Buffalo has great startups that have become established businesses rooted in Western New York.
It is preparing to broadcast the story of Buffalo’s thriving innovation economy to audiences across the nation and globe.
And the movement is fueled by a strong pipeline of talent flowing into high-growth startups as founders, technical skill and all-around talent.
Those were the messages carried by 43North Foundation CEO Sarah Tanbakuchi-Ripa carried to Niagara University on Nov. 18.
Tanbakuchi-Ripa’s address to approximately 200 NU business students and staff included a Q&A with Heron.AI vice president of sales Gina Thompson, all part of the NU EDGE speaker series that gives its student access to entrepreneurial opportunity in Western New York.
Tanbakuchi-Ripa shared her journey from law school to M&T Bank and TechBuffalo, where she served as CEO from 2021 to 2024. She joined the 43North Foundation as its inaugural CEO in January 2025.
“We believe tech, startups and innovation are the future of economic development in this region,” Tanbakuchi-Ripa said.
The attendees got to hear background on the 43North Foundation, which was created from the proceeds of 43North investments, and will invest that windfall back into Buffalo’s startup community.
The investment takes place across four pillars:
Radial Ventures: The creation of new companies through Buffalo, NY’s, first venture studio
Corporate Connectivity: The engagement of established businesses in the new vanguard of Buffalo’s economy
Series B: A new storytelling platform that will carry the message of momentum and progress well beyond Buffalo. Click here to follow the latest Series B news
And finally TechBuffalo, which exists to create a world-class talent pipeline in Buffalo, NY.
“Western New York’s best asset is that we have 20 top-tier colleges and universities producing incredible talent,” she said. “Our future, our success at the 43North Foundation, depends on each and every one of you.”
The wide-ranging Q&A with Thompson covered her career that spanned nearly two decades at Ingram Micro in Buffalo, where she spearheaded many intrapreneurship initiatives, before finally embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey.
Thompson recently hit it off with Daphne Pariser, the cofounder and CEO of HeronAI, which leverages AI to automate financial reporting. HeronAI moved to Buffalo following a $1 million 43North investment in early 2025.
“I’ve traveled through my career but I always came home to Buffalo,” Thompson said. “There’s a foundation in this community where we help each other, we want each other to succeed, and it’s very rewarding to live in a community like that.”
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