Connecticut Innovations

We're here to connect & catalyze tech startups with our extensive network. Grab the attention of corporate partners and VCF Portolfio Managers by demonstrating that your start up is well-managed, growth-focused and addresses a relevant market opportunity. THE HEART OF THE MIDWEST MOVEMENT Midwest really is best. Our ecosystem is strategically located in the heartland of the fastest-growing tech scene - driven by affordable cost of living, ample amenities, friendly people, and more. The Talent is Here With access to top universities, The Queen City has developed a strong talent pipeline. Fortune 500 Access Heavy hitters like P&G, Kroger, Western & Southern and Fifth Third Bank are in our backyard looking for agile startup talent. Full City Support Cintrifuse was created and funded by the city, for the city. Cincinnati is here for YOU. Smart Cost of Business A general low cost of living keeps business costs down and supports a great quality of life.

The Keenan Center provides a campus-wide hub for collaboration and engagement with early-stage capital, startup talent and robust programming resources to maximize opportunities for social and economic impact. Capital: Dilutive and non-dilutive sources of capital for technology validation and startup acceleration Venture Development: Business model creation, financing plans, value proposition, customer validation, scalability analysis Talent: Engagement with entrepreneurs, internship opportunities, startup mentoring services, team development Programming and Events: Opportunities to develop an entrepreneurial skillset through events, seminars, competitions, online resources and more

Our vision is to be the leading Mid-Michigan Venture Fund providing economic impact for the region and the state with new jobs, new companies, and value-added partnerships. Who we are As the premier land grant university, Michigan State University has a presence in every county within the state of Michigan. To complement MSU’s land grant mission, the MSU Research Foundation formed and supported the first Mid-Michigan Venture investment organization, Red Cedar Ventures. Our team supports 4 funds. Pre-Seed Fund Opportunity Fund I Opportunity Fund II Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III Supporting Michigan Startups The focus of these funds is to support early-stage entrepreneurs throughout the state of Michigan. Our funds have significant partnerships and collaborations to assist in its vision. Its close relationships with Michigan State University Technologies and Spartan Innovations provides a robust pipeline of early-stage technologies for cultivation and assessment. Red Cedar Ventures also partners with Spartan Innovations in the facilitation of Conquer Accelerator program. When possible, working with Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures assists in bridging Industry and Statewide Commercial entities in innovations and partnerships around startups with the vast and talented resources surrounding Michigan State University. The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation empowers students to learn through action by providing programs, courses, and resources to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, develop empathy, and create new ventures – another pipeline created for student startups in search of funding and support. As a member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, our team works in concert to support startups in Michigan in coordination with Invest Detroit, Invest Michigan, Renaissance Ventures, and other ecosystem partners looking to impact Michigan's economy. Red Cedar Ventures portfolio companies and startups, throughout campus and the Mid-Michigan region, can rent office space at The East Lansing Technology Innovation Center or VanCamp, and access essential resources made available by the MSU Foundation. Our team provides many resources to help launch entrepreneurial ventures including funding, mentorship and coaching, board participation, commercial/market assessment, startup advising, business documentation and support services, partnership opportunities related to MSU, and consulting on overall strategy and execution.

We help entrepreneurs grow companies of significance by connecting a community of mentors, capital for startups and customers to support growth. The Why At NXTUS, Inc, we are a catalyst for the region’s startup ecosystem. At our essence, we serve as a nexus for entrepreneurs, investors, corporate partners, and the community at-large. Our primary aim is to achieve the ‘next us’ by growing startups, strengthening innovation culture and building support systems. Based out of Wichita, we collaborate with other entrepreneur support organizations, government agencies, economic development groups, corporate innovators, and, most of all, founders and investors to positively impact and advance the economy, culture and vitality in our Midwest region. NXTUS currently manages Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional Angel investor syndicate, the NXTSTAGE Pilot Competitions, aimed at connecting startups to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their technologies, and NXTCONNECT and AVP Insights, free monthly education series presenting wisdom and resources for our entrepreneurs and investors. One of our core values is to make sure the face of entrepreneurship reflects the make-up of our community. Diversity plays a huge role in the success of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. For our region to thrive, we want and need as many entrepreneurs as we can get. We are an inclusion organization, committed to providing customized support to all who have an idea and want to make it grow. Background In 2014, a group of experienced entrepreneurs came together with a vision to reinvigorate the entrepreneurial spirit of Wichita. Thus, an organization then called e2e was launched in 2016, with the support of many passionate individuals and corporate sponsors. Here are some history and program highlights: An initial e2e Accelerator class, launched in 2016 was made up of Appointment Launch, Buddy Brands, Knoxx / Alyss Analytics, KingFit, Reverie Roasters, and Tru-Building. LaunchPrep, launched in the Spring of 2017 as a partnership between the Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship and NXTUS, is a 90-day mentor driven accelerator program for early stage entrepreneurs. In 2018, Accelerate Venture Partners was formed to broaden the base of angel-stage capital investment in the region. By the end of 2019, AVP had become one of the fastest-growing angel syndicates in the U.S. In January 2020, e2e became NXTUS, continuing its vital work to support founders and their young, growing companies. NXTUS launched NXTSTAGE startup programs and a new era of community-wide innovation began.

New York Ventures supports high-growth companies and their partners to use technology to solve important challenges in areas of strategic interest and importance. We actively look to provide greater access to venture capital for regions, industries and individuals, including women and minority entrepreneurs and fund managers. Our goal is to build a robust startup ecosystem across New York State, leveraging public and private sector assets. New York Ventures is actively deploying over $300 million of capital through equity programs for both direct and indirect investment. In 2022, New York was awarded funds via the U.S. Department of Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative, which helps us to support our several programs. Venture Capital Program Funds Pre-seed and Seed Matching Fund: $30 million fund for investing in venture backable start-ups at the early stages of their development NYS Innovation Venture Capital Fund: $135+ million fund for investing in venture-backable startups from Seed through Series B Emerging and Regional Partner Fund: $102 million fund for investing in diverse and emerging venture fund managers or managers who invest in undercapitalized regions in NYS Community and Regional Partner Fund: $52 million fund for investing in venture fund managers who operate or partner with mentor-based programs like accelerators Impact NY Ventures programs and companies create impact in numerous ways, but we are proud of the range and diversity of companies and managers that all our programs have supported since 2011. 224 companies: More than 55% located outside of New York City $135M+ invested by NYS, matched by $900M+ from the private sector 43.3% portfolio companies started and/or led by women or minorities Team The New York Ventures team has extensive experience as investors and entrepreneurs, with offices in New York City, the Southern Tier, Western NY and the Capital Region. In addition, we regularly collaborate with our partners within the Small Business and Technology Development Division who help entrepreneurs at all stages of growth and development. Jennifer Tegan - Managing Director Silvia Garcia Codony - Assistant Vice President Karan Mehta - Senior Director Ryoko Nozawa - Senior Director Josh Nelson - Director Zack Pecenak - Director Audrey Chisholm - Assistant Director Elaine Chen - Operations Associate Thomas Halpin - Project Associate

Each year, we invest $5 million in companies that relocate to Buffalo through our startup competition. Founded in 2014, 43North is made possible by New York State, Empire State Development, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and several other sponsors. MISSION STATEMENT To attract and retain high-growth startups in Buffalo. VISION STATEMENT To make Buffalo a place the world’s most innovative startups want to call home by providing best-in-class resources to founders, a talented and dedicated workforce, and a passionate community that supports entrepreneurs.