The 43North Foundation today announced that TechBuffalo became a formal affiliate of the Foundation beginning Aug. 1.
The move, which received unanimous approval from both the 43North Foundation and TechBuffalo boards, formalizes a transition that began last year when the Foundation became TechBuffalo's primary funder.
The 43North Foundation believes in a brighter future for Buffalo through tech and entrepreneurship, and has committed to a $100 million investment across four strategic pillars. Those include company creation through its venture studio, Radial Ventures; corporate engagement through the 43North Foundation Ambassador Network; storytelling through Series B[uffalo]; and talent development through TechBuffalo.
The transition will not affect TechBuffalo's programs, partnerships or mission. Instead, it reflects the growing alignment between TechBuffalo's work and the Foundation's long-term strategy to strengthen Buffalo through entrepreneurship, innovation and talent.
"Talent is the foundation of every successful innovation economy," said Mike Wisler, M&T Bank’s chief technology and operations officer and former chair of TechBuffalo’s board. “We’re so proud of the work TechBuffalo has done in the past few years, bringing that important mission to Buffalo in impactful ways. Becoming a formal affiliate of the 43North Foundation recognizes that this work is most effective when it operates as part of a coordinated effort to help great companies start, grow and stay in Buffalo."
Since its launch, TechBuffalo has established itself as a connector across the region's talent ecosystem, developing programs that span K-12 education, higher education, workforce development and professional talent.
TechBuffalo’s PowerUp Tech program, a flagship internship experience for high-caliber college students who spend their summers in Buffalo, has grown from 163 participants in its first year in 2023 to 243 participants this year, and 60% of the program's alumni now live or work in Western New York
Since 2023, TechBuffalo’s Women in Tech WNY conference has grown from 276 to 552 attendees. In all, nearly 10,000 individuals have enrolled in programs, pathways and conferences led by TechBuffalo.
Other TechBuffalo initiatives include Innovation Fellows, which introduces STEM education and career paths starting in middle school; the Tech Advisory Council, an advocacy group consisting of the top technologists in Western New York; and innovative partnerships with entities such as the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and Odoo.
The affiliation creates greater operational and strategic alignment while allowing TechBuffalo to continue focusing on its core mission: building a nationally competitive talent system that supports Buffalo's growing innovation economy.
"From the beginning, the 43North Foundation has been designed around a simple idea: creating great companies requires more than investment capital," said William Maggio, board chair of the 43North Foundation. "It requires exceptional talent, engaged corporate partners and a community that believes innovation can thrive here. TechBuffalo has become an indispensable part of that vision, and formalizing this relationship allows us to work even more effectively toward our shared mission of creating lasting economic opportunity for Buffalo."
By aligning company creation, talent development, corporate engagement and storytelling under one coordinated strategy, the Foundation aims to create the conditions where entrepreneurs choose to build companies, businesses choose to grow and talented people choose to build their careers in Buffalo.
“Every thriving innovation hub has one thing in common: the organizations building companies, developing talent and engaging the private sector are working toward the same goal," said Sarah Tanbakuchi-Ripa, CEO of the 43North Foundation. "By bringing these efforts together under one coordinated strategy, we're creating an ecosystem that's greater than the sum of its parts and giving Buffalo an even stronger foundation for long-term growth."
TechBuffalo will continue operating under its existing brand while working even more closely with the Foundation's other initiatives to strengthen the region's innovation ecosystem.
"The future of Buffalo's economy will be shaped by its ability to attract, develop and retain exceptional talent," said Jeffrey Botteron, CEO of TechBuffalo. "Joining the 43North Foundation creates a unique opportunity to connect talent development with company creation, corporate engagement and storytelling in a way that's difficult to replicate elsewhere. I'm incredibly optimistic about what we can accomplish together."
About the 43North Foundation
The 43North Foundation is making a significant investment in Buffalo to drive a new era of growth through high-growth innovation. It is steering that investment across four strategic pillars that include company creation (Radial Ventures), talent development (TechBuffalo), storytelling (Series B) and the region’s first structured corporate connectivity program around innovation. By bringing a vision of growth, collaboration and abundance to economic development, the 43North Foundation is setting Buffalo on a pathway to a dynamic economy and thriving community.
About TechBuffalo
TechBuffalo is building a nationally competitive talent system for Buffalo's technology economy. By connecting employers, educators, workforce organizations and economic development partners, TechBuffalo develops programs and strategies that help attract, develop and retain the talent needed for the region's innovation economy.
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