Catch up with the latest developments, news and insights from 43North and our portfolio companies.
Big news for Year 10 portfolio company FoodNerd: the Buffalo-based, woman-owned startup has officially opened its new 30,000 sq. ft., FDA-registered manufacturing facility in Clarence, NY. The state-of-the-art space will allow the company to scale production of its plant-based toddler snacks and create new jobs in Western New York. The ribbon-cutting event brought out strong
Jaxon Stuart of Space Station recently stopped by 43North to share his expertise on what sets standout consumer brands apart — from compelling storytelling to smart retail strategy. As a partner at Space Station, co-founded by creator and entrepreneur Shonduras, Jaxon has backed industry-shaping brands like Graza, Olipop, and 43North portfolio company FoodNerd (Y10). During
Top Seedz (Y7) has been named Best Seed Cracker in the 2025 Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards. This national recognition highlights the company’s commitment to clean, simple ingredients and crave-worthy flavor. Made from pantry staples like sunflower and pumpkin seeds, Top Seedz crackers have become a favorite among health-conscious snackers. Built in Buffalo and backed
We’re incredibly proud to share that 43North President Colleen E. Heidinger has been selected for the Kauffman Fellows Class of 2025 (KF30) — becoming one of Western New York’s first-ever Kauffman Fellows. The Kauffman Fellows program is a highly respected global network of top-tier venture capital investors, designed to accelerate innovation by developing the next
Circuit Clinical (Y6) has merged with Lightship, bringing together two leading innovators in clinical trial delivery. This strategic move positions the combined company to better serve the evolving needs of sponsors, CROs, healthcare systems, and—most importantly—patients. For founder Dr. Irfan Khan and the Circuit Clinical team, the merger marks a significant step toward building a
FoodNerd (Y10) Mega Puffs are now on shelves in 50 Tops Friendly Markets across New York, including right here in Buffalo. For founder Sharon Cryan, this milestone is deeply personal. She grew up in Buffalo’s Seneca Babcock neighborhood, where her family often relied on food pantries stocked by Tops. Now, her own product is available
We’re excited to announce that 43North is once again partnering with Springboard, a program designed to fuel new energy, ideas, and momentum across Western New York’s startup community. What is Springboard?Springboard is more than just a funding opportunity—it’s a call to action. The program supports ecosystem builders who are designing activities, hosting events, and creating
Leaving Your Ego at the Door: Lessons from Startup Chaos With Brian Hirsch
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
In this episode of Latitude, we sit down with Alex Killian—a partner at Bold Ventures, a champion for founder wellness, and a key player at Endeavor. From working with undercapitalized founders to leveraging Buffalo’s unique ecosystem, Alex shares his insights on what it takes to build thriving startups. We explore: The power of founder wellness