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

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

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. — 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

As organizations plan for 2026, the technology conversation is expanding well beyond artificial intelligence. While AI continues to dominate headlines, business leaders are increasingly focused on the underlying systems that determine whether innovation can actually scale: security, infrastructure, governance, and operational discipline. Across industries, executives are shifting from tool adoption to systems thinking, asking not just what technology to deploy, but how their

Rochester, N.Y. - From CES to Davos, a handful of global conferences shape what business will look like next. Rochester founders should be paying attention. Each year, thousands of executives, policymakers, founders, investors, and technologists converge at a small number of global conferences. These are not trade shows in the traditional sense. They are agenda-setting forums, places where industries align, capital finds direction, and narratives about the future of business

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Constellation Brands, one of the Rochester region’s most globally influential companies, reported its third-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Tuesday, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading force in the U.S. beverage alcohol market. The company announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Newlands and Chief Financial Officer Garth Hankinson will host a conference call Thursday, Jan. 8, at 10:30 a.m. ET to discuss results and outl

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  — In an era when most clothing worn in the United States is produced overseas, Rochester stands apart. Once known globally as a center of precision optics and imaging, the city also holds a lesser-known but increasingly rare distinction: it remains one of the last U.S. cities with the infrastructure, labor force, and institutional knowledge to produce men’s clothing. While the modern fashion conversation often centers on New York, Los Angeles, or Paris, Roche

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester and the broader Finger Lakes region are quietly assembling the components of a nationally relevant AgTech ecosystem, one rooted in advanced research, global food and retail influence, and a steadily growing pipeline of venture-backed startups. Long known for optics, imaging, and advanced manufacturing, the region is now leveraging those strengths to support the next generation of agricultural and food technology companies. From precision agricultur

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester has long been known for its legacy industries, research institutions, and engineering talent. But beneath that familiar narrative, a new storyline is emerging one defined by fast growth, modern technology, and the rise of companies that are scaling beyond the region without losing their local roots. From cloud software to fiber infrastructure to AI-driven services, Rochester’s tech ecosystem is accelerating in ways that are reshaping the local busi

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Constellation Brands is extending its reach into one of the most powerful ecosystems in American sports as Ruffino Prosecco , one of its signature wine labels, becomes a Proud Partner of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide for the 2025–26 athletic season. The one-year agreement places Ruffino inside the heart of SEC football culture, aligning the Italian sparkling wine with a program known for national titles, high visibility, and a fiercely loyal fanbase

How the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship is rewriting the rules of business education and expanding into Buffalo ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In the world of startups, growth, agility, and purpose are the hallmarks of success. But one of Rochester’s fastest-growing “startups” isn’t a tech company or venture-backed firm it’s a business school that operates more like a modern accelerator than a traditional college. Founded in 2023 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom G

Rochester remains a vital player in New York’s economic landscape. Not just through startups and research, but through established, market-listed enterprises that continue to anchor and employ thousands across the region.