News

Upstate Capital Weekly Newsletter – 1/19/22

Deals, News & Events for the Upstate Capital Investment Community 


VENTURE + GROWTH
SUNY RF TAF

SUNY RF TECH ACCELERATOR FUND OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

SUNY RF has announced applications are open for the SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF), which provides critical investments to advance The State University of New York innovation from the lab to the marketplace. TAF investments are highly competitive and support technology development milestones, such as feasibility studies, prototyping, and clinical and field testing to demonstrate that an innovation has commercial potential.

Arun Gupta Skyven

$4M RAISED FOR CLIMATE TECH COMPANY SKYVEN

Skyven Technologies, an “energy as a service” company that funds and de-risks capital projects to reduce carbon emissions caused by processed heat, raised $4M in a seed round led by VoLo Earth Ventures. This brings Skyven’s total capital intake in 2021 to $6.5M. The company’s CEO, Arun Gupta, pitched at Upstate Capital’s Invest NY: Climate event in October 2021.


PRIVATE EQUITY + M&A
Karin Gregory Blue Highway Capital

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT: BLUE HIGHWAY CAPITAL

Meet Karin Gregory, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Blue Highway Capital. Blue Highway Capital invests in rural-based businesses looking for growth capital. They help fund family business transitions and acquisitions as other ways to grow businesses in addition to direct investing for growth. BHC are happy to co-lead and work with other funds in larger deals in industries such as food, manufacturing, business services, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and energy. Karin had been an investment professional with Mass Ventures and Dover Medical Ventures as well as serving as legal counsel to start-ups. She has advised Kimberly Clark’s venture capital fund on medical technology, served as a board member on Maine Venture Fund, and as the former Chair of CEI Ventures.

WNY COMPANY CLOSES $90+M ROUND

Viridi Parente, a Buffalo, NY-based maker of renewable power systems for heavy machinery and storage applications, raised over $94M in later-stage growth capital. Their existing investors include the WNY Impact Fund, Impact Capital, Varia Ventures and Grand Oaks Capital. The company is led by Jon M. Williams, Chairman and CEO. Upstate Capital members involved with the company include Tom Quinn, Andrea Vossler, Scott Friedman, Theresa Mazzulo and Rami Katz.


UPSTATE CAPITAL EVENTS

Join us for a webinar and workshop on February 15 to learn all about the 2022 New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) and its upcoming competition. The webinar and workshop are free and is for current and potential mentors, judges and students; campus professionals; and anyone interested in learning more about this exciting program.


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MORE NEWS
Bank volatility impact survey and information resources

March 13, 2023

Bank volatility impact survey and information resources


At Upstate Capital, we are closely monitoring the situation with Silicon Valley Bank and banks more generally. SVB’s failure on March 10 caused shock waves that continue to ripple through the US banking system. Many companies, startups and investment firms alike, are facing challenges in a funding environment that is already difficult.  If you are […]

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Middle-Market Private Equity + M&A Update – Q4 2022

March 2, 2023

Middle-Market Private Equity + M&A Update – Q4 2022


The Middle-Market PE + M&A Update is a quarterly publication for the Upstate NY deal-making community, presented by the Upstate Capital Association of NY and The Bonadio Group,

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Upstate Capital Announces 2023 Board of Directors

December 20, 2022

Upstate Capital Announces 2023 Board of Directors


The Upstate Capital Association of NY, the membership organization for private capital investors and transaction professionals across Upstate New York, has announced its 2023 Board of Directors.

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Upstate Capital Announces Winners of the 2022 Annual Awards

December 15, 2022

Upstate Capital Announces Winners of the 2022 Annual Awards


Upstate Capital hosted its 7th Annual Awards Celebration to celebrate the investment ecosystem across Upstate New York. The marquee event highlights the most interesting deals and most active dealmakers across the State in seed, venture, private equity and corporate finance. Over 100 companies and individuals were nominated from all across New York State for awards that recognize individuals and teams that build businesses and conduct transactions.

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2022 Annual Awards Award Winners

December 7, 2022

2022 Annual Awards Award Winners


Upstate Capital announces winners at the 7th Annual Awards Ceremony in Rochester for award categories designated by investment stage: seed, venture capital, growth equity, private equity, and exit.

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Denny Deleo Recognized for Contributions to Upstate’s Investment Community

December 1, 2022

Denny Deleo Recognized for Contributions to Upstate’s Investment Community


This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Denny Deleo. Denny has had a diverse career that has spanned creating impact in many fields from law to venture capital and innovative technology. A native of Webster, Denny has centered his career on making Rochester and Western New York an amazing place to start and grow businesses for […]

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2022 Annual Awards Deal Nominations

November 16, 2022

2022 Annual Awards Deal Nominations


Upstate Capital announces the 7th Annual Awards Ceremony – Deal of the Year nominees representing Upstate NY companies. Check out the nominees for award categories designated by investment stage: seed, venture capital, growth equity, private equity, and exit.

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Middle-Market Private Equity + M&A Update – Q3 2022

November 1, 2022

Middle-Market Private Equity + M&A Update – Q3 2022


The Middle-Market PE + M&A Update is a quarterly publication for the Upstate NY deal-making community, presented by the Upstate Capital Association of NY and The Bonadio Group,

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