The most established group of 43North startups has officially landed in Buffalo.
43North officials have high hopes for the winners of last October’s business plan competition. They say the latest class stands out in its maturity and potential. The companies are raising money at a feverish pace and, for most of the founders, this is not their first time playing a key role in a startup with substantial potential.
That’s exactly what 43North organizers have been hoping for as the contest has evolved and become more established in the startup world, with a more intense focus on attracting more advanced companies with more established business foundations.
The startup accelerator and incubator recently rolled out the red carpet in welcoming to the area the five winners from its ninth cohort: Guidesly of Topsfield, Mass.; KAV of Redwood City, Calif.; Kredit Academy of Miami; Stepwise of Cambridge, Mass.; and StoreCash of San Jose, Calif. Move-in day at Seneca One tower was Tuesday.
They all have lofty goals and are confident with what Buffalo has to offer and how 43North can raise their profile. Each is required to spend at least one year in Buffalo as part of the $1 million prize for winning the competition last fall in front of thousands at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.
“When we got on that stage and saw 4,000 people, we couldn’t believe that they were all here for a pitch competition,” said Evan Leaphart, founder of Kredit Academy. “How much this means to the community is something that I have never seen. You really feel like you’ve been drafted to the league.”
This is the sixth startup for Whitman Kwok, founder of KAV, makers of custom-fit, 3D-printed helmets for cyclists and other recreational sports. Most of them have been in enterprise software, including Guidewire, an $8 billion company providing software for property and casualty insurance carriers.
Working on KAV since 2016 has been the most fun experience…
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