Media Advisory: Bright Buffalo Niagara to showcase next wave of entrepreneurs

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Twenty-one of the best and brightest startup companies will pitch to a live audience at the University at Buffalo’s Bright Buffalo Niagara Entrepreneur Expo at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28.

The expo is designed to give exposure to the best regional companies and promote economic growth in the region by providing financial boosts to top regional contenders.

The keynote address will be presented by renowned innovator and diversity expert Frans Johansson.

Five companies, vying for the top prize of $20,000, will pitch for five minutes each, with an additional five minutes to answer questions. They companies are: GapGrid, NanoHydroChem, Rachel’s Remedy, HigherMe and WeDidIt.

In addition, 16 presenters each will give a 90-second pitch for the chance to win the $5,000 People’s Choice Award.

Entrepreneurs also will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas and engage with potential mentors, collaborators and investors during the event’s Entrepreneur Tradeshow.

Media are invited to attend. Bright Buffalo Niagara showcases Western New York’s surging population of startups — each a symbol of the region’s progress and expanding entrepreneurial culture. There will be photo and video opportunities with: members of the executive team at UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences (CBLS) and Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships; Scott Stenclik, founder of Viaduct; and the 21 companies.

WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 28.

WHERE: Hotel Henry, corner of Rockwell Road and Cleveland Circle (enter off of Elmwood Avenue), Buffalo.

WHO: Norma Nowak, executive director of CBLS; Christina Orsi, associate vice president for economic development, UB Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships; and Scott Stenclik, founder, Viaduct.

Bright Buffalo Niagara 2017 is sponsored by Viaduct, Hotel Henry, Upstate Venture Connect, Western New York Incubator Network, Invest Buffalo Niagara, Colligan Law, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, Buffalo Business First, 43North, Western New York Venture Association, NYSTAR, National Grid, Visit Buffalo Niagara, Crowley Webb, Leadership Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Upstate Venture Association of New York, Z80 Labs, Print2Web, Harter Secrest & Emery, KATZ Americas, Empire Genomics, Insyte Consulting, MedTech, Launch NY, Athenex and Thermo Fisher Scientific.