‘Game on’: AOL co-founder urges Buffalo to build on startup gains

Back then, the city’s tallest building was virtually vacant, and Canalside was still emerging. And the 43North business plan competition was in its infancy.

Case was back in town Thursday and declared he was impressed with the progress he saw.

“There’s a lot of momentum on a lot of different fronts, so that’s good,” Case said during a talk with 43North president Colleen Heidinger, at now-thriving Seneca One tower. “One thing would be, make sure as many people in the community know that as possible, so that people know progress is being made and therefore they’re a little bit more optimistic, a little more likely to lean in.”

The billionaire entrepreneur also warned his audience not to get complacent.

“But also recognize: It’s game on,” he said. “Guess what? There are lot of other Buffalos that are out there fighting to be a city on the rise. There are dozens that are fighting to be a city on the rise and trying to figure out how to win on their talent and on their capital and on the collaboration point.

“Now is not the time to say, ‘Oh, look at all the things we did in the last decade,’ “ Case said. “Instead, ‘OK, progress, good, we should celebrate that, but the next decade is showtime.’ “

As CEO of the Revolution LLC investment firm, Case has focused on startups in areas outside of the tech hotbeds like New York City, Boston and Silicon Valley. He crisscrossed the country with his “Rise of the Rest” bus tour, and wrote a book of the same name. Revolution has invested in more than 200 companies in over 100 cities, including some past 43North prize winners.

Case shared lessons and insights about the startup scene:

• Places like Buffalo have a better shot at attracting investment when they take a regional approach, Case said.

“When people are thinking about Buffalo, they’re thinking about a region in…