Connected Know Launches to Spotlight Rochester’s Innovation Economy

New media platform will cover startups, funding, tech talent, and growth-stage companies in Rochester and the surrounding region

BYLINE: ConnectedKnow Staff | Sept. 5, 2025

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new voice has arrived to track what’s being built in Rochester’s growing innovation economy.

Connected Know, a media and intelligence platform focused on startups, fundraising, technology, and real business activity, launched this week with a goal to cover the people and companies shaping the economic future of Rochester and the surrounding region.

At a time when local innovation is accelerating—but often underreported—ConnectedKnow aims to fill a crucial gap.

“There’s no shortage of brilliant founders, researchers, operators and investors working across Rochester,” said the Connected Know 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.”

Tracking Real Momentum

ConnectedKnow will cover early- and growth-stage companies, venture and angel activity, university spinouts, accelerator cohorts, key hires, talent movement, and ecosystem development. It will also provide original reporting and analysis on trends emerging from Rochester’s core sectors: optics, photonics, imaging, software, AI, medtech, manufacturing, clean energy, and more.

Initial coverage areas include:

• Startup profiles and founder interviews

• Funding announcements and capital raises

• Job creation, hiring trends, and company expansions

• Research commercialization from RIT, University of Rochester, and other institutions

• Ecosystem activity from organizations such as NextCorps, Luminate, Venture Creations, Launch NY and TechRochester

The platform will also track developments in nearby startup hubs across Buffalo, Syracuse, and the broader Finger Lakes and Upstate New York region.

Local Focus, National Visibility

Despite its deep bench of technical talent and legacy of innovation, Rochester has historically lacked a central source for startup and tech reporting. ConnectedKnow seeks to elevate the visibility of local ventures—not only for readers within the region but also for investors, talent, and strategic partners outside of it.

“Rochester doesn’t need to become the next Silicon Valley,” the ConnectedKnow team said. “It needs to be seen as what it already is: one of the most compelling, under appreciated innovation hubs in the country.”

What’s Next

Connected Know is currently publishing weekly, with plans to expand into deeper analysis, interviews, data features, and partnerships with local institutions. A curated email briefing and founder submission portal are in development.

Founders, investors, economic developers, and operators working in the region are encouraged to reach out with updates, funding news, or emerging stories.

To get in touch with the ConnectedKnow editorial team or submit a lead, visit the request news page.