April 17, 2017

Launch NY Newsletter – April 2017

Launch NY
Vital Startup Guidance for Entrepreneurs

Launch NY News & Updates	Upcoming Events
Did You Know an Inc. Magazine Top 5 Must-Attend Conference is Coming to Buffalo? The Small Business Festival kicks off in Buffalo May 1 and 2 with free expert panel sessions for grass roots to high growth businesses at locations around the city, including the Launch NY offices in the UB Gateway Building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Attendees will also be invited to Festival networking events. The Startup – Growth Track features these topics: May 1 – How to Create Your One Page Business Plan and Win $1M? Upstate Business Plan Competitions 43North & 76West and Meet a Winner and May 2 – How Should I Fund My Startup? What Type of Capital and Sources are Right for Me? and Crafting the Right Pitch. Speakers include Launch NY COO and fund manager, Lindsay Stencel, Launch NY Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Cayuga Venture Fund Partner, and Cornell University instructor, Ken Rother, ACV Auctions founder, Dan Magnusewski, 43North Marketing Director, Peter Burakowski, WNY Venture Association manager, Jack McGowan, and Upstate Venture Association of NY Executive Director, Noa Simons. Visit the website to learn more and register today! Buffalo’s festival is organized locally by Small Enterprise Alliance of WNY (SEAWNY). Get an Insider’s Look at the Small Business Festival from the Host Cities at #LaunchHour April 19th This Wednesday at 12 PM EST join us on Twitter at #LaunchHour to learn more about the Small Business Festival and what you can expect during the week in each city. Our panelists this month include Craig Turner (@SEAWNYsmallbiz), Myrna King (@SmallBizFest), Charlie Riley (@Charlieriley & @LawleyInsurance), and Karla Nelson (@KarlaLNelson). From California to Rochester, Launch NY Announces Three Way Co-Investment Launch NY recently announced our latest investment from the Launch NY Seed Fund in MotionSavvy, a Rochester based client, whose solution aids hearing impaired individuals communicate through tablet based software that translates motion captured American Sign Language into English and vice versa. The three way co-investment totaling $75,000 was led by Launch NY in tandem with RIT Venture Fund and California based SOS Ventures. Read more. Launch NY President & CEO Joins AOL Founder Steve Case for Panel in Washington D.C. It’s been over a year and a half since Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest bus tour rolled into Buffalo, but they have been keeping close connections through our participation in the VilCap Communities program this past year. The next step in building the relationship came last month when Rise of the Rest hosted a summit for past tour cities in Washington D.C., where Launch NY President and CEO, Marnie LaVigne, Ph.D., joined other ecosystem leaders from Buffalo and across the nation for two days of conversations about cutting edge initiatives in the US and collaborative opportunities. Steve Case facilitated the fireside chat on regional innovations in entrepreneurship with Marnie and colleagues from Michigan, Minnesota, and North Carolina.	April 19, 2017 #LaunchHour: What Do Austin, Buffalo, Sacramento, & San Antonio All Have in Common? 12:00 – 1:00 PM April 19, 2017 Founder’s Forum: Investor’s Perspective on Initial Due Diligence Hear from Marnie LaVigne and the founder of Launch NY’s newest portfolio company! 5:00 – 8:00 PM Rochester, NY April 17, 2017 Ithaca College Startup Business Plan Demo Day 5:00 – 7:00 PM Ithaca, NY April 17, 2017 BOLD – Business Owners Leading Discussions 5:00 – 7:00 PM Binghamton, NY April 19, 2017 Startup Grind: Joe Neiman (ACV Auctions) 6:00 – 9:00 PM Buffalo, NY April 21, 2017 Start-Up Expo 4:00 – 6:00 PM Binghamton, NY April 25, 2017 15^th Annual WISE Symposium 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Syracuse, NY April 27, 2017 Rochester Venture Challenge Finals 9:00 – 1:30 PM Rochester, NY May 2, 2017 Automation Equipment & Robotics 8:00 – 10:00 AM Rochester, NY Competition & Funding Deadlines May 1, 2017 Bright Buffalo Niagara Expo May 24, 2017 43North Year 4

Launch NY Startup Spotlight
Off Duty Blue Rochester based client, Off Duty Blue, is a software company founded by veterans and current law enforcement professionals that simplifies special event and security detail scheduling. The cloud-based software platform was designed specifically to address the complex scheduling common in the public safety industry. The platform allows departments to save time, keep more efficient records, and recover labor and equipment costs. Designed around Department of Justice policy guidelines, the software ensures all parties are protected and in compliance with federal and department standards. “Working with Launch NY has elevated our business higher than we’d ever imagined. From day one, our assigned Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Steve Nicosia, jumped in feet first and took a genuine interest in understanding our business and challenging us to improve it. Steve not only helps guide us through tough decisions–he assists us in setting goals and milestones

#LaunchHour TwitterChat Tips	Launch NY Resources
Can’t make it to all the ecosystem events? Join us monthly online to learn and share and check our archive. March 15, 2017 #LaunchHour: There is no map for startups, but there is StartupGPS.org View the whole chat Here. Our panelists this month included: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA ) – @NYSERDA Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) Institute – @NECEC Q1. What is StartupGPS.org? A1. #StartupGPS provides business development resources to help #startups understand what they may need to grow #LaunchHour (@NYSERDA) A1. These resources include, articles, videos, & templates in 5 areas: Market, Team, Operations, & Funding #LaunchHour (@NECEC) Q2. Why should entrepreneurs & #startups use StartupGPS.org? A2. StartupGPS is an invaluable tool for any entrepreneur and their startup. Find out where you are and where you need to go! #LaunchHour (@CleantechOpenNE) A2. The self-assessment – Pathfinder Survey – helps you understand your #startup’s progress & what to do next to grow your business #LaunchHour (@NYSERDA) A2. The Pathfinder is a great visual tool that really does show at a glance where you need to focus #LaunchHour (@walkaboutco) Q3. After taking the Pathfinder Survey, how do startups find more resources to help them tackle their most pressing needs? A5. #StartupGPS’s library connects #entrepreneurs to advice & tools from the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem #LaunchHour (@NYSERDA) A5. To dive deeper, click on the wedges to see resources from the library to help in the gaps #LaunchHour (@NECEC) A5. Each time you retake the Pathfinder Survey you can save it, use it to compare & track progress over time #LaunchHour (@NYERDA) View our full chat Here or our entire archive.	Upstate NY Resource Network Check it out here > StartupGPS.org Check it out here> Upstate NY Rainforest Canvas Study Check it out here > Upstate NY Ecosystem Map Check it out here > 5 Business Stages – Where are you? Each stage contains critical deliverables for moving forward. Starting with the Explore stage, see where you are on the path to success. Find out here > Entrepreneur Toolkit The toolkit is a set of templates and links designed to help start, launch and grow your business in upstate New York. Check it out here > Is Launch NY a fit for you? Launch NY provides entrepreneurs experienced mentoring using best practice processes and connections to specialized resources both in and beyond the Upstate NY ecosystem.Thus preparing you to compete for and win the funding and additional resources needed to move forward. Apply Now! >

Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Introduction
Meet Tony Frontera Tony is a goal oriented individual with 25 years of sales and management experience in specialty retailing and manufacturing. His work includes leadership roles at McIntosh Laboratory, which is recognized worldwide as the premier manufacturer of luxury consumer electronics products. Also, he was President and owner of the largest retail photo specialty store in the Binghamton area, responsible for financing, sales, marketing, and strategic planning for nearly 20 years. He holds an MBA and BA from Binghamton University and is a faculty member in the Binghamton University School of Management. Learn more about Tony and our other EIRs by visiting, https://launchny.org/who-we-are/.

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