Funding will help early-stage suppliers navigate entry into strategically important domestic supply chains
BUFFALO, N.Y., September 30, 2026: Launch NY has received funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program. The award will support the Upstate NY Emerging Supplier Accelerator, a new initiative designed to help early-stage businesses enter strategically important supply chains.in order to strengthen America’s industrial base.
Launch NY is one of 18 organizations nationwide selected to receive a $500,000 award of $8.9 million in total SCALE funding. The two-year award period begins September 30, 2026, during which Launch NY will expand its direct-services infrastructure to provide programming and support for businesses positioned to participate in energy, critical materials, and industrial inputs sectors.
Early-stage businesses may have the products, technology, and capabilities needed to participate in these supply chains but lack a clear path to the relationships, technical guidance, and resources required to get started and grow as a go-to supplier. The Upstate NY Emerging Supplier Accelerator is designed to help close that gap.
Participating companies will work with Launch NY’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence team and gain access to mentorship plus specialized legal, accounting, and financial technical assistance, along with concierge-style connections to ecosystem partners, institutions, customers, and investors. Each company will also receive a customized Supply Chain Participation Plan, mapping its priorities and engagement across the program’s services.
“We chose to address gaps in sectors that align with our region’s signature economic development initiatives such as the NS Energy Storage Engine in Upstate NY and NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, alongside related industrial innovation efforts,” said Marnie LaVigne, PhD, President and CEO of Launch NY. “With our well-established business support infrastructure, we will use this award to ensure that startups have a clear path to being a vital part of these supply chains.”
The new accelerator builds on Launch NY’s Technical Assistance Program, Emerging Cleantech Opportunity (ECO) Incubator, collaboration with the Engine and Tech Hub, and track record of supporting over 2,000 startups with mentorship and capital access since 2012. Launch NY will introduce the program in the fourth quarter, helping companies build and implement their custom Supply Chain Participation Plans. The initiative will also draw on Launch NY’s broader network of mentors, investors, and partners across Upstate New York.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
About Launch NY:
Launch NY is the only nonprofit venture development organization and U.S. Treasury-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving and directly funding startups exclusively in Upstate New York. Its mission is to identify, support, and invest in high-growth, high-impact companies that catalyze job and wealth creation across the region.
Since 2012, Launch NY has mentored over 2,020 companies that have gone on to raise more than $1.5 billion, generate more than $450 million in annual revenue, and support more than 10,500 jobs. Nearly 70% of its portfolio companies are in low-income neighborhoods.
Launch NY delivers pro bono mentorship through its Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, Founders Go Big program for underrepresented founders, Emerging Cleantech Opportunity (ECO) Incubator, and Technical Assistance program, preparing entrepreneurs for investment through its InvestLocal Financing Programs and Investor Network. Launch NY is the most active seed investor by volume of transactions in New York State and ranks among the top five nonprofit seed funds in the country.