Rochester Business and Startup News
Upstate Technology, Innovation & Business Coverage

Guest Writer: Adam Martocello, Founder - Lilac Automation ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Most professional services firms already use artificial intelligence in some form. An accountant drafts a client email in ChatGPT. A law office summarizes a contract in a chat window. A marketing agency brainstorms campaign copy with a prompt. In nearly every case, the pattern is the same: a person types a question, the tool answers, and the person decides what to do next. That pattern is starting 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. — 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

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. — Long before artificial intelligence, semiconductors, or advanced manufacturing became buzzwords, Rochester was already shaping the way the world sees, measures, and understands light. That work continues today through optics and photonics, industries that remain foundational to Rochester’s economy, workforce, and long-term relevance, even if they rarely make headlines. What Optics and Photonics Actually Mean At its core, optics is the science and engineerin

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Flower City AI returned Wednesday for its third year, filling The Little Theatre with technologists, founders, educators, healthcare leaders and students for a full-day program focused on Rochester’s emergence as a growing hub for applied artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional industry conferences, Flower City AI is intentionally community-driven designed to bring together researchers, builders and local organizations shaping how AI is deployed acros

A groups are exploring bringing Alpha School to Rochester; a technology-driven, self-directed learning model that's already transforming education in cities like Austin, Miami, and New York City.

A new wave of startups is redefining what innovation looks like in Rochester. From artificial intelligence to wellness and elder care, three emerging companies in Rochester driving innovation.

“There’s no shortage of brilliant founders, researchers, operators and investors working across Rochester,” said the ConnectedKnow editorial team in a statement. “What’s missing is a consistent, credible place to tell those stories. That’s what ConnectedKnow is here to provide.”