43North

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43North 43North is a startup accelerator sponsored by Empire State Development that invests $5M annually into seed-stage startups.

12 years of 43North Finals, and so much more ahead for Buffalo! 🦬For the last 12 weeks, has celebrated the founders, p...
10/16/2026

12 years of 43North Finals, and so much more ahead for Buffalo! 🦬

For the last 12 weeks, has celebrated the founders, people, and milestones that helped shape Buffalo's startup ecosystem. In January, we'll welcome our Year 12 cohort to Buffalo, with programming continuing through 2027.

As we wrap up this series, we're celebrating how far we've come and everything still ahead.

We're still Talking Proud, Buffalo. ❤️ Read more about the final 43North Finals: https://43north.org/founders/finals/

From Buffalo to 200 college campuses. 💙BetterMynd (Y7) is expanding access to online mental health support through colle...
10/14/2026

From Buffalo to 200 college campuses. 💙

BetterMynd (Y7) is expanding access to online mental health support through college partnerships, reaching more than 1.3 million students. And half of its 30 person team is based right here in Western New York.

Proud to see their impact keep growing! Read more: https://43north.org/bettermynds-online-therapy-platform-reaches-200-colleges/

10/09/2026

Maybe it’s the walk. Maybe it’s the song. Maybe it’s the logo. If you’re from Buffalo, chances are, you know “Talking Proud.”

In 1980, when the rest of the country doubted Buffalo, “Talking Proud” gave this city a rallying cry. Last night at the Final Finals, we debuted our remake, filmed at the original locations on Elmwood Avenue, in Arlington Park and at the Erie Basin Marina, with Terry Licata-Braunstein back on camera and Alden Schutte, who created the original, on set with us.

Dozens of neighbors, founders, dancers and 43North staff showed up to get it right. We made this to honor Buffalo. We hope you see yourself in it.

Thank you to the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and Alden Schutte.

Here they are!!! The FINAL 43North cohort! 🎉What an unforgettable night! The Final 5 have officially earned their place ...
10/09/2026

Here they are!!! The FINAL 43North cohort! 🎉

What an unforgettable night! The Final 5 have officially earned their place in the 43North portfolio, each receiving a $1M investment and the opportunity to build in Buffalo.

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2026 Year 12 Cohort!

Airbuild
JECA Energy Bars
Leansite
Playground Intimate Health & Wellness
Valene Health

To Empire State Development, M&T Bank , all of our Finals week sponsors, and the many generous friends who helped make this night possible: THANK YOU. 💙

For 12 years, this community has shown up for founders and believed in what they could build here. We’re so grateful to everyone who has been part of it.

And while tonight marks the end of the 43North competition, our work isn’t done. We can’t wait to welcome our newest cohort to Buffalo in January and see what they build next.

Welcome to the 43North family! 🦬💙

And then there were eight. 👀Today, 15 ambitious founders took the stage at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneu...
10/07/2026

And then there were eight. 👀

Today, 15 ambitious founders took the stage at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship for the 43North Semi-Finals, pitching live in front of a packed audience and a panel of judges.

After a full day of pitches, eight companies have earned their spot in the FINAL 43North competition.

Meet your 2026 43North Finalists heading to tomorrow night:

Airbuild from Portland, OR
JECA Energy Bars from Buffalo, NY
Leansite from Arlington, TX
Neurath from New York, NY
helloplayground from Rochester, NY
Valene Health from New York, NY
VoicePlug from Palo Alto, CA
Ziffy.ai from Buffalo, NY

To all 15 Semi-Finalists: thank you for bringing your ideas, energy, and ambition to the stage today. 🦬💙 And a huge thank you to Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship for hosting Semi-Finals!

To the eight Finalists — tomorrow, it’s time for the big stage. Five $1M investments. One final competition. See you at Shea’s!

Get your FREE tickets in our bio.

10/06/2026

Asking some of our Semi-Finalists what foods they’re most excited to try while in the 716… Buffalo, give some recommendations in the comments! 👇

#716

The final Finals week is officially underway! 🎉Yesterday, we welcomed our 15 Semi-Finalists to Buffalo at Seneca One, wh...
10/06/2026

The final Finals week is officially underway! 🎉

Yesterday, we welcomed our 15 Semi-Finalists to Buffalo at Seneca One, where they took in the views, met the team, and heard from Lauren Washington and Sharon Cryan during a fireside chat.

Then, we headed to Other Half Brewing Company to celebrate with friends, family, partners, and sponsors who joined us to give our founders a warm Buffalo welcome. ❤️

Thank you to M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust for helping us kick off this special week!

Next stop: Semi-Finals at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship ! 👀 RSVP HERE: https://43north.org/founders/finals/?utm_source=Meta&utm_medium=Organic+Social+&utm_campaign=43North-Finals-2026&utm_id=43North-Finals-2026

10/05/2026

Buffalo, the road to $1 million starts here! 👀 We’re just a few days away from the final 43North Semi-Finals! Meet the founders, hear 15 pitches, and see who earns one of eight spots on the Finals stage at Shea’s.

📍 Golisano Institute | October 7 | 9 AM–3 PM

Register for free at the link in bio!

Address

1 West Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY
14203

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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