Martin Babinec

Martin Babinec launched the non profit Upstate Venture Connect as an outgrowth of his vision and commitment to accelerate transformational change across Upstate NY by building a startup ecosystem that enables first time entrepreneurs to more easily connect with the resources who can help them build the next generation of high growth companies. Martin founded Silicon Valley based TriNet in 1988, serving as CEO for the company's first 20 years, Chairman until 2010 and retiring from the Board of Directors in 2022. TriNet's cloud based HR services help 17,000 small to mid sized companies and the company has grown to annual sales of $5+ billion – listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TNET. He founded and serves as Managing Partner of UpVentures Capital – making direct investments in 50+ startup companies and serving as limited partner and advisor to a dozen venture capital and seed funds, several of which he helped start as an Upstate Venture Connect initiative. Martin also founded and serves as Chairman of Entrepreneurs Across Borders, a non profit growing entrepreneurship in developing countries by connecting founders with resources both in country and across borders. Following his 2016 campaign for U.S. Congress as an independent candidate for NY's 22nd Congressional District, Martin founded and leads non profit Unite NY in support of the broader mission to reform democracy in both NY and the U.S. Martin is a native and resident of Little Falls NY and past recipient of the SVBJ Silicon Valley Entrepreneur of the Year award.