BUFFALO, N.Y. — Brown & White Ventures has invested in Buffalo-based Bounce Imaging, a developer of tactical imaging technology used by military, law enforcement, and first responders, as the company looks to expand manufacturing and accelerate the development of its next generation of situational awareness products. The investment will help Bounce Imaging increase production capacity and meet growing demand from U.S. law enforcement agencies and international defense organiz

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester has long been known as the birthplace of companies like Kodak, Xerox and Bausch + Lomb. Today, the region's economy is being shaped by a new generation of industries built on that same foundation of engineering, precision manufacturing and scientific research. Three sectors in particular: optics, photonics and imaging (OPI), advanced manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing, are emerging as major economic drivers, attracting investment, c

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester-based advanced materials company Andluca has secured a SAFE investment from an undisclosed strategic investor as the company prepares for its upcoming Series A fundraising round and expands commercialization of its intelligent glass technology. The investment, announced alongside financial advisor Mavka Capital, provides Andluca with more than capital. The strategic partner brings global glass manufacturing capabilities, industry expertise, and est

The Rochester startup behind an edible coffee energy bar will launch in 250 stores through a new partnership with East Coast distributor Rainforest Distribution beginning July 1. ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester-based startup Moka Energy has signed a major distribution agreement with Rainforest Distribution, a move expected to place the company's products in approximately 250 retail locations within the first 90 days and significantly accelerate its expansion across the eastern Un

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As more than 200,000 visitors prepare to descend on downtown Rochester for the 2026 Rochester International Jazz Festival, the event is expected to do more than fill concert venues. It will also generate millions of dollars in economic activity for local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and cultural institutions. The Jazz Festival is one of several major events that collectively form a significant part of Rochester's tourism and visitor economy. Along with t

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As artificial intelligence rapidly moves from emerging technology to everyday business tool, a new Rochester event is focused on helping small businesses understand how to use AI to drive growth, improve efficiency, and remain competitive. The SB+AI Symposium: From Awareness to Action will take place June 23 at the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center (REOC), bringing together entrepreneurs, business owners, educators, economic development leaders, and t

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a regional economy increasingly driven by experience-based businesses, Elvio’s Coffee is emerging as one of Rochester’s more distinctive lifestyle concepts, blending specialty coffee, live music and cultural programming into a single community-focused brand. Founded by Rochester musician and entrepreneur Elvio Fernandes, the café has quickly positioned itself as more than a traditional coffee shop. Located on Empire Boulevard near Irondequoit Bay, Elvio’

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTX) has raised approximately $20 million through an underwritten public offering, signaling continued investment activity in Rochester’s advanced manufacturing and optics sector. The company sold 2,857,142 shares of common stock at $7.00 per share. Gross proceeds from the offering totaled about $20 million before underwriting discounts, commissions, and other expenses. H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the sole book-runni

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A roughly $2 billion deal is set to accelerate the growth of one of Rochester’s most recognizable tech companies, as Greenlight Networks becomes part of a major national broadband expansion strategy. T-Mobile announced it will invest approximately $2 billion to acquire a 50% stake in a joint venture with Oak Hill Capital that combines Greenlight Networks with GoNetspeed, two of the largest independent fiber providers in the Northeast. The combined platform i

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new venture-building program is set to launch in Rochester this June, adding fresh momentum to the region’s growing startup and innovation economy. Startup Wednesday, a weekly venture-building program founded in 2025 by entrepreneur Dan Gigante in Buffalo, will begin its first Rochester cohort on June 3 at NextCorps. The four-week program is designed to bring together founders, creatives, and operators to collaborate, test ideas, and accelerate early-stage

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — For Chukwuebuka Mgbenka, the idea behind MoneyPigeon did not come from theory, it came from lived experience. As an immigrant navigating financial transactions between the United States and Nigeria, Mgbenka encountered persistent friction when trying to spend money across borders in emerging markets. Today, as CEO of the Rochester-based fintech startup founded in 2022, he is working to solve that problem by building a platform designed to make cross-border s

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — This past Thursday TechRochester brought together the region’s innovation community to celebrate leadership, impact, and progress at the 2026 Technology Woman of the Year Awards, held at the Memorial Art Gallery. The annual event recognizes women driving meaningful advancement across technology fields while reinforcing the importance of visibility, mentorship, and retention within Greater Rochester’s growing tech ecosystem. This year’s top honors were award

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester-based startup is solving one of the internet’s most persistent friction points: passwords. Locke , led by CEO Connor Peters, has announced the release of Open Passkey , a new, 100% free, open-source library designed to make passwordless authentication simple to implement across nearly any application. Alongside the library, the company is also launching Locke Gateway, a free, "backendless" authentication server that allows developers to deploy se

Rochester, N.Y. - Brown and White Ventures has announced a new investment in Stak Mobility , a company focused on reshaping how cities use space, energy, and transportation infrastructure. The announcement signals continued momentum for the Upstate New York-based venture firm, which is actively investing in companies tackling large-scale, system-level challenges across industries. Stak Mobility is building what it describes as a new model for urban infrastructure—one that co

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After more than a decade in the tech industry, Kyla Brown is applying her product mindset to a new challenge: fixing how people shop online. As the founder of Closet OS, a Rochester-based fashion technology startup launched in 2025, Brown is building a platform designed to make personal style more intuitive, personalized, and efficient. Closet OS sits at the intersection of retail, fashion, and technology, aiming to modernize an e-commerce experience that B

Rochester, N.Y. - Rochester’s next generation of founders, investors, and operators gathered this past Saturday at Fairport Brewing Co. for Start-up and VC Night, an event hosted by the Simon School Venture Fund (SSVF) , Net Impact , Uncorked, and the Simon Entrepreneurs Association (SEA). Designed as both an educational forum and a community-building experience, the evening delivered a strong signal: Rochester’s innovation economy continues to gain momentum, driven by access

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — TechRochester has officially announced the nominees for its 2026 Technology Woman of the Year and Emerging Technology Woman of the Year Awards, marking the 25th anniversary of one of the region’s most established recognitions of women in technology. The annual event highlights leaders across Greater Rochester who are driving innovation, advancing STEM careers, and strengthening the local technology ecosystem. The awards also emphasize mentorship, community

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Long before he was building software for manufacturers, Steven Smith was already experimenting with entrepreneurship. As a child growing up in Greece, New York, he built haunted houses and arcade-style attractions in his grandmother’s basement and charged family members admission. “ It was probably the first time I realized you could build something and people would actually pay for it, ” Smith said. Today, Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Perdix Software

ROCHESTER, NY — The winners have been announced and leaders across the region’s technology ecosystem gathered to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and impact at the 2026 GREAT Awards , TechRochester’s annual recognition of the individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of technology in Greater Rochester. The GREAT Awards, short for Greater Rochester Excellence and Achievements in Technology, highlight the companies, researchers, students, and innovators using

As Women’s History Month begins, women's business and leadership groups are strengthening mentorship, leadership, and professional connections across the region. ROCHESTER, NY — As Women’s History Month begins and International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, several organizations across Rochester are helping women expand their professional networks, develop leadership skills, and create new opportunities in business and community leadership. International Women’s Day is