The team at 43North made some big noise last week when they announced the 15 finalists for the eighth edition (yes, you read that right- 8 years!) of 43North’s annual startup competition.
The finalists will make their way to Buffalo at the end of October to pitch their ideas in the hopes of securing $1 million and gaining the opportunity to grow their business in Buffalo – one of the nation’s fastest-growing tech hubs. Although we can expect the same incredible energy as past years’ competitions- this one is sure to be bigger and better on all fronts. In addition to shifting the awards to include five $1 million winners, 43North also shared news of new production elements including live music from Buffalo’s very own local band Farrow that will accompany the Finals program.
Our tagline this year is, ‘the stakes have never been higher,’ and that’s really true. For the first time ever, five companies will receive $1 million. These companies have been working with us for months- we had over 700 applications and it’s going to come down to five. Five companies will walk away with a $1 million investment and the opportunity to grow their business right here in Buffalo,”
Justine Palkowski, Content Marketing Manager at 43North.
With the caliber of companies being higher than past years, it was time for the 43North team to ramp up the competition, and numbers show that this can only prove to be a positive investment for our city’s economic growth.
Over the past seven years, 43North has invested in a diverse, industry agnostic portfolio of 59 companies, 44% of which have founders of color and 28% having female founders. Earlier this year, 43North reported that their portfolio companies had collectively created more than 1,000 jobs in Western New York. Over 60% of 43North’s portfolio maintains a material presence in Buffalo.
“Startups are crucial for a region’s economic growth, creating the majority of new jobs,” Governor Hochul said. “The success of 43North has sent a message to entrepreneurs around the world – New York State is home to the jobs of the future. We look forward to welcoming the finalists of this year’s 43North competition to the energized startup community that is Buffalo.”
The competition is part of New York State’s Buffalo Billion initiative ($30 million in Buffalo Billion I and $25 million in Buffalo Billion II), with funding supported by the New York Power Authority. 43North President Colleen E. Heidinger said,
“We’re excited to reach this milestone in our selection process and eagerly await the opportunity to get to know these 15 companies as they make their way to Buffalo. These next phases in the judging process are pivotal and thrilling steps which give our community an opportunity to get in on the action as we get down to selecting our year eight cohort.”
Join the 43North team for the semi-finals right at their home in the Seneca One Tower on October 19th beginning at 9:30am- a free event open to the public. 43North Finals is free to attend, but registration is required. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free tickets for 43North Finals taking place on October 20 at 6pm ET at Shea’s Performing Arts Center can be reserved at 43North.org.
Finalists are coming from all over the globe, including some of the world’s largest city’s in the ultimate battle of the start-ups and it’s happening HERE!
Meet the finalists!
Agape Wellness – Rochester, NY
Agapé is a relationship wellness company that uses personalized questions to spark meaningful conversations. On the consumer side, its app helps couples have happier, more fulfilling relationships. And in the workplace, Agapé curates meaningful employee connection that increases satisfaction and retains talent.
Aravenda – Vienna, VA
Aravenda leads technology innovation in the fastest growing segment of retail; Resale. Aravenda is B2B SaaS for any type of reseller, anywhere in the world.
CAHill TECH – Buffalo, NY
CAHill TECH is a SaaS tech firm providing job-readiness for tradespeople and reportable metrics for employers through CAHill’s flagship product, aQuiRe.
Delee – Laredo, TX
Delee developed a state-of-the-art technology capable of isolating and analyzing circulating tumor cells from blood. What they have built will contribute to detecting cancer at early stages, while providing physicians with the necessary information to personalize each patient’s therapy and monitor its effectiveness throughout the course of their disease.
MAGPIE – New York, NY
MAGPIE is a venture-backed, fintech platform that uses AI technology to improve asset/price discovery, inventory management and transaction timing & partners for sellers of collectible assets. The simple, user-friendly platform is purpose-built for highly volatile, one-of-a-kind assets to drive greater revenue and reduced operating costs.
Lilu – New York, NY
Lilu builds tech-enabled products to make early motherhood more comfortable and stress-free for new moms. Its first product, the Lilu Massager, is the first automated breast massage pumping bra that helps moms pump 30-55% more milk in less time, with customers calling it a “breastfeeding savior.”
M Aerospace – Austin, TX
M Aerospace is an advanced additive manufacturing technology company offering rapid prototyping and production capabilities to a wide range of industries. It specializes in Metal 3D Printing technologies and services, and provides a variety of metal materials, material combination and the ability to print large parts.
Mod Tech Labs – Austin, TX
MOD helps enterprise companies create universal 3D content at scale by digitizing the real world using photos. The no-code processing platform cleans, refines and enhances 3D imagery of objects, places, and people with automated AI-powered tools. Companies capture once and optimize for any digital media use.
Otrafy – Chicago, IL
Otrafy is an AI-powered SaaS supplier management platform with the ability to automate compliance and identify risks.
Phood – New York, NY
Phood integrates with universities’ card services to create a connection between students’ flex dollar accounts and the gig economy. Phood issues a virtual debit card to students which can be used to purchase goods and services from third party vendors, made possible through partnerships with Discover.
Seshie – Penn Valley, PA
Seshie makes it easy for teams to book live, virtual modern-day workshops (seshies) based on employee data and insights. Managers sign up, invite team members, send out Seshie surveys and based on data/insight get recommended workshops (seshies) to book.
Tampon Tribe – Los Angeles, CA
Organic, plastic-free period products that have created a new category of organic period care. Tampon Tribe designs sustainable and functional products for active women. Driven by success and a passion for growth and the environment, Tampon Tribe continues to thrive with a recurring-revenue, impact-driven model, positioned for rapid growth.
AMPAworks – Santa Monica, CA
AMPAworks is a team of doctors, nurses, and engineers who have built an IoT camera using computer vision A.I. in order to have full inventory visibility in pharmacies, medical device companies, surgery centers, clinics, and hospitals. The system enables shelf-to-shelf granularity of inventory to help with demand planning and re-stocking.
Twipes – London, United Kingdom
Twipes are a bio-tech materials company that have developed a material that can break down in water in three hours and biodegrade in a landfill in just seven days. Its first product has been awarded as the World’s first truly flushable, truly biodegradable wet wipes.
TYBR Health – Houston, TX
TYBR Health makes a surgical spray that protects tissues while they heal to improve outcomes after surgery. TYBR Health was formed out of the Texas Medical Center Biodesign fellowship. Over the course of one year, the team identified a clinical problem, created a solution, and started a company.
Join the 43North team for the semi-finals right at their home in the Seneca One Tower on October 19th beginning at 9:30am- a free event open to the public. 43North Finals is free to attend, but registration is required. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free tickets for 43North Finals taking place on October 20 at 6pm ET at Shea’s Performing Arts Center can be reserved at 43North.org.
All Photos and videos courtesy of 43North
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