootSector Help Your Community Project? Email us!

Startup Community Events

Upcoming Events

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

• BetterTogether - Monday, June 5 from 7-8:30pm at The Foundry
• Buffalo Startup Coffee - Tuesday, June 6 from 7:30-9am at HANSA

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 trying to keep things moving in this Weekly Update, but we have so much more to share. Check out these news briefs:

• Denver's Business First wrote an article (404 Link Removed) featuring Good Neighbor Fund's programing as a great way to validate a startup idea.
• Miami is paying startups to help improve the quality of life in their town (404 Link Removed) Buffalo, Rochester - let's do this!
• Bye Bye Bitwise? (404 Link Removed) Bitwise Industries "furloughs" employees amid in-progress Buffalo site.
• Send some love…and pics! (404 Link Removed) Rochester-based Frintz is entering into the Buffalo market.

Did we miss something? Get your ICYMI featured!

Funding & Opportunities

Empowering Education with AI (Deadline: June 11)

https://bit.ly/3MlLLE7

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

Pax Momentum is Looking for SAAS Businesses (Deadline: June 13)

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 →

GNF's Y1 Summer Micro-grant Program (Deadline: June 21)

https://www.goodneighbor.fund/

The deadline for GNF's Y1 Summer Micro-grant Program is fast approaching on Wednesday, June 21st!

Good Neighbor Fund (powered by BootSector!) is passionate about empowering under-resourced, diverse founders who are at the ideation stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Every great business starts with an idea. Could this be your moment to shine?

Submit your pitch today !

43North's Annual Business Plan Competition (Deadline: June 23)

Registrations are open for 43North's Business Plan competition! How does a $20MM valuation for your startup sound? And $1MM in cash too? Applications close June 23 - Apply today! (404 Link Removed) Is there an opportunity we missed? Let us know!

BootSector's Weekly Ask

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevzXrEvUNDjPVEQnDfpsB6i2Kb35xqOqnPfTFMXTuN_BHefQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

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're asking for your input on how to make Buffalo Startup Week 2023 an even bigger success! Check out this link → to provide input and even volunteer to help out with WNY's biggest annual event for startups! Got a way that the community can help BootSector? Let us know!

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 UB Startup Ventures:

• Startup Success Manager - University at Buffalo

From Sean Heidinger: - Event Managers and Sales Staff - Douglas Development

From WNY Startup Community Slack:

• Marketing Manager - Launch NY

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

Parting Thoughts

Acting Ahead for a Future You

Discipline is an essential virtue for any successful entrepreneur. In some sense, discipline is the ability to prioritize the needs of your future self ahead of your own.

But whatever you're thinking now, think smaller. In fact, just think about being your own personal assistant for the future you. Pack your bag and set out your clothes in the evening for your next day. Get your K-cup and coffee ready the night before. You can even say out loud, "Wow, future me is going to love this."

By creating a relationship between the present self and future self - where the present serves the future - you can look forward with care and backwards with gratitude.

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