At the 2026 Venture NY event, the panel “From Lab to Market — Scaling NY Innovation” explored the realities of transforming breakthrough research into scalable companies across New York’s innovation ecosystem. Moderated by Paul Tolley, CTO of Excell Partners, the discussion featured Dr. Marek W. Kowarz, Founder of MicroAdventure Technologies, and Nick Conn, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Casana.
The conversation examined the challenges founders face when moving from academic research to commercialization — including navigating tech transfer, securing intellectual property, raising early-stage capital and building teams capable of scaling beyond the lab. Panelists shared candid perspectives on the “valley of death” between proof of concept and venture-scale growth, emphasizing the importance of regulatory strategy, investor readiness, commercialization planning and strong execution.
They also discussed the unique opportunities and limitations of building in upstate New York, highlighting the region’s research institutions, collaborative networks and talent pipeline while acknowledging the need for stronger founder ecosystems and access to experienced operators and investors.
The session ultimately provided practical insights into how founders can better position deep-tech and research-driven companies for long-term growth and successful commercialization.