Five startups have been selected as winners in the 11th annual 43North Finals, a $5 million startup competition held in Buffalo, New York. Each of the five companies will receive a $1 million investment and will relocate to Buffalo to work from the 43North incubator at Seneca One.
The event, which draws participants from around the world, took place at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. The winning startups are: Cellsense from New York, NY, which produces compostable beads from algae and cellulose to reduce microplastics; Cosi Care from London, UK, which has developed medical devices for itch relief in eczema patients; Floe from New Haven, CT, which offers an eco-friendly solution for managing ice and snow on roofs; RadEmploy from New York, NY, a radiology staffing platform using conversational AI; and Tukki.ai from Miami, FL, which uses AI to assist immigrants and companies with visa and green card management.
Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the competition’s impact: “New York State is committed to helping innovative startups scale and hire — and 43North is a proven engine for that growth. Congratulations to this year’s five winners. We look forward to seeing you build in Western New York, create good-paying jobs, attract talent and capital and strengthen Buffalo’s standing as one of the nation’s fastest-growing startup cities.”
The selection panel included Felecia Hatcher of Black Ambition Opportunity, Kerry Hicks of HW Investment Partners, Pocket Sun of SoGal Ventures, Nasir C. Qadree of Zeal Capital, and Sameer Kenkare of AWS Startups.
Each winning company also receives mentoring, access to a network of investors, and office space. Since its start in 2014, 43North has invested in 74 companies that have created over 3,000 jobs globally and raised more than $1 billion in capital.
This year’s People’s Choice award of $25,000, sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, was awarded to Cosi Care based on audience voting.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said: “Empire State Development is proud to power 43North’s work to attract and scale high-quality startups in Buffalo. By connecting founders with capital, customers and community, this program helps companies choose New York, create good-paying jobs and build a durable startup ecosystem. Congratulations to this year’s winners — we’re ready to help you scale and add momentum to Western New York’s innovation economy.”
