Governor Hochul Announces 15 Startups Selected as Semi-finalists for Final 43North Competition in Buffalo

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the 15 Semi-Finalists selected to compete in the final 43North startup competition, marking the last group of founders to take the stage in the nationally recognized program. The Semi-Finalists will pitch their businesses live at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship on October 7, marking the first time the Institute will host the event. The companies will compete for one of five $1 million investments and the opportunity to grow their businesses in Western New York as part of the final 43North cohort.

“43North has helped strengthen Buffalo’s reputation as a growing hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, attracting ambitious founders from across the country and around the world,” Governor Hochul said. “This year’s Semi-Finalists represent the next generation of founders choosing Western New York as a place to grow their businesses and their ideas. I congratulate these founders and look forward to seeing them compete for the opportunity to create jobs, contribute to Buffalo’s economy, and become part of the region’s thriving startup community.”

For more than a decade, entrepreneurs from around the world have traveled to Buffalo to compete for a place in the 43North portfolio. This year’s Semi-Finalists continue that tradition, with founders coming to Buffalo from New York, Texas, California, Utah and beyond. Their companies span industries including Cleantech, Agtech, SaaS and AI, showcasing the range of businesses represented in this year’s competition.

The Semi-Finalists were chosen from 670 applications submitted by entrepreneurs from 63 countries and 41 states. Seventy-one investors and industry experts took part in the selection process, reviewing applications and engaging with founders along the way. Their expertise helped narrow this year’s applicants to the 15 startups advancing to the Semi-Finals. Since 2014, more than 25,000 applications have been submitted by founders from 134 countries, reflecting the competition’s growing national and international reach.

Since 2014, 43North has invested in 79 high-growth startups that have raised more than $1 billion in additional capital and created more than 3,000 jobs globally, with 60% of 43North portfolio companies maintaining a presence in Western New York.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “43North has served as a powerful economic engine for Western New York, transforming Buffalo into a premier destination for global innovation and entrepreneurship. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State's strategic investments in these high-growth startups have yielded massive returns — collectively raising over $1 billion in venture capital and creating thousands of jobs. As we welcome this impressive final group of semi-finalists, we are proud to see how this initiative has permanently strengthened the region's innovation economy, driving sustainable job creation and long-term prosperity for Buffalo.”

The five companies selected at the Finals will each receive a $1 million investment. In addition to funding, the companies will also receive access to mentorship, office space, a broad network of investors and other resources to support their continued growth in Buffalo. Their selection will bring 43North’s total investment to $56.5 million and its portfolio to 84 companies, closing out more than a decade of investment through the competition.

43North President Colleen E. Heidinger said, “For more than a decade, 43North has shown what’s possible when a community comes together around ambitious founders and a shared belief in Buffalo’s future. As we welcome our final group of Semi-Finalists, we’re incredibly proud of the companies, partners, supporters and team members who have shaped this program. We are also deeply grateful for the support of New York State and Empire State Development in making 43North such a powerful catalyst for economic opportunity, talent attraction and job creation across our region. These founders represent the next chapter of that impact, and we’re thrilled to introduce them to Buffalo. October 8 will be a celebration of everything we’ve built together and, more importantly, of the momentum that will carry Buffalo’s innovation economy forward for years to come.”

The 2026 43North Semi-Finalists are:

Actuality AI – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Actuality helps AEC firms automate their RFP responses, powered by a purpose-built knowledge graph for the built world.

Airbuild INC. – Portland, OR

Airbuild turns wastewater treatment plants into fertilizer microfactories, recovering the nutrients cities discard and returning them to the soil as Terraforming Fertilizer.

CareAtlas – Salt Lake City, UT

CareAtlas is an AI care-management platform for primary care. They turn any EHR into closed-loop workflows that unlock new Medicare revenue (APCM/CCM/RPM) and cut avoidable hospitalizations.

COI Energy – Brooklyn, NY

COI Energy helps solve the energy crisis with its new Virtual Battery Network (VBN™), enabling businesses to eliminate waste, unlock operational flexibility and transform idle capacity into new revenue.

Hera Health Solutions – Memphis, TN

Hera combines AI and advanced manufacturing to transform existing drugs into long-acting therapies with optimized dosing, improved outcomes and accelerated development.

JECA Energy Bars – Buffalo, NY

JECA, a Buffalo-based food manufacturer & CPG brand producing energy bars with a focus on clean-label and real non-ultra-processed whole food ingredients for retail & direct to consumer distribution.

Leansite – Arlington, TX

LeanSite is an AI-powered facilities operations platform that helps multi-site organizations manage maintenance, vendors, assets, compliance and work orders from one system.

Neurath AI – New York, NY

Neurath builds an uncertainty layer for high-stakes AI in manufacturing, medicine and defense, helping systems detect unreliable outputs before they cause costly failures.

Pardon AI – New York, NY

Pardon AI turns real-time customer behavior into autonomous pricing, sorting and campaign actions that increase profit for restaurants, hotels, retail and e-commerce, driving an average +22% profit uplift.

Playground – Rochester, NY

Playground is a 15X award-winning brand building the trusted destination in women's intimate wellness in one of the largest yet most underserved categories in consumer health.

SAIL – New York, NY

SAIL is the AI-native trade compliance workspace that helps enterprise trade teams speed up classification workflows, surface duty savings and keep a defensible, audit-ready record.

SpecVision – Chicago, IL

SpecVision is building the data layer for heavy equipment, using AI and computer vision to automate how 260 million assets are identified, assessed and transacted.

Valene Health – New York, NY

Valene Health’s AI-native clinical operating system automates clinical, operational, and financial workflows for health systems and payers to reduce readmissions, lower costs and expand care capacity.

VoicePlug AI – Palo Alto, CA

VoicePlug AI builds the AI workforce that powers voice commerce for restaurants — taking orders by phone, drive-thru and kiosk, and handling voice-based table reservations and event bookings.

Ziffy.ai (Home Abroad) – Buffalo, NY

Ziffy.ai is an AI-native real estate investing platform with embedded financing that combines cash-flow rental discovery, analysis and rental loan financing in one workflow for local & global investors in the U.S.

The final 43North Finals will take place on October 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, where eight companies will take the stage and pitch for the chance to receive one of five $1 million investments. The five companies selected will join 43North’s Year 12 cohort for a full year of programming in 2027.

43North Semi-Finals and Finals are free and open to the public. Tickets for the Semi-Finals on October 7 at Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship are available now, and tickets to the final Finals will be available beginning September 15. Visit 43North.org to reserve Semi-Finals tickets, join the Finals waitlist or reserve Finals tickets once they are available.

While the 43North competition concludes this year, the organization’s work to support Buffalo’s entrepreneurial community will continue through the 43North Foundation. The Foundation will build on 43North’s more than decade-long impact by supporting programs, partnerships and initiatives that strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem and help entrepreneurs grow in Western New York.

About 43North

43North was created in 2014 to attract high-growth companies in Buffalo and give entrepreneurs the opportunity to build and scale their businesses in Western New York. Through the competition, 43North has provided funding, free incubator space, mentorship, and access to investors, business leaders, and other resources to help companies grow. The program has supported startups across a wide variety of industries, with founders representing communities and markets around the world. Funding for 43N program activities has been provided in part by ESD, M&T Bank Foundation, and several other sponsors. For more information about 43North, visit 43north.org.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next-generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

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