Andrew Goldner on Why Startups Fail at Sales (and How to Fix It) Most founders don’t fail because they build bad products—they fail because they sell to the wrong people at the wrong time. On this episode of Latitude, we sat down with Andrew Goldner, CEO and co-founder of GrowthX, to talk about why
From Google’s Secret IPO to Buffalo’s Grit: A Conversation with Lise What happens when you mix Google, Wall Street, and a Playboy interview? You get one of the wildest IPO stories ever told. Lise Buyers, a proud Buffalonian turned tech investor, joined Latitude to spill the inside story of Google’s unconventional path to going
CoachMePlus, a standout from our Y2 cohort, is making significant strides in the fitness technology sector. Their collaboration with the U.S. Army has not only enhanced soldier wellness but also propelled the company’s growth, leading to a fourfold increase in revenue in 2024. As they plan to expand their team this year, we’re proud to
We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Spiky.ai, one of our Year 10 portfolio companies, as they continue to make significant strides in the AI-driven sales coaching industry. G2 Accolades: Spiky.ai has been honored as a Momentum Leader and High Performer in G2’s Winter 2025 reports, earning 28 badges across the Conversation Intelligence
Guidesly, a standout from 43North’s 2023 cohort, has made significant strides since relocating to Buffalo. The company recently secured a $9.5 million Series A funding round, led by Aspen Capital Group, with participation from YETI Capital, HalfCourt Ventures, Derive Ventures, Elysian Park Ventures, and Marquee Ventures. This investment will fuel Guidesly’s expansion into new outdoor
Over 1.3 million views (and growing)! We’re beyond proud to see FoodNerd, one of Buffalo’s brightest startups, spotlighted by Spacestation Investments and their studio, Spacestation Animation in this epic feature. It’s not every day you see this level of support from an investor—proof that when the right team and partners come together, big things happen.
A turning point. That’s how StoreCash founder, Daricus Releford, described winning the 43North pitch competition—and we couldn’t agree more. Since joining the 43North family, StoreCash has made waves, recently closing a $3.7M seed round led by Black Operator Ventures, with support from MaC Venture Capital and Alumni Ventures. StoreCash is redefining fintech by helping users
From Boulder to Buffalo and beyond, Kickfurther is proving that big milestones and bigger dreams are possible right here in the Queen City. As a proud 43North Finals winner, they’ve grown from a team of six to over 50, facilitating over $300 million in deal flow and calling Buffalo home for the long haul. Their
CleanFiber (Y3) has landed in the top 50 of the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in the U.S.! This recognition underscores their remarkable achievements, as they continue to fuel job creation and drive revenue growth right here in Buffalo.
We recently had the incredible opportunity to host Landon Campbell from Drive Capital on our Latitude Podcast. As our “Fly in a VC” guest, Landon spent the day hanging out with our Year 9 cohort, sharing Drive Capital’s story, their approach to early-stage funding, and some helpful tips for founders preparing to meet investors.
Check out Top Seedz (Y7) featured in CNBC Make It written by Tom Huddleston, Jr. Founder Rebecca Brady’s journey from making homemade snacks to building a business projected to bring in $10M this year showcases true innovation and resilience. Top Seedz is experiencing rapid national growth and is expanding its new facility in Buffalo.
CleanFiber (Y3) aims to convert millions of tons of cardboard boxes into insulation, addressing the decline in newspaper availability by overcoming contamination challenges, and has produced insulation for 20,000 homes, with plans to expand beyond its Buffalo plant.