UPSTATE, NY – (PRESS RELEASE) – Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2017 Upstate Venture Ecosystem Awards. This year’s Awards Luncheon will be preceded by a morning conference titled Upstate Unleashed. Nominations can be submitted online at uvcdevelopment.wpengine.com/Awards-Nominations-
According to UVC cofounder and CEO, Nasir Ali, “Once the nation’s industrial heartland, Upstate is now home to many high growth companies that are building cutting-edge solutions for global markets and anchoring a post-industrial economy. This year’s Conference and Awards will connect entrepreneurs to investors and community builders as we showcase those creating the future today.”
Following the conference sessions, the Luncheon will celebrate the achievements of ecosystem leaders in five categories:
Community Catalyst Award – For individuals who organize programs to bring together diverse startup ecosystem players in a local community and/or increase the amount of capital and number of active early stage investors in that community.
Campus Connector Award – For individuals affiliated with an educational institution (could be an administrator, student, alumnus or faculty member) who are leveraging on and off-campus resources and connections to spin-out research startups and/or create opportunities to retain entrepreneurial students.
Magical Mentor Award – For individuals who have had a transformative impact on the trajectory of one or more startup companies.
Deal of the Year Award – For a company whose exit created wealth for investors and founders/employees, as well as making the company a stronger contributor to the local economy.
Ecosystem Champion Award – For individuals who are catalyzing and supporting startup activity across multiple Upstate communities.
Nominations for each of these awards can be submitted online at UVC.org/Awards-Nominations-
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About UVC
UVC is a 501c3 public nonprofit creating an entrepreneur-led startup ecosystem for Upstate NY. Our mission is to connect and empower Upstate NY entrepreneurs with the resources for building high-growth companies. Since 2010, UVC has helped launch six angel funds and four startup accelerators. UVC also hosts a region-wide events calendar, online startup map and a communications platform that reaches over 13,000 founders and startup supporters. In 2014, UVC launched UNY50, an invitation only network of individuals who have experienced the startup world roller coaster. These leaders are committed to helping build the next great Upstate companies. UVC was awarded the 2015 Global Innovation Ecosystem Award. Learn more at https://uvc.org and here’s how the community can help support our mission https://uvc.org/Ecosystem-
