43North to host 'Think Big' networking event

M/WBE collaborative event will highlight several 2014 competition winners

43North announced it will host a networking event titled "Think Big with 43North" from 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 21 at the Design Innovation Garage ("dig") within the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Innovation Center.

The event, which is being held in partnership with the National Black MBA WNY and National Association of Women Business Owners, is intended to create new networking opportunities for local minority and women-owned businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as inspire other Western New Yorkers to become 43North applicants. 

Women and minority-owned teams that were 43North winners during the inaugural competition year, including triMirror and KeepUp, will be the featured presenters. The teams will share their experiences of applying for 43North, winning, and now successfully operating startup ventures in Buffalo. Last year, there were two local winners, ASi LLC (Tonawanda), which won the $1 million grand prize, as well as Programmable Equipment Co. (Amherst), which won $250,000.

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Innovation Center is located at 640 Ellicott St., Buffalo. RSVP to [email protected].

About 43North

43North is the world's largest business idea competition. One of the projects of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" initiative, the competition calls for businesses from around the globe to pitch their most innovative ideas in an attempt to win $5 million in prizes. It has proven to be a successful way to expose national and international businesses to the entrepreneurial atmosphere Buffalo has to offer.

In addition to the cash prizes, 43North finalists also receive free incubator space in Buffalo for one year, guidance from mentors in related fields, and access to other business incentive programs such as Start-Up NY. The deadline to apply for year two of 43North is June 24. Applications are being accepted. To learn more, visit www.43north.org.

43North operates through grants of $6 million from the New York Power Authority and $1 million from Empire State Development. To see a complete list of sponsors, click here.