What Happens To The Winner Of Each Annual Game

[Tancredo Dori]

GovernorKathy Hochul today announced the winners of the seventh annual $5 million 43North startup competition, including the grand prize winner of a $1 million investment and the seven other companies that each won investments of $500,000. In addition to the financial investments, the winners will receive one year of free space in the Seneca One where 43North is headquartered, guidance from experienced mentors, local connections to potential customers, access to 43North's network of investors and other business incentive programs. The winners were announced during an awards ceremony at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.

"Over the past seven years, the 43North startup competition has put Buffalo and the Western New York region on the map for innovation and entrepreneurship," said Governor Hochul. "I want to congratulate Top Seedz on their well-deserved success, as well as commend the hard work and creativity on display at tonight's competition from each and every one of the finalists. Through initiatives like 43North, we are attracting innovative startups to New York State and creating a more prosperous future."

BetterMynd is an online therapy platform for college students. They partner directly with colleges to give their students access to their diverse network of licensed mental health counselors from the privacy and convenience of their laptops and mobile devices.

Big Wheelbarrow is a SaaS company that enables food distributors and grocery chains to create and maintain decentralized supply chains in order to meet consumer demand for local food profitably, efficiently, and safely.

FLOX - The Healthy Chicken Company is a revenue-generating venture using machine-vision to enable welfare-first farming with initial applications in chicken farming. Theirproduct helps improve chicken health & wellbeing, so farmers operate more ethically, profitably, and sustainably; and better visibility to the entire supply-chain - through to (increasingly conscious) consumers.

Infiuss Health is a SAAS platform powering remote research/clinical trials in Africa, by connecting researchers (in industry and academia) to patients, participants in Africa to US and EU based pharmaceutical and life science companies for clinical research and clinical trial studies.

ShearShare is the first B2B mobile marketplace to monetize underutilized assets in the beauty and barbering industry, starting with space to work. Stylists rent suites/stations by the day, week, or occasion with zero contract or commission, and salon, spa, and barbershop owners make money on empty space they already have.

Zealot Interactive provides augmented streaming video lessons for musical instruments paired with state-of-the-art optional hardware. They are a "Peloton for music". The curated marketplace of content is legally compliant with record labels and enables creators to host videos they otherwise would have no ability to license.

Verivend is the fintech modernizing how businesses do business. A true network, Verivend offers the quickest way available to pay and get paid, zero barrier to entry allowing businesses to transact with all customers and vendors, unbiased reputation transparency, and a digital wallet powering instant B2B and B2C payments.

43North Board Chair Eric Reich said, "Every year we are blown away by the hustle, talent and innovation demonstrated by the companies competing for a place in the43North portfolio. We are excited to watch tonight's winners make their mark in Buffalo as they grow their companies and take advantage of the rich resources offered by the city and our program."

43North President Colleen Heidinger said, "The energy in Shea's Performing Arts Center was palpable tonight as the Western New York community turned out to cheer on our incredible finalists. Buffalonians have witnessed firsthand the transformative economic impact achieved by bringing new talent and capital to our region, as evidenced by the support on display tonight. I can't wait to watch the winning companies experience all that our burgeoning startup ecosystem has to offer."

Over the past seven years, 43North has invested in a diverse portfolio of 51 companies, of which 31% have founders of color and 23% have female founders. Nearly half of those companies have maintained a material presence in the Queen City, creating over 800 local jobs. Among the ranks is tech unicorn ACV Auctions, which brought 43North to new heights as its first publicly traded portfolio company, after an IPO on March 24, 2021.

43North is an accelerator program that hosts an annual startup competition, investing $5 million per year to attract and cultivate high-growth companies in Buffalo, NY. 43North portfolio companies also receive free incubator space in Buffalo for one year, guidance from mentors in related fields, and access to other business incentive programs such as START-UP NY. 43North operates through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul, Empire State Development, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and several other sponsors. For more information about 43North, visit www.43north.org.

Strawberry Delizz is an F1 hybrid grown from seed. Although strawberries are perennial plants, Delizz is grown as an annual and promises harvest throughout the season. It was developed by ABZ Seeds, a Dutch strawberry breeding company.

According to the breeders, Delizz plants purchased at the garden center can yield fruit up to four weeks if grown indoors close to a window in full sunlight. Grown outdoors, the plants should produce for at least three months during summer to early autumn.

AAS is an independent, nonprofit organization that tests new varieties and introduces what it considers to be the best garden performances as AAS winners. They also are selected based on performance in the greenhouse. Although no plant offers a guarantee of success in an individual garden, the AAS winners have proven themselves worthy over a broad range of growing conditions.

From left to right, Col. Shanon Anderson, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander; Col. Matthew Jones, 436th AW commander; and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, deliver opening remarks at the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Jones and Grisham posed for a photo with each annual award winner with their eagle trophy at the conclusion of the awards ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Senior Airman Yasmeen Joachim, 436th Operations Support Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Yoachim received the wing's Airman service of the year award and an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Staff Sgt. Kevin Moncrief, 436th Operations Support Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Moncrief was named the wing's noncommissioned officer of the year and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

David Sawicki, 436th Operations Support Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Sawicki was named the wing's category I civilian of the year and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Senior Airman Nicholas Jackson, 436th Communication Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Jackson was named the wing's honor guard member of the year winner and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Airman 1st Class Karisma Brown, 436th Security Forces Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Brown was named the wing's Airman of the year and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Jessica Hammer, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Hammer received the wing's volunteer service award of the year and an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Casper, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Casper was named the wing's senior noncommissioned officer of the year and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

Master Sgt. Tony Otis, 436th Wing Staff Agencies, poses for a photo with Col. Matthew Jones, 436th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th AW interim command chief, following the conclusion of the 436th AW 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 28, 2021. Otis was named the wing's first sergeant of the year and received an eagle trophy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Roland Balik)

3a8082e126