August 15, 2018

Launch NY Newsletter – August 2018

Launch NY

Launch NY News & Updates	Upcoming Events
Eleven Launch NY Clients Named to 43North Semifinals Eleven Launch NY clients, including 5 Launch NY Seed Fund portfolio companies, will be moving to the next round of 43North, hoping to be named as 1 of 20 finalists to compete for the $1 million top prize on October 3, 2018. Among the 11 Launch NY companies, were 2 of our latest investments, EagleHawk, an aerial drone service provider, and The Perfect Granola, a food manufacturer. Read more on them and the other Launch NY companies in our press release. Emerging Cleantech Opportunity (ECO) Incubator Logo Unveiled After two rounds of public voting, Launch NY unveiled the new logo for the ECO Incubator. The logo design was a collaborative process between students at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) and FIFTEEN, a local advertising agency. The ECO Incubator is 1 of 6 New York State Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) clean energy incubators, dedicated to bringing resources to cleantech entrepreneurs to accelerating their new ventures. Learn more about ECO in our press release. Join us Wednesday, August 15th at Noon for #LaunchHour TwitterChat to Learn the Dos and Dont’s of Social Media for Your Startup Not sure where to start when it comes to social media for your business? Join us on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at Noon with our panel of experts to learn how to best use social media to grow your startup and avoid common mistakes. Never joined a TwitterChat before? It’s easy, just follow @Launch_NY on Twitter and use the hashtag #LaunchHour, to see the discussion. Enjoy the conversation and jump in with tweets anytime. Congratulations to our President & CEO, Marnie LaVigne for Being Named to the Top 40 of the Buffalo Business First Power 125 Women!	August 15, 2018 #LaunchHour TwitterChat: Social Media Dos and Don’ts for Startups 12:00 – 1:00 PM August 14, 2018 Startup Grind: Tod Martin of the Martin Group 6:00 – 8:00 PM Buffalo, NY September 5, 2018 RocGrowth Candids 5:30 – 7:30 PM Rochester, NY September 12, 2018 Funding Roadmap Workshop 11:00 – 5:30 PM Syracuse, NY September 13, 2018 Startup Drinks 6:00 – 9:00 PM Rochester, NY September 14 – 16, 2018 Buffalo Startup Weekend Buffalo, NY September 26, 2018 Startup Grind & ECO Incubator Host David Rodriguez & inverSOL 6:00 – 8:00 PM Buffalo, NY

Startup Spotlight
CaHill Resources is Evolving the Construction Industry CaHill Resources, LLC is a woman-owned small business, that is evolving the construction and trades industry through heavy equipment rental, and technology-based workforce development and safety training. Headquartered in Akron, New York, CaHill Resources is currently working in Western New York with various municipalities, public-school systems, and private firms. Recently they were named as a finalist to showcase at the 2018 Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo this fall. CaHill Resources will be presenting their new digital learning library, a skill sharing platform that provides accessible material comprised of concise, dynamic and engaging video, diagram, and skilled-trades knowledge. Their goal is to provide workforce development and safety training on a platform that is common, accessible, and easy to use- the smart phone. “Striking out on my own after being raised in a family business was a risk. Getting selected to join Launch NY was an affirmation that I was on the right path. The experienced guidance of my assigned Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Al Culliton, has increased my confidence in the opportunities out there for women entrepreneurs. Go for it! The world is our oyster and Launch NY helps crack open the shell!”- Carley J. Hill, Founder/Owner

#LaunchHour TwitterChat Tips	Launch NY Resources
LaunchHour TwitterChats are monthly virtual chats featuring important topics for startups and entrepreneurs. Join us over your lunch to hear from expert panelists. Check out our archive for past TwitterChats filled with tips like those below. See you at the next #LaunchHour TwitterChat Wednesday, August 15th at noon. July 18th, 2018 ECO Incubator to M-Corps: Programs & Resources for Cleantech Companies View the whole chat on Wakelet. Q3. What programs are available in the region for cleantech startups? NextCorps (@nextcorps) – M-Corps is a new program run by NextCorps that helps guide startups that have a prototype through the manufacturing process. We’re running M-Corps in the Upstate NY region and will be recruiting teams for a fall 2018 program start! Launch NY (@Launch_NY) – @NYSERDA provides programs for every stage of your company, from proof-of-concept centers, to 6 cleantech incubators, with ECO as the latest, and now M-Corps! Find more resources & programs here à https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Cleantech-and-Innovation Q5. Is there funding available to companies in these programs? NextCorps (@nextcorps) – Yes! There is a @Launch_NY Seed Fund, Ignition, Grants, and more. M-Corps will make connections to manufacturing resources and available grant funding for specific projects. Launch NY (@Launch_NY) – ECO clients have access to apply to the Launch NY Seed Fund (https://launchny.org/seed-fund.html) & all NYSERDA incubator companies can apply to Ignition Grants Q6. What are the next steps cleantech startups should take to bring their idea to market? Launch NY (@Launch_NY) – To join ECO, Companies can apply online at https://launchny.org/apply.html NextCorps (@nextcorps) – If you want to learn more about M-Corps, contact program manager Mike Reidlinger! He can be reached at mike.riedlinger@nextcorps.org. To learn more about @NYSERDA clean energy incubators, visit their website. View the whole chat on Wakelet. Join us for our next #LaunchHour TwitterChat, August 15, 2018 at noon for Social Media Dos & Don’ts for Startups!	Upstate NY Resource Network Check it out here > Upstate NY Rainforest Canvas Study 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! >

Meet the Launch NY Team
Paul Buckley
Paul Buckley is an experienced small business professional and was most recently President of Applied Sciences Group, Inc. from 1997 until early 2018, serving in engineering, administration, operations management and strategic development areas. Prior to his employment at ASG, Paul worked in the electronic warfare, aerospace, and telecommunications industries in various engineering and management capacities. He has a bachelor’s degree in Bio-medical Engineering and a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from RPI along with post-graduate courses in management, biotech, signal processing and other non-matriculated coursework. Since ending his tenure at ASG Paul is using his expertise in business development to help support the startup, early stage, and small business community with tactical and strategic management and engineering expertise, particularly in the high-tech industries, such as medical devices that included embedded software in manufactured products. Prior to joining Launch NY as an EIR, Paul has volunteered as a mentor and coach for grass-roots and high-growth companies through local programs with University at Buffalo’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL), Pre-Seed Workshops, and several others. Read more about Paul and our other EIRs on our website.