Launch NY August 2020 Newsletter

Launch NY Reports Q2 Investments Totaling $385k Across Nine Companies

Q2 investments from both nonprofit Seed Fund and for profit LP Fund totaling $385,000 in nine companies: 3AM Innovations, Aviate Audio, BetterMynd, Eat Me Ice Cream, EagleHawk, Ellicottville Greens, Paradigm, The Perfect Granola, and Promptous. Aviate Audio, a Buffalo company that has developed a unique wireless device that puts greater creative control at a musician’s fingertip, is our 60th Portfolio Company in our Nonprofit Seed Fund and 34th company in our For-Profit LP Fund.

“The Aviate Audio team is thrilled by the investment and proud to have a capable and supportive partner in Launch NY. The funding is backing our major release of Airpatch, a revolutionary device that wirelessly controls effects from any musical instrument, this year and our plans to grow with the introduction of multiple new products.” – Shane Nolan (CEO of Aviate Audio)

Launch NY Leadership Recognized Locally, Regionally, and Statewide

Marnie LaVigne Ph.D., President and CEO of Launch NY, was recently recognized in the Buffalo Business First’s Power 150 Women list. Her work has supported over 1,100 startups, with a portfolio including 45% women and/or minority–led businesses, creating support for more than 4,000 jobs in Upstate NY among companies who have attracted more than $740M in capital to the region and generated more than $110M in product revenues.

After serving as the Chair for the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) for since May 2018, Marnie LaVigne is capping off her tenure at the NYSEDC Virtual Annual Meeting by moderating the keynote panel “The Innovation Economy: Leveraging Technology Through Academia to Aid COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Efforts” featuring three powerhouse female leaders from across the country, including Heather Hage from SUNY Research Foundation, on September 2nd at 2:15pm! – Register Here

Marnie will be part of the esteemed judge’s panel at the ROC the Room Startup Grind Pitch Battle tomorrow, August 27^th from 5-6:30 pm, so please join this exciting virtual competition!

Meet Siva Kakuturi—An investor and entrepreneur who is “all-in” with Launch NY

Siva Kakuturi, a successful tech entrepreneur, was recently interviewed by Upstart NY about his active role in Launch NY. He provides mentoring and advice to our client companies as an EIR, is a limited partner in Launch NY’s LP Fund, and most recently has invested in companies via Launch NY’s new no cost sign up, deal-by-deal Investor Network offering accredited investors the opportunity to invest as little as $10K.