August 7, 2023
Community Cookout Draws 150; Jerry Raises $110MM
Cookout exceeded 150 registrants. Jerry secures $110MM in Series C2, bringing total to $242MM. Azuna's Buffalo Bills partnership goes public.
Here's what's happening in the WNY Startup Community, brought to you by BootSector.
It's that Time of Year
It took the newsletter team by surprise to see football back on TV. Is is that time of year already? Let's home summer stays around just a little longer. Anyways, let's kick off this week's recap! And as always send us your thoughts, questions, or ideas using the button below. Send BootSector Your Feedback!
BootSector Spotlight
Take a look at some highlights from events that are Powered by BootSector!
Community Cookout - Huge Success!
With over 150 registrants and many more walk-ins, the Startup Community Cookout was a huge success! A special thank you to the BootSector and TechBuffalo teams for putting together an amazing event. And of course to our generous sponsors TimeCapsule →, EmergenceTek (404 Link Removed), and Stake
Startup Coffee Hits the Road With 43North
This week, BootSector's Startup Coffee visited Serendipity Labs to hang out with folks from the 43North Business Plan Competition. As usual, WNY's startup community was making great connections and moving the needle on building a brighter tomorrow! Special thanks to 43North for cosponsoring this week's Startup Coffee!
Powered by BootSector Headlines
Leaders Powered by BootSector are making moves. Check out these items!
- Jordan Walbesser (404 Link Removed) (Executive Director - BootSector) was featured this week by GROW Buffalo (404 Link Removed)
Startup Community Events
Looking for something entrepreneurial to do? Why don't you come out to these upcoming events?
This Week's Events
- Better Together - Powered by BootSector - Monday, August 7 from 7-8:30pm on Zoom.
- Buffalo Startup Coffee - Powered by BootSector - Tuesday, August 8 from 7:30-9am at HANSA
- Buffalo Cannabis Network - Powered by BootSector - Wednesday, August 2 from 8:30-9:30am at 505 Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY
- WNY AgTech Meetup - Powered by BootSector - Friday, August 11 from 5:30-7:00am at CBLS, 701Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY
And here's a few other startup community events to check out this week:
- Sunset Cruise | WNY Entrepreneur - Tuesday, August 8 from 7-9pm at Sunset Cruise, 44 Prime St., Buffalo, NY.
- Stop Doing Everything: It's Time to Outsource! | Entrepreneurs Forever
- Friday, August 11 from 8:30-9:30am online.
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!
Startup Funding
Looking for news on fundraising opportunities or recent raises. We got you covered!
Awesome Buffalo - August 8, 2023
https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/buffalo
Jason Bartz (404 Link Removed) sent us a reminder that Awesome Buffalo's next grant deadline is coming up this week. Awesome Buffalo awards $1,000 cash to weird, wonderful, and timely projects that make Buffalo more awesome.
So if you have an awesome idea or know someone that does, they can apply via this link: https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/buffalo.
Jerry Raises a $110MM Series C2
Jerry secured an additional $110MM in equity and debt financing (404 Link Removed) led by existing investor Park West Asset Management. The oversubscribed up round also included reinvestment from Goodwater Capital, Highland Capital Partners, and Plug And Play Ventures, among other existing investors. TriplePoint Capital led the debt facility and also invested in the equity financing. The new financing followed Jerry's C1 round, bringing total funding to $242 million.
FuzeHub Deadline Extended - August 10, 2023
https://fuzehub.com/commercialization-competition-2/
FuzeHub's 2023 Commercialization Competition application period is now open Finalists will pitch live during the NYS Innovation Summit at the Saratoga City Center on October 16 & 17.
Awards are up to $50,000 each; one company has the chance to win an additional $100,000 for a grand award of $150,000. Get more information here: https://fuzehub.com/commercialization-competition-2/
MARL 5G Accelerator - August 15, 2023
https://www.f6s.com/marl-accelerator-fall-2023-cohort
MARL 5G Accelerator's Fall 2023 Cohort applications are now open! If you or someone you know is interested in participating in a founder-focused, deep tech accelerator, apply here → Is there funding news that we missed? Let us know!
In Case You Missed It - News Briefs
Check out these news briefs compiled by the BootSector team!
- Check out a behind-the-scenes look at how Azuna partnered with the Buffalo Bills (404 Link Removed)
- OxiWearsecures office space and prepares to go to market (404 Link Removed)
- WeRadiate unveiled two new smart sensor products
- Blackbird's CEO discussed AI assisted fraud on NPR's Marketplace Morning Report
- CYRISMA was named a Category Leader for Vulnerability Assessment
Did we miss something? Send us your ICYMI!
BootSector's Gives
BootSector believes in Giving First. So here's what we're giving this week.
Free Day of Coworking at Serendipity Labs
Join Serendipity Labs for a free day of coworking on August 9 in celebration of International Coworking Day. Enjoy complimentary mocktails while connecting with like-minded professionals, fostering collaborations and networking opportunities. Click here for more details (404 Link Removed)
Half Off Coworking at HANSA
Get half off a coworking pass on Wednesday, September 6th. Make sure to book at HansaWorkspace.com → !
BootSector's Asks
Once you give, it's ok to ask. So here's what BootSector is asking for this week.
This week, we're asking for your advice! We'd like to create a startup community dashboard and want some input.
What are some metrics that BootSector can measure and share that would help tell the picture of our strong and growing startup community? Send us some metrics ideas!
Startup Jobs & Future Employees
BootSector is 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.
Job Openings
From WNY Startup Community Slack:
- Cloud Security Engineer at Studio X
- Senior Front End Engineer at Studio X
- Staff Front End Engineer at Studio X
- Senior Data Scientist at Studio X
- Marketing Manager at JMS Technical Solutions
- Business Development Representative at Blackbird.AI
- Are you a High-Voltage Pulse Power Designer? If so, contact Emma Stappenbeck (404 Link Removed)
- Senior Hardware Engineer at AMPAworks
- Full-Time Development Director at The Foundry
- Interested in sitting on a board for a non-profit, fair-trade retail store? If so, contact Jason Bartz →
From Buffalo Inno:
- Contract Backend Engineer at Squire
- Lifecycle Marketing Manager at Squire
- Principal Product Designer at Jerry
- Business Systems Analyst at Odoo
- Entry Level Software Sales Executive at Odoo
- Financial Controller at Viridi Parente
- Maintenance and Reliability Manager at CleanFibre
- Production Technician at CleanFibre
- Senior Accountant at PostProcess Technologies
- Business Development Associate at Infiuss Health
- Sr. Software Engineer-Backend at Tackle.io
- Payments Collections, Escalation Specialist at ACV Auctions
From Buffalo Bridge:
- Backend Engineer at AireXpert
- Full Stack Engineer at AireXpert
- Accounting Manager at Circuit Clinical
- Senior Data Scientist at Jerry
- Customer Success Manager at Squire
- Data Analyst at HelixIntel
- Data Engineer at HelixIntel
- Controller at HelixIntel
Got a job you want to post? Send it to BootSector!
Reverse Job Opening
We're trying something different this week and want to highlight some excellent people that are looking for a project in the startup community.
Anyone is looking for an experienced agency project manager? Jen Zimpfer, is an experienced agency project / resource / traffic manager and she's available on a freelance, part-time, or even full-time basis.
- 18 years experience in project management by adhering to effective internal processes while being a constant resource to team members within all departments
- Eight of those years include working on some of the biggest brand accounts in NYC - Subaru, L'Oreal, and Citibank
- Working on integrated campaign projects that include tv, radio, collateral print pieces, and more recently on digital assets such as websites and landing pages
- She attributes her success as a PM to being highly organized, an attentive multitasker, having the ability to foresee red flags, and being able to problem solve and come up with short and long-term solutions
Parting Thoughts
Grace in Leadership
Leadership provides a public platform for the kinds of mistakes we already make. And leadership affords many more opportunities for failure than merely following.
The next time you see a leader make a mistake, consider this: We need grace to see not only how leaders make mistakes, but how mistakes can make leaders.
To the leaders: Own your mistakes. When others look around for someone responsible, let them see you raising your hand. Plan the next meeting. Chart the next course. And by grace, keep leading.
Jordan Walbesser Executive Director, BootSector Share this mailing list with your friends!