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’

ITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithaca-based biotech startup focused on critical mineral recovery has secured new state funding to accelerate its path to commercialization. REEgen was awarded $200,000 on April 16 through the Innovation Matching Grants program, administered by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). The funding will support deployment of the company’s BioREEcover technology, which is designed to recover rare earth elements from in

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. — Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) has announced the eight founders from seven high-growth Upstate startups selected to participate in its first Founder Roadshow of 2026, a curated delegation heading to Michigan Tech Week in Detroit this May. The “Upstate to Detroit: Founders Roadshow” will bring a cohort of venture-scale companies into one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing innovation hubs for a multi-day immersion designed to accelerate growth, unlock capital,

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, 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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three Rochester-area founders will represent the region on the global stage as finalists in the 2026 Startup Grind Pitch Battle Royale , an international startup competition spotlighting emerging companies from around the world. The global finals take place March 4, with U.S. viewing times at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. CT). International broadcast times include 4 p.m. GMT and 9:30 p.m. IST, underscoring the event’s worldwide reach. Competing in the fina

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Invest NY Ecosystem Dashboard , an open-access data platform powered by Dealroom, now provides founders, investors, ecosystem builders and economic leaders a unified source of intelligence on startup activity, investment patterns, innovation assets and growth trends across Upstate New York. The platform aggregates company profiles, investor activity, transactions and ecosystem statistics and presents them in an interactive web dashboard at investny.org/

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The legal cannabis industry in the United States has matured into a multibillion-dollar sector, with regulated sales reaching approximately $30.1 billion in 2024 and trending toward an annualized pace exceeding $33 billion entering 2025, according to industry reports. Forecasts project the market could approach $39 billion by 2029, driven by continued state legalization, retail expansion, and product innovation. Against that national backdrop, Rochester and

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bishop Kearney High Scho ol has announced plans to develop a multi-use athletic and wellness complex aimed at expanding student opportunity, strengthening campus life, and supporting the school’s long-term growth. The proposed project will include a new on-campus ice rink, athletic facilities, and dedicated training and wellness space designed to serve a wide range of student needs, from physical education and team sports to strength training, fitness, and h

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Iter Opus , a U.S.-based technology startup developing artificial intelligence-driven hiring and career tools, has selected downtown Rochester as the site of its new headquarters, positioning itself within the city’s growing innovation corridor. The company has moved into the historic Powers Building. Iter Opus is preparing to scale its flagship product, Levii.io , a private AI-powered platform designed to match job seekers with career pathways and align em

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As the global race to commercialize nuclear fusion accelerates, Rochester’s innovation community is convening to examine where Western New York fits in a rapidly scaling, capital-intensive industry. On Friday, March 13, industry experts, technologists, and regional manufacturers will gather at NextCorps on the sixth floor of the Sibley Building for a full-day workshop titled Manufacturing for the Fusion Industry: Targets. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina in full swing, a small group of athletes with roots in Western and Upstate New York will take the world stage wearing Team USA. While Olympic competition remains the central focus, the Games also represent a meaningful financial moment, one shaped by national sponsorships, licensing revenue, and a newly expanded compensation model for U.S. athletes. For competitors from Rochester and the broader region, includin