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 York’s private capital community.
Leadership, Reputation and the Decisions Behind a Deal
The Summit opened with Owning the Narrative: How Alternative Investment Managers Build and Control Their Public Profile, sponsored by ASC Advisors. Moderator Taylor Ingraham joined Jane Shahmanesh, Andrea Vossler, Randy Bianchi and David Kocen for a discussion about how investment firms communicate with the people who influence their businesses—from limited partners and portfolio company leaders to recruits and regulators.
The focus then shifted to the people making consequential ownership decisions. In Growth, Transition & Liquidity: Real CEO Experiences, Jon J. Koeppel moderated a conversation with Scott Hamberger, Jason Ruhlman, Ree Dolnick and Todd Kilburn. Their different paths offered perspectives on raising capital, acquiring and selling businesses, choosing partners and leading through change.
Tuesday’s formal program closed with Beyond the Scoreboard, a conversation moderated by Upstate Capital President and CEO Shelby Schneider with Larry Quinn, former President and Managing Partner of the Buffalo Sabres, and Frank Cravotta, Senior Vice President of Design and Stadium Operations for the Buffalo Bills. The discussion connected leadership and long-term vision with Buffalo’s sports institutions and the role they play in the region’s identity. Attendees continued the evening’s conversations at a reception on the Golisano Institute’s fifth-floor terrace.
Where Capital Is Moving
Wednesday began with At the Table: Women Shaping the Future of Private Capital, sponsored by Blue Highway Capital. Karin Gregory moderated a conversation with Kelsey Thomas, Molly Hugar and Kate Polozie about the deal market, ownership transitions, access to capital and the professional relationships that help women advance in private capital.
Kyle Larson of Wilmington Trust then presented State of the Economy: Where Capital Is Moving in 2026, examining the market conditions shaping private equity, M&A and investment decisions. A panel moderated by Peter Leonard of KeyBank brought together David Kocen, Erin Andrew and Trevor Messerly to explore how the Small Business Investment Company market is evolving and where capital may reach companies that need it.
The afternoon turned to two questions facing investors and business owners. In The Silver Tsunami Is Here, Kate Polozie led Richard Gioia, David DiNolfo and David N. Deutsch in a discussion of succession, transaction readiness and the choices available to founder- and family-owned businesses. The final panel, AI: Opportunity or Disruption to Your Business?, brought Mike Paniccia, Garrett Snyder and F. Paul Greene together with Shelby Schneider to consider AI’s uses in investing and business operations, along with the judgment and safeguards those uses require.
Connections Beyond the Program
The Summit’s value extended beyond the sessions. Breakfast, breaks, lunch and the evening reception gave attendees time to meet new contacts, reconnect with colleagues and continue conversations about companies, capital and potential opportunities.
As Upstate Capital Board Chair David Kocen emphasized in his opening remarks, strong investment communities depend on trust and candid conversation. The Buffalo Private Equity Summit created room for both.
Thank You to Our Community
Upstate Capital thanks the speakers, moderators, attendees, hosts and partners who made the 2026 Buffalo Private Equity Summit possible. We are especially grateful to our event sponsors: KeyBank, Hamilton Lane, Woods Oviatt Gilman, AlphaSense, Withum, Harter Secrest & Emery, Lippes Mathias LLP, ASC Advisors, Blue Highway Capital, Western NY Impact Investment Fund, Affinity, Argosy Capital and Bluehenge Capital.
We also thank our 2026 annual sponsors: the Research Foundation for SUNY, KeyBank, Withum, NY Ventures, HSE Law, AlphaSense, Woods Oviatt Gilman, Hamilton Lane, Bluehenge Capital, SHG Group, Seneca Holdings and CenterState CEO. Their support helps Upstate Capital convene investors, business leaders and advisors throughout the year.
The conversations that began in Buffalo will continue through Upstate Capital’s events, programs and statewide network. Thank you to everyone who helped make these two days an opportunity to connect.