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

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. — For decades, professional networking has centered around conference rooms, cocktail receptions and carefully exchanged business cards. But across Rochester, a growing number of professionals are building meaningful business relationships in far less conventional settings on tennis courts, walking trails and inside boutique fitness studios. The shift reflects a broader change in how professionals think about community. Rather than transactional introductions,