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Rochester Business and Startup News
Upstate Technology, Innovation & Business Coverage
Connected Know delivers in-depth reporting on Rochester’s startup ecosystem, Upstate New York innovation, and the business leaders shaping the region’s economic future. Covering breakthrough technologies, high-growth companies, venture activity, and corporate developments, we provide the news and analysis founders, investors, and operators rely on to stay informed. Learn how to submit news and information.
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Rochester on the Mic: Podcasts Driving Business, Culture, and Conversation
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester’s startup and innovation ecosystem isn’t just being built in offices and coworking spaces. It’s being broadcast. Across Spotify feeds, FM airwaves, and independent platforms, a growing group of Rochester-based podcast hosts are shaping conversations about business, leadership, equity, food systems, crime, culture, and community. Some are hyper-local. Others are gaining national attention. All are contributing to how the region tells its story. Her
Feb 254 min read


Upstate Venture Connect to Lead Founder Roadshows to Detroit, Boston, and NYC Tech Week
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is taking Upstate founders on the road this spring, launching a series of immersive roadshows designed to connect Upstate New York entrepreneurs with investors, customers, and corporate partners in some of the country’s most active innovation hubs. The nonprofit will lead curated delegations to Detroit (May 18–20), Boston (May 27–28), and New York City (June 2–4), aligning each trip with major tech and startup weeks in those ci
Feb 242 min read


AI Meets Workforce: Iter Opus Brings Hiring Innovation to Rochester
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
Feb 234 min read


Rochester Startups Take the Stage at Startup Grind Pitch Battle Royale Feb. 19
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — More than 20 Rochester-based startups will take the stage Feb. 19 at NextCorps for the local round of the Startup Grind Pitch Battle Royale , a global competition that gives early- and growth-stage founders a shot at international exposure and a trip to the Startup Grind Global Conference in April. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. EST at NextCorps, 260 E. Main St., and will also be available virtually. Founders will compete across three categories Idea, Develop
Feb 183 min read


Turning Advocacy Into Action: A Rochester Founder’s Journey
VICTOR, N.Y. — When Samantha Taylor launched Olive Speech Therapy , in 2022, she was not just starting a private practice. She was rethinking how families experience speech-language services and how clinicians are supported in delivering them. Today, Taylor leads a growing team of eight speech-language pathologists serving families across the Rochester region. In 2025, she expanded her impact further with the launch of the Empowered Parent Network, a community-driven platform
Feb 173 min read


Constellation Brands Announces CEO Transition, Nicholas Fink to Lead Rochester-Based Beverage Giant
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Constellation Brands , one of the largest beverage alcohol companies in the United States and a cornerstone of Rochester’s corporate landscape, announced Thursday that Nicholas Fink will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 13, 2026. Fink will succeed Bill Newlands, who has served as President and CEO since 2019. Newlands will step down from the role on April 13 and remain as a strategic advisor for several months to support
Feb 123 min read


Manufacturing for the Fusion Industry: Why Rochester Is Exploring a High-Value Entry Point into a $14B Sector
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.
Feb 113 min read


From Western New York to Milan–Cortina: How Team USA Athletes Are Paid at the 2026 Winter Olympics
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
Feb 83 min read
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