Golisano Institute brought 26 students to Buffalo for 43North Finals, a live pitch competition at the historic Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
The group experienced firsthand Buffalo’s emerging tech-startup ecosystem ahead of a new internship partnership with TechBuffalo.
“43North Finals reminded me to never put a limit on creativity,” said Jace Carter, a student and entrepreneur who began the institute’s two-year business certificate in September.
Since 2014, 43North, an accelerator program funded in part by Empire State Development, has invested a total of $5 million annually into Buffalo’s growing tech-startup space through the event. Each of five winners every year takes home a $1 million investment and commits to relocate to Buffalo. The 2025 winning startups were Cellsense (New York, NY), Cosi Care (London, UK), Floe (New Haven, CT), RadEmploy (New York, NY), and Tukki.ai (Miami, FL).
The students pose for a photo in front of Shea’s Performing Arts Center ahead of 43North Finals.
“I can apply what they were looking for into my own business.”
— Jace Carter, Class of 2026, Golisano Institute
“It was also really nice to hear what kinds of questions potential investors asked, so I can apply what they were looking for into my own business,” Carter added.
The trip was led by Dr. Caterina Caiazza, assistant vice president for career and personal development. Caiazza leads Golisano Institute’s internship and career growth programs.
“Buffalo’s startup environment is gaining momentum, which makes it a great way for our students to feel the entrepreneurial spirit firsthand,” she said. “The energy of 43North Finals is invigorating, really showing them what it takes for an innovative solution to a problem to become a viable business.”
The students take their seats ahead of the pitch competition.
Behind Buffalo’s tech-startup ecosystem is a collaboration of incubators, local universities, and successful companies. The Golisano Institute students had the chance to tour Seneca One Tower, the heart of all things tech startup in Queen City. The downtown location not only houses 43North and many of the startups funded by the accelerator, but also TechBuffalo, a nonprofit that works to attract, retain, and foster technology talent in Western New York.
Next summer, TechBuffalo will sponsor several paid internships that will fulfill the institute’s work-experience requirement. Stephanie Ryan, director of field experience and employer engagement at Golisano Institute, developed the partnership to give interested students the chance to immerse themselves in the tech and innovation sector.
“By partnering with TechBuffalo, students will gain exposure to a growing tech hub that currently employs over 26,000 in the region,” Ryan explained. “This collaboration reinforces our shared goal of connecting early career talent with Buffalo’s growing innovation community as we open our new campus center next fall.”
Field experiences are integrated into the institute’s two certificate programs. Each internship, entrepreneurial mentorship, or capstone project is intended to support learning by building confidence, skills, and knowledge in preparation for the workforce.
