Buffalo, NY – 09.02.2025 – The future of innovation from Western New York and Rochester is heading to the nation’s capital. Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is thrilled to announce the eleven dynamic companies selected for its Upstate to DC: Founders Roadshow, taking place during DC Tech Week.
Made possible through the Springboard Prize Competition, with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, this Roadshow puts the spotlight on some of the region’s most ambitious founders as they step onto the national stage to spark partnerships, explore new markets, and accelerate growth.
From a competitive pool of 50+ applicants across 13 Upstate counties, these standout ventures earned their spot based on innovation, readiness, and potential to disrupt both venture funding and dual-use markets:
- Weprogy (Rochester) – Streamlining and modernizing the procurement of services.
- Benchmark Labs (Rochester) – Delivering point-specific environmental forecasting for better decision-making.
- Locke (Rochester) – A next-generation password manager with integrated identity protection.
- Immunotolorx (Rochester) – Advancing cutting-edge biotech solutions to transform immune tolerance.
- Cerebro NeuroTech, Inc. (Buffalo) – Enhancing brain health and athletic performance
- IngenID (Rochester) – Providing voice security to safeguard access across platforms and devices.
- TouchTronix Robotics (Buffalo) – Innovating with advanced robotics for smarter, safer operations.
- Circle Optics (Rochester) – Developing groundbreaking 360° camera systems with no distortion or stitching.
- PrisAM Rochester) – Building high-performance sandwich composite panels for aerospace and defense.
- AireXpert (Buffalo) – Connecting every stakeholder in aircraft maintenance to reduce delays and improve safety.
- Aerovec (Buffalo) – Building portable power solutions for temporary, remote, off-grid locations.
The depth of the applicant pool underscores the strength of Upstate NY’s entrepreneurial ecosystem:
- Over $57 million already raised collectively
- 56% Pre-Seed, 33% Seed, and 6% Series A+ companies applying
- Representation from 13 counties across the region
- 60% of participants are underrepresented founders (Black, Asian, Female, Latino)
Throughout DC Tech Week, these founders will dive into a curated agenda of high-impact meetings, panels, and networking events, building connections that could define their next chapter.