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| 43North | |
|---|---|
| Name | 43North |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York |
| Founder | Andrew Cuomo administration initiative |
| Type | Startup accelerator |
43North 43North is a startup competition and venture development program based in Buffalo, New York. It awards equity investments and provides a range of business services to early-stage companies while promoting regional innovation in the Western New York and New York State entrepreneurial ecosystems. The program connects founders with investors, corporations, universities, and public institutions to accelerate growth and scale.
43North was launched following initiatives promoted by Andrew Cuomo and regional economic development efforts tied to revitalizing Buffalo, New York. The program was formed amid collaborations with entities such as the Empire State Development and local stakeholders including Invest Buffalo Niagara and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Early cohorts featured companies relocating from innovation hubs like San Francisco and Boston to take advantage of incentives reminiscent of programs in New York City and other tech corridors. Over successive years, 43North partnered with academic institutions like the University at Buffalo and regional angel networks including Launch NY to expand mentorship and capital access. The initiative paralleled efforts seen in programs run by organizations such as Y Combinator, Techstars, MassChallenge, and Plug and Play Tech Center while carving a distinct identity tied to municipal and state redevelopment strategies.
43North operates within a framework that involves public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders including the State of New York agencies and local development agencies. Leadership has included executive directors and board members drawn from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, venture capital firms like New Enterprise Associates and Upstate Venture Connect, and corporate partners such as KeyBank and M&T Bank. The advisory network has featured entrepreneurs and investors with backgrounds at Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, General Electric, GE Healthcare, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. Governance aligns with municipal economic development efforts involving the City of Buffalo and regional chambers such as the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
The centerpiece is an annual competition awarding multi-stage cash prizes and equity investments to startups. Grand prizes have been comparable in profile to offerings from competitions linked to SXSW, CES, and TechCrunch Disrupt, while leveraging local incentives akin to programs from NYSERDA and SUNY Research Foundation. Winners receive funding alongside access to corporate partners like Moog, Inc., General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Delphi Technologies, Boeing, Honeywell, and Siemens. In addition to cash, prize packages include perks from service providers such as Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and legal assistance reflective of offerings by firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Applicants are evaluated by panels comprising angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate strategists, and academics from institutions like the Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Columbia University, Harvard University, and Syracuse University. Criteria emphasize market traction, team composition, technology risk, regulatory pathways (notably relevant for startups interacting with agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration or Federal Aviation Administration), and potential for job creation in regions including Western New York and the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The process entails remote application rounds followed by live pitch events reminiscent of formats used by Shark Tank and other investor forums, with due diligence supported by networks such as AngelList and Crunchbase.
Selected companies receive mentorship from executives, engineers, and operators originating from corporations including IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Salesforce, Adobe Inc., SAP SE, and Accenture. Physical resources have included workspace in venues connected to the Canalside redevelopment and facilities tied to the Buffalo Manufacturing Works and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Programming covers go-to-market strategy, legal and accounting services, hiring support with connections to staffing firms like Robert Half International, and investor introductions to firms such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Benchmark, and First Round Capital. Startups have accessed prototyping labs and testing partnerships with institutions including Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and corporate R&D departments at GE Appliances.
Alumni have included companies that scaled in sectors spanning life sciences, advanced manufacturing, software-as-a-service, energy storage, and media. Successful graduates have attracted follow-on funding from venture firms like Battery Ventures, Canaan Partners, Insight Partners, and strategic investors including Alphabet Inc. subsidiaries. Some alumni have collaborated with regional healthcare providers such as Kaleida Health and research centers like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Economic impact metrics have been compared with other regional accelerators tied to revival efforts seen in cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, and Raleigh. Notable exits and scaling examples echo outcomes from companies that participated in programs run by 500 Startups and StartX.
43North has cultivated partnerships with academic, corporate, and civic entities including the State University of New York, University at Buffalo School of Management, and workforce initiatives aligned with Empire State Development Corporation. Corporate sponsors have included KeyBank, M&T Bank, National Grid, New Era Cap Company, and technology partners such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Philanthropic engagement has been evident through collaborations with foundations similar to the John R. Oishei Foundation and regional development organizations including Invest Buffalo Niagara. International relationships have connected 43North to consortia and trade missions involving entities like Enterprise Ireland and startup networks in Tel Aviv, London, Toronto, and Berlin.
Category:Business incubators Category:Organizations based in Buffalo, New York