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Upstate Capital Weekly Newsletter – 6/29/22

Deals, News & Events for the Upstate Capital Investment Community 


Air and Space Innovators: Join Us

Invest NY: Future of Air & Space, presented by NYSTAR and Upstate Capital, is an event to highlight the air and space industry and innovation in Upstate New York. This event will be held July 14 at the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY. Future of Air & Space will be attended by startup entrepreneurs and innovators, experienced executives, and active investors in artificial intelligence, machine learning, drones and uncrewed systems.


MEMBER HIGHLIGHT

Meet Upstate Capital Board of Directors Member Sean Moskal! Sean is Senior Vice President at KeyBank where he leverages his international experience to deliver growth through deepening customer relationships and new client acquisitions. Sean’s clients include companies from $10M to $300M in sales, and he specializes in bringing a full suite of banking services and financial expertise to family-owned and private-equity-backed companies.


MEMBER NEWS

RIT Venture Creations incubator graduates five start-up companies dedicated to innovation. Venture Creations was created in 2003 and helps start-ups commercialize products and raise outside risk capital by providing companies with coaching, connections to industry professionals, custom programming, and access to countless other resources.

Applications for the fourth iteration of the Grow-NY food and agriculture business competition is open through July 1, 2022. This year’s top prize will be $1M.

The Clean Fight accelerator, in collaboration with the New York Battery and Energy StorageTechnology Consortium (NY-BEST) and Binghamton University, is now accepting applications for its third cohort focused on energy storage solutions. Applications close tomorrow, June 30th.


MORE UPSTATE CAPITAL NEWS

Today is our Invest NY: Future of Food event at the Culinary Institute of America. This event brings together members from established food and beverage companies, suppliers, investors, and dealmakers together with entrepreneurs and startups.


Are you a member of Upstate Capital?

If not, we’d love to have you join. Be part of the Upstate New York investment and business community. Gain access to Upstate Capital’s member network of investors, entrepreneurs, transaction professionals and service providers.

Join as a member by July 15 and be featured in this year’s Who’s Who in Venture Capital & Private Equity membership directory.

Want to receive industry news straight to your Inbox?


MORE NEWS

Where Deals, Capital and CEOs Connect: Highlights from the 2026 Buffalo Private Equity Summit

September 25, 2026

Where Deals, Capital and CEOs Connect: Highlights from the 2026 Buffalo Private Equity Summit


Investors, business owners, executives and advisors gathered in Buffalo on September 22 and 23 for Upstate Capital’s 2026 Buffalo Private Equity Summit. Held at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and The Westin Buffalo, the two-day event brought practical conversations about growth, ownership, investment and technology together with opportunities to build relationships across New […]

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Upstate Capital Welcomes Molly Hugar to Board of Directors

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 […]

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Raining with Opportunity: Highlights from the 2026 Saratoga Forum

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 […]

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Venture NY 2026 Keynote: Ed Mitzen on Entrepreneurship, Impact & What Comes Next

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 […]

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Venture NY 2026 Panel: What’s Next? Opportunities for Founders Across New York

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 […]

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Venture NY 2026 Panel: From Lab to Market — Scaling NY Innovation

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 […]

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Venture NY 2026 Panel: What Makes an AI Company Investable? Data Strategy, Risk & Valuation

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 & […]

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Venture NY 2026 Panel: Where Are the Returns Now? From Hype to Healthy Outcomes

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 […]

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Venture NY 2026 Panel: How Are Investors Really Deploying Capital Right Now?

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, […]

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2024 NYBPC Grand Prize Winners Eutrobac Acquired by Agriment Services, Inc.

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 […]

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