Roc Startup Week Runs Nov. 2-7 With Events Celebrating Entrepreneurship and Innovation
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester's entrepreneurial community will take center stage Nov. 2-7 as Roc Startup Week brings together founders, investors, students and business leaders for six days of events focused on entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth.
The weeklong celebration features workshops, founder panels, investor office hours, networking events and student competitions hosted by organizations throughout Greater Rochester. Most events are free and open to the public, with some requiring advance registration.
The programming highlights the region's growing startup ecosystem and the organizations working to support entrepreneurs, attract investment and create new business opportunities.
A Week of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Roc Startup Week begins Monday, Nov. 2, with a Founder Risk Lab hosted by CoPivot at Emerge. Additional programming at NextCorps will explore business-to-business sales in the age of artificial intelligence and intellectual property protection for startups.
Monday evening will feature a screening of City Mark, a documentary exploring Rochester's iconic logo, followed by networking hosted by RocGrowth.
Tuesday's programming includes workshops on collaborative entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities in fusion energy.
That evening, Connected Know and Startup Grind Rochester will partner for a special edition of Connected Ideas, featuring a founder panel at Vanni's Speakeasy inside The Inn on Broadway.
The discussion will feature Karen Skuse, Colin Floom, Ryan Mosher and Mike Thaney, director of Startup Grind Rochester. Moderated by Connected Know founder Kayte Malik, the panel will explore the realities of building and scaling companies, navigating challenges and lessons learned through entrepreneurship.
The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes networking and a showcase of regional startups.
Learn more and register for the Connected Ideas Founder Panel.
Connecting Founders With Capital and Resources
Access to funding and experienced mentors will be another focus of the week.
On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Upstate Venture Connect will host investor office hours at Rochester Institute of Technology, offering selected entrepreneurs opportunities to connect directly with investors and business leaders.
Additional programming includes discussions on entrepreneurship, marketing and business growth.
Thursday's events feature RocGrowth's Creative Collisions networking gathering, while Friday's sessions at NextCorps will explore scaling technology infrastructure and fundraising strategies, including venture capital, angel investment, grants and bootstrapping.
The week concludes Saturday, Nov. 7, with the Mark Ain Business Model Competition at the University of Rochester, where student entrepreneurs will present their business ideas and compete for funding.
Building Rochester's Next Generation of Businesses
Rochester has a longstanding history of innovation, from Eastman Kodak and Xerox to its leadership in optics, imaging and advanced manufacturing. Today, the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to expand across artificial intelligence, software, photonics and emerging technologies.
Roc Startup Week provides an opportunity to connect the people, organizations and resources driving that growth.
For founders, it offers access to potential customers, investors and mentors. For students and professionals, it provides a closer look at the companies and entrepreneurs shaping Rochester's economic future.
Roc Startup Week runs Nov. 2-7, 2026, at locations throughout Greater Rochester. Events are generally free unless otherwise noted, and registration requirements vary.
View the complete Roc Startup Week schedule, event details and registration information.