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Rochester
What’s happening in Rochester business, and what’s next.
Business News
All news →- Oct 2, 2026Gekko Photonics Takes Top Prize at Luminate NY as Five Deep-Tech Startups Secure FundingROCHESTER, N.Y. — Five deep-tech startups developing technologies across photonics, lasers, advanced imaging and medical devices have secured more than $2 million in investments through the ninth round of Luminate…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- Sep 20, 202610 Deep-Tech Startups, $2 Million and Rochester’s Next Wave of InnovationLuminate Finals 2026 will bring emerging technologies in AI, semiconductors, healthcare, quantum and advanced manufacturing to the stage in Rochester. ROCHESTER, N.Y.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Aug 13, 2026From Small Business to Major Supplier: New Program Opens Procurement Doors in Western New YorkNew eight-week program targets a persistent growth opportunity for Western New York companies: learning how to sell to the region’s largest employers and institutions while scaling. BROCKPORT, N.Y.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- Jul 1, 2026All citiesThe Economic Engine Powering Rochester's Next ChapterROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester has long been known as the birthplace of companies like Kodak, Xerox and Bausch + Lomb.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Jun 30, 2026Rochester's Andluca Secures Strategic Investment to Accelerate AI-Powered Smart Glass PlatformROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester-based advanced materials company Andluca has secured a SAFE investment from an undisclosed strategic investor as the company prepares for its upcoming Series A fundraising round and expands…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- Jun 22, 2026Rochester Startup Moka Energy Lands Major Distribution Deal, Expands Into 250 Stores Across the East CoastThe Rochester startup behind an edible coffee energy bar will launch in 250 stores through a new partnership with East Coast distributor Rainforest Distribution beginning July 1. ROCHESTER, N.Y.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Jun 8, 2026Rochester Business Leaders Gather to Explore the Future of AI and Small BusinessROCHESTER, 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…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- May 13, 2026Rockstar Energy Meets Rochester Coffee Culture at Elvio’sROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a regional economy increasingly driven by experience-based businesses, Elvio’s Coffee is emerging as one of Rochester’s more distinctive lifestyle concepts, blending specialty coffee, live music and…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- May 2, 2026All citiesBiotech Startup REEgen Secures $200K State Grant to Advance Rare Earth Recovery TechnologyITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithaca-based biotech startup focused on critical mineral recovery has secured new state funding to accelerate its path to commercialization.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- May 1, 2026Rochester-Based Syntec Optics Taps Public Markets for $20M Growth PushROCHESTER, N.Y. — Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTX) has raised approximately $20 million through an underwritten public offering, signaling continued investment activity in Rochester’s advanced manufacturing…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- Apr 30, 2026$2 Billion T-Mobile Deal Brings Rochester’s Greenlight Networks Into National Fiber ExpansionROCHESTER, N.Y. — A roughly $2 billion deal is set to accelerate the growth of one of Rochester’s most recognizable tech companies, as Greenlight Networks becomes part of a major national broadband expansion strategy.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- Apr 29, 2026Startup Wednesday Expands to Rochester, Bringing Hands-On Venture Building to Local FoundersROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new venture-building program is set to launch in Rochester this June, adding fresh momentum to the region’s growing startup and innovation economy.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- Apr 26, 2026This Rochester Founder Is Fixing Cross-Border Payments for Emerging MarketsROCHESTER, N.Y. — For Chukwuebuka Mgbenka, the idea behind MoneyPigeon did not come from theory, it came from lived experience.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Insights
- Apr 25, 2026TechRochester Names 2026 Technology Woman and Emerging Technology Woman of the YearROCHESTER, N.Y. — This past Thursday TechRochester brought together the region’s innovation community to celebrate leadership, impact, and progress at the 2026 Technology Woman of the Year Awards, held at the Memorial…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Apr 15, 2026Rochester-Built Startup Locke Launches Open Passkey, Aims to Eliminate Passwords for DevelopersROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester-based startup is solving one of the internet’s most persistent friction points: passwords.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Apr 9, 2026Brown and White Ventures Backs Stak Mobility to Rethink Urban InfrastructureRochester, N.Y. - Brown and White Ventures has announced a new investment in Stak Mobility, a company focused on reshaping how cities use space, energy, and transportation infrastructure.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsInvestment
- Apr 3, 2026All citiesUpstate Venture Connect Selects Seven High-Growth Startups for 2026 Founder Roadshow to Detroit Tech WeekROCHESTER, N.Y. — Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) has announced the eight founders from seven high-growth Upstate startups selected to participate in its first Founder Roadshow of 2026, a curated delegation heading to…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- Mar 19, 2026TechRochester Announces 2026 Technology Woman of the Year and Emerging Technology Woman of the Year NomineesROCHESTER, N.Y. — TechRochester has officially announced the nominees for its 2026 Technology Woman of the Year and Emerging Technology Woman of the Year Awards, marking the 25th anniversary of one of the region’s most…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Mar 6, 2026Rochester’s Technology Community Celebrates Innovation at the 2026 GREAT AwardsROCHESTER, 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…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Mar 5, 2026Rochester’s Women’s Business & Leadership Organizations Are Shaping the Region's LeadersAs Women’s History Month begins, women's business and leadership groups are strengthening mentorship, leadership, and professional connections across the region.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Mar 4, 2026Three Rochester-Area Founders Compete on Global Stage in Startup Grind FinalsROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three Rochester-area founders will represent the region on the global stage as finalists in the 2026 Startup Grind Pitch Battle Royale, an international startup competition spotlighting emerging…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Mar 2, 2026Rochester’s Cannabis Market Comes Into Focus as National Industry Surpasses $30 BillionROCHESTER, 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…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Feb 26, 2026Bishop Kearney High School Plans Transformational Athletic and Wellness ComplexROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bishop Kearney High School has announced plans to develop a multi-use athletic and wellness complex aimed at expanding student opportunity, strengthening campus life, and supporting the school’s…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Feb 23, 2026AI Meets Workforce: Iter Opus Brings Hiring Innovation to RochesterROCHESTER, 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…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Feb 11, 2026Manufacturing for the Fusion Industry: Why Rochester Is Exploring a High-Value Entry Point into a $14B SectorROCHESTER, 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.By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- Feb 8, 2026From Western New York to Milan–Cortina: How Team USA Athletes Are Paid at the 2026 Winter OlympicsROCHESTER, 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.By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Feb 4, 2026Inside Rochester’s $250M Supplier Opportunity: What the Upstate NY Supplier Engagement Summit RevealedROCHESTER, N.Y. — Business owners, procurement leaders, and public-sector buyers gathered Wednesday at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center for the 2026 Upstate New York Supplier Engagement Summit, a full-day event…By Connected KnowBusiness NewsFounder Resources
- Jan 30, 2026Beyond the AI Conversation: Tech Trends Every Executive Should Be Watching in 2026As 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…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Jan 24, 2026Reju selects Rochester, N.Y. for first U.S. industrial textile regeneration facilityROCHESTER, N.Y. — Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company backed by global engineering firm Technip Energies, has selected Rochester, New York, as the site of its first U.S.-based industrial-scale facility…By Connected KnowBusiness News
- Jan 17, 2026Rochester’s Optics Industry Remains a Strategic Asset in a High-Tech EconomyROCHESTER, 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.By Connected KnowBusiness News
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