The Buffalo Niagara region played host this past week to the 2012 Venture Forum, a two-day event that succeeded in its mission to connect investors with entrepreneurs throughout our region's high-tech corridor.  While this was fourth annual event of this type in the region hosted by Bright Buffalo Niagara, the 2012 forum represented the first collaboration with SmartStart and UNYTECH and the results were very positive. 

This year's Venture Forum saw broader participation from venture capital and angel investors coming from nine different states, some from as far away as California, and with interest at varying stages of a company's growth cycle.  Building upon the success of past events, companies pitching their products and ideas made very strong and compelling presentations.  The program did a wonderful job of showcasing our region, the many quality of life assets we possess and the resurgence we are experiencing in Buffalo Niagara.  It even provided opportunities for our business development staff to reconnect and establish relationships with past and potential future leads. 

Education, workforce and innovation are three important elements, building blocks if you will, of our community's efforts to revitalize our economy and pave the way for a brighter future.  They are also three components that are likely to play an important role in the development of the plan for the implementation of Governor Cuomo's $1 billion dollar commitment to our area.  Math + Science = A Successful Future is the theme behind a May 30, 2012 event called "Innovation in Education: The Cornerstone of Tomorrow's Leaders". 

Sponsored by our investors at Phillips Lytle LLP, the event will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, III, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a nationally renowned leader in the movement to place greater emphasis on education in math and science, particularly among minority students.  Dr. Hrabowski himself has a very interesting personal and professional story that was the feature of a 60 Minutes story this past November.

The forum will also include panel discussion with Dr. Donald Trump, President & CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Aaron Podolefsky, President of Buffalo State College, Dr. Alexander Cartwright, University at Buffalo Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Dr. Brenda Fredette, Associate Professor at Medaille College.  Click here for more information and to register. 

Thomas A. Kucharski

President & CEO

takucharski@buffaloniagara.org

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