Deals of the Year Award Categories
- Seed Deal of the Year
- Venture Deal of the Year
- Growth Deal of the Year
- Private Equity Deal of the Year
- Exit Deal of the Year
Upstate Capital is excited to announce our 7th Annual Awards Ceremony – Deal of the Year nominees. We have 5 award categories this year by investment stage: seed, venture capital, growth equity, private equity, and exit. Each year, Upstate Capital aggregates investment activity across Upstate NY to feature community highlights.
THE PROCESS
This year, 53 companies received nominations in 5 categories. Nominations came from individual submissions and screening deal flow information from the past 12 months. For the first time this year, in addition to the Upstate Capital Nominating Committee, which is comprised of members of the board of directors, selection committees have been created to choose each award.
The selection committees considered the following in their deliberations: whether the company received a nomination from an individual, ties to Upstate Capital members, impact on the local and regional economy and impact on technology advancement. Preferential consideration went to manufacturing-based companies for private equity and M&A awards and to technology-based companies for venture and growth awards.
SEED DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Seed Nominees raised between $500,000 and $5M in early-stage funding in the past 12 months. Here are the nominees:
Ognomy, Buffalo NY, led by Dan Rifkin, Founder & CEO, is a telemedicine platform for treating sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. The company raised $1M in 2022 led by Inspire Medical Systems and has raised a total of $2.5M from investors including Launch NY, Impellent Ventures, and Future Communities Capital.
Natrion, Binghamton, NY, led by CEO Alex Kosyakov, is developing clean power batteries designed to ensure cost effective renewable energy. The company raised $2M in 2022 from investors including TechNexus Venture, Illinois Venture, Tamarack Global, Mark Cuban, and other undisclosed investors.
CAHill Tech, Clarence, NY, led by Carley Hill, Founder & CEO, is a platform for safety and training for the construction industry. The company raised $1M in 2022 from Western New York Impact Fund, Launch New York, Empire State Development Venture Capital Fund and TECHSTARS.
.
ShearShare, Buffalo, NY, led by Tyrone Caldwell, Co-Founder & CEO, is a B2B platform designed to match salon and barbershop owners with stylists to book working space for rent. The company raised $2.3M in 2022 from investors including Fearless Fund, Level Up Ventures, 43North, New York Ventures, and others.
Breathing.ai, Albany, NY, led by Hannes Bend, is developing bio-adaptive screen experiences to improve performance and wellbeing using cameras with machine learning. The company raised $1.5M in 2022 from investors including GTMFund, Gaingels, and Expert DOJO.
Patient Pattern, Buffalo, NY, led by Steve Buslovich, Co-Founder & CEO, is the leading health plan platform for high acuity value-based care. The company raised $2M in January of 2022. Investors include StartFast Ventures, Jack Greco, and all existing Board Members.
VeriTX, Amherst, NY, led by James Regenor, Co-Founder & CEO, is a B2B digital marketplace focused on regulating digital supply chains. The company raised $4.5M in late 2021 from investors including Veteran Ventures Capital and Stony Lonesome Group.
Bounce Imaging, Buffalo, NY, led by Francisco Aguilar, Co-Founder & CEO, is a camera and sensor provider designing circular imaging to first responders. The company raised $4M in 2022 from investors including R42 Group, Good Growth Capital, Tanis Venture Management, and other investors.
HELIXintel, Buffalo, NY, led by Jon DeWald, Co-Founder & CEO, is an inventory and management platform designed to track equipment maintenance. The company raised $4M in 2022 from investors including Munich Re Ventures, LAB Ventures Motivate Venture Capital, and other investors.
urbanXtracts, Warwick, NY, led by Founder & CEO Eran Sherin, is providing a hemp service to offer a seed-to-marker supply chain for stakeholders across the industry. The company raised $5M in 2022.
EcoLectro, Ithaca, NY, led by Gabriel Rodriguez-Calero, Co-Founder & CEO, is developing novel polymers designed for the energy industry. The company raised $5M in 2022 from investors led by Starshot Capital with Toyota Ventures, For Good Ventures, Techstars, and other investors as part of the round.
VENTURE DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Venture Nominees raised between $5M and $20M in equity investment in the past 12 months. Here are the nominees:
Ursa Space, Ithaca, NY, led by Julie Baker, Co-Founder & COO, is a provider of geospatial data and analytical services intended to gather data from radar satellites. The company raised $16M in 2022 from investors led by Dorilton Ventures with Paladin Capital Group, RRE Ventures, Necessary Ventures, and other investors as part of the round.
Owl Autonomous Imaging, Inc, Buffalo, NY, led by Co-Founder Eugene Petilli, is developing thermal imaging software focused on safe autonomous operations. The company raised $15M in 2022 from investors including State Farm Ventures, Stratminds VC, Wealthing VC Club, and other investors in this round.
As You Are, Syracuse, NY, led by CEO Kayla Wagner is developing Virtual Autism Diagnostic Evaluations for Children. The company raised $10M in 2022 from private investors.
NeuroGenesis, Rochester, NY, led by Tai Gilat, Co-Founder & CEO, is developing cell therapies focused on neurodegenerative diseases via use of the patient’s stem cells. The company raised Series A funding in 2022 from investors including Excell Partners, Rhodium, Morgan Stanley, and Empire State Development’s NY Ventures.
GDI, Rochester, NY, led by Robert Anstey, Founder & CEO, is manufacturing silicon anodes for use in battery technology to improve performance. The company raised $13.3M in 2022 from investors led by Helios Climate Ventures and EIT InnoEnergy with the US Army Research Labs and other undisclosed investors as part of the round with Fort Ghent Brokerage who acted as a placement agent on the transaction.
HowGood, High Falls, NY, led by Alexander Gillett, Co-Founder & CEO, is operating a SaaS data platform offering a database on food and personal care product sustainability. The company raised $12.5M in 2022 from investors led by Titan Grove with FirstMark Capital, Astanor Ventures and other undisclosed investors also participating.
GROWTH DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Growth Nominees raised more than $20M in equity investment in the past 12 months. Here are the nominees:
Centivo, Buffalo, NY, led by Ashok Subramanian, Co-Founder & CEO, provides self-funded health plans focused on affordable high-quality health care to Americans. The company raised nearly $81M in 2022 from investors in a deal led by Maverick Ventures and B Capital Group with Morgan Health and other undisclosed investors as part of the round.
Ceipal, Rochester, NY, led by Sameer Penakalapati, Founder & CEO, is a human capital management platform built to optimize workforce management. The company raised $21M in 2022 from investors in a deal led by Camden Partners with Resolve Growth Partners, Topmark Partners, Evergreen Mountain Equity Partners, and Mistral Venture Partners also part of the round.
Bakx Therapeutics, Bearsville, NY, led by Sree Kant, Co-Founder & CEO, is developing orally active therapeutics focused on cancer treatment. The company raised $25M in 2022 from investors in a deal led by AB Magnitude Ventures Group with Sherpa Healthcare Partners and Ipsen Group also participating.
Kangarootime, Buffalo, NY, led by Scott Wayman, Founder & CEO, is developing childcare management software to enable childcare centers to scale and grow. The company raised $26M in 2022 in a deal led by Education Growth Partners with Cultivation Capital, Revolution/ROTR, Motivate Venture Capital, and Brian Horner as part of the round.
Viridi Parente, Buffalo, NY, led by Jon M. Williams, Founder, CEO & Chairman, is manufacturing renewable power systems for heavy machinery and storage applications. The company raised nearly $95M in 2022 in a deal led by Tom Golisano with support from Ashtead Group and National Grid Partners.
PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Private Equity Nominees had a significant private equity transaction in the past 12 months. Here are the nominees:
EWASTE+, based in Victor, NY was acquired by Sidereal Capital Group in December 2021 for an undisclosed amount. The company provides certified electronic recycling and secure data destruction services and is focused on environmental sound processing methods designed to maximize value and recovery from end-of-life electronics. The deal team includes Nicholas Morreale, John Hawkins and Adam Harris from Paramax Corporation, Thomas Anderson and Vittoria Buzzelli from Harter Secrest & Emery LLP and Michael Cooke of Dejoy, Knauf and Blood LLP.
ICM Controls, Syracuse, NY, led by Joseph Bonacci, CEO, is manufacturing electronic control solutions specializing in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The company was acquired by Lorraine Capital and Ironwood Capital in 2022.
Greenlight Networks, Rochester, NY, led by Mark Murphy, Founder & CEO, is building and operating fiber-to-home broadband services for residential and small businesses. The company was acquired by Oak Hill Capital in 2022 for an estimated $300M.
MacKenzie-Childs, Aurora, NY, led by John Ling, CEO, manufactures luxury home furnishings and personal accessories. The company was acquired by EagleTreeCapital in 2022.
Beekman 1802, Schenectady, NY, led by Jill Scalamandre, CEO, is a retailer of beauty and cosmetic products intended to help enhance their customers. The company was acquired in 2022 by Cohesive Capital Partners, Eurazeo and Cherng Family Trust for $92M.
ReSource Waste Services, Albany, NY, led by Gregory Leahey, President, COO and Board Member, provides construction and demolition waste recycling services focused on reducing waste sent to landfills. The company was acquired in 2022 by GCM Grosvenor.
EXIT DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Exit Nominees had a significant transaction in the last 12 months where a VC/PE-backed founder based in Upstate NY has sold substantially the entire business to a strategic or financial buyer and where substantial value was created and generated for the company’s owners and investors. Here are the nominees:
TCGplayer, Syracuse, NY, led by Chedy Hampson, Founder & CEO, is a platform focused on building the leading marketplace for the collectibles market. The company has reached an agreement to be acquired in 2022 by eBay for $295M.
Ithos Global, Troy, NY. led by Ken Bubeck, Founder & CEO, is developing a regulatory compliance platform intended to offer tools and information clients need to make regulatory compliance a strategic advantage. The company was acquired in 2022 by Permanent Group.
CloudCheckr, Rochester, NY, led by Aaron Newman, is a cloud management platform designed to facilitate cost management, security, reporting, and analytics for optimizing Amazon Web Services and Azure deployments. The company was acquired by NetApp for $347M.
Rosie, Ithaca, NY, led by Nick Nickitas, Co-Founder, CEO, President & Board Member, operates an online grocery shopping platform designed to help grocers sell online with delivery and pickup. The company was acquired in 2022 by Instacart.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
FOR SEED AND VENTURE INVESTMENT OF THE YEAR
SELECTION COMMITTEE
FOR GROWTH, PRIVATE EQUITY, AND EXIT DEAL OF THE YEAR
Celebrate with the nominees at the 7th Annual Awards Celebration in Rochester, NY. Join us to raise a glass and congratulate companies and colleagues for their successes, and start valuable relationships to cultivate in the coming year.
SHARE YOUR NEWS
Send us your updates so we can share your deals and successes!
Want to receive Upstate Capital news in your inbox?
MORE NEWS
August 10, 2026
Upstate Capital Welcomes Molly Hugar to Board of Directors
Upstate Capital is pleased to welcome Molly Daetsch Hugar, Commercial Leader at KeyBank, to our Board of Directors. Molly brings nearly two decades of experience in commercial banking, along with a deep understanding of the businesses, industries, and relationships that drive economic growth across Upstate New York. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with companies […]
Read More
August 3, 2026
Raining with Opportunity: Highlights from the 2026 Saratoga Forum
Despite the rain, the 2026 Saratoga Forum delivered exactly what its theme promised: opportunity. Investors, business owners, founders, advisers and economic-development leaders gathered in Saratoga Springs on July 29 and 30 for two days of candid conversations, meaningful introductions and new opportunities to support the companies and communities shaping Upstate New York. The Saratoga Forum […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Keynote: Ed Mitzen on Entrepreneurship, Impact & What Comes Next
The 2026 Venture NY keynote speaker, Ed Mitzen, shared an honest and energizing perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership and the rapidly changing future of work. A serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and co-founder of the Business for Good Foundation, Mitzen reflected on building multiple successful companies, including Fingerpaint Group, while emphasizing that resilience, people-first leadership and purpose-driven work […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Panel: What’s Next? Opportunities for Founders Across New York
The panel “What’s Next? Opportunities for Founders Across New York” at this year’s Venture NY explored the growing network of accelerators, competitions and support programs helping startups move from early ideas to scalable businesses across New York State. Featuring Seth Mulligan, Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration at Griffiss Institute; Patty Rechberger, Innovation Fund […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Panel: From Lab to Market — Scaling NY Innovation
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 […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Panel: What Makes an AI Company Investable? Data Strategy, Risk & Valuation
One of the panel discussions at this year’s Venture NY explored what separates truly investable AI companies from those simply riding the hype cycle. Moderated by Kate Polozie, Partner at Woods Oviatt Gilman, and featuring Somak Chattopadhyay, Managing Director at Armory Square Ventures, the panel “What Makes an AI Company Investable? Data Strategy, Risk & […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Panel: Where Are the Returns Now? From Hype to Healthy Outcomes
During our annual Venture NY event, the panel “Where Are the Returns Now? From Hype to Healthy Outcomes” explored how today’s venture environment is shifting toward disciplined growth, capital efficiency and long-term value creation. Moderated by Chris Rodi, Partner at Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, the discussion featured David Brown, Managing Director at Impellent Ventures and […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
Venture NY 2026 Panel: How Are Investors Really Deploying Capital Right Now?
As part of Venture NY 2026, the panel “How Are Investors Really Deploying Capital Right Now? Inside the 2026 Playbook” brought together venture leaders from across fund types to discuss how today’s investment landscape is shifting from hype-driven growth to disciplined, traction-focused investing. Moderated by Flossie Hall, Director of Operations at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, […]
Read More
May 26, 2026
2024 NYBPC Grand Prize Winners Eutrobac Acquired by Agriment Services, Inc.
In the spring of 2024, Ellie Sangree and Jesse Wexler, co-founders of Eutrobac, stood in front of judges at the University at Albany and won the New York Business Plan Competition Grand Prize. They walked away with $25,000 and set to work building an IP portfolio, raising capital, developing the product and forging the connections […]
Read More
May 21, 2026
Inside the Playbook Recap: How Private Equity is Reshaping Sports Brings Industry Leaders to Buffalo
This week, Upstate Capital Association of New York welcomed investors, operators, advisors and sports business leaders to Buffalo for Inside the Playbook: How Private Equity is Reshaping Sports — an engaging afternoon of conversation exploring one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sectors in investing. Hosted at the offices of Lippes Mathias LLP, the event […]
Read More