Resources

NY State

• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) www.nyserda.org is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State Legislature. NYSERDA administers the New York Energy $martSM program, which is designed to support certain public benefit programs during the transition to a more competitive electricity market. Some 2,700 projects in 40 programs are funded by a charge on the electricity transmitted and distributed by the State's investor-owned utilities. The New York Energy $martSM program provides energy efficiency services, including those directed at the low-income sector, research and development, and environmental protection activities.

Business Incubation

• High Tech Rochester Inc. www.htr.org is a nonprofit organization focused on regional economic development in the technology and high growth business sector. HTR assists the development of new and emerging businesses through its business incubator, the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center. The incubator provides accelerated growth and success opportunities to entrepreneurs and start-ups. Through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the organization improves the competitive position of small manufacturing firms. HTR collaborates with academic and research institutions, businesses and professionals to support innovation and technology commercialization.
• High Tech Incubator www.rithti.org is a non-profit arm of Rochester Institute of Technology that provides business incubation services to professors, students, technology licencees, and other entrepreneurs with a connection to the university. The incubator is recruiting renewable energy technology companies, regardless of the connection to the university, to take advantage of its world-class research and services.
• Western NY Technology Development Center www.wnytdc.com (TDC) assists entrepreneurs in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties establishing a new business or accelerating the growth of an existing manufacturing or technology firm. They help develop a new product, reduce costs or improve quality. The team of over 20 professionals has expertise in a broad range of areas, including assisting business start-ups, increasing competitiveness of existing manufacturers, bringing new technologies to the marketplace, and implementing new products and processes on the production floor.

Design

• NY Designs www.nydesigns.org is located in Queens, NY, and is a business center created to support promising NY design firms to grow into successful, vibrant businesses that contribute meaningfully to the economic and cultural growth of New York. NY Designs - CUNY is the recipient of a $5 Million New York State grant to provide business growth services to design companies in New York City, and is an incubator for designers of renewable energy products and systems.

Economic Development

• BuffLink www.bufflink.org mission is to increase and accelerate the results from technology transfer and commercialization of cutting-edge research, leading to the successful creation of new enterprises, growth companies, and ultimately, to a critical mass of life science activities that make the Buffalo Niagara region a global competitor and hot-bed for innovation in the 21st century.
• Greater Rochester Enterprise www.greaterrochesterenterprise.com (GRE) is a public-private partnership established to professionally market the Rochester metropolitan region as a competitive, high-profile place for business location and growth. GRE will collaborate with business, academia, not-for-profit organizations and government to ensure a unified approach to regional economic development efforts.

Solar Products

• SunWize Technologies, Inc. www.sunwize.com is located in the Catskill Mountains, and is a leading solar electric power company, specializing the manufacturing of integrated solar power systems and the distribution of solar modules and components. SunWize forms partnerships with local dealers and installers for residential, commercial, and light industrial applications.

University Partners

• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) www.rit.edu is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, imaging, technology, fine and applied arts, and education of the deaf. RIT enrolls 15,000 full- and part-time students in more than 300 career-oriented and professional programs. US News and World Report has consistently ranked RIT as one of the nation's leading comprehensive universities.

• Center for Excellence in Lean Enterprise
• Imaging Products Laboratory
• Manufacturing Technologies Program
• National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery
• Occupational Safety and Ergonomics Excellence Program
• Sustainable Systems Research Center
• Systems Modernization and Sustainment Center

Venture Capital

• High Peaks Venture Partners www.highpeaksventures.com of Saratoga Springs, NY manages nearly $50 million in capital, making it one of the largest early stage venture fund in Upstate New York. The team brings substantial experience as venture investors, entrepreneurs, and business advisors across a variety of industries. They seek to partner with entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas that need capital and management support to realize their potential.
• Western NY Venture Association www.wnyventure.com is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a business opportunity and investment forum to the Niagara region. The Association holds a series of networking meetings throughout the year to facilitate the exchange of information between investors and entrepreneurs.
• Western NY Business Development Fund www.wnytdc.com (funding tab) provides seed capital to technology entrepreneurs and start-up companies in Western NY. It was created to help stimulate and support early entrepreneurial efforts in the Niagara region.
• Trillium Group www.trillium-group.com is a Rochester, NY based venture capital and venture development firm founded in 1997 by successful business professionals dedicated to achieving venture rates of return on invested capital at acceptable levels of risk. Trillium's General Partners differ from those at many venture capital firms as businessmen who bring a strong operating management perspective to their investments. The Trillium Group manages 3 funds for companies at different stages of development:
  • University Technology Seed Fund - for promising ideas that need validation capital before they are ready for commercial operations.
  • Monroe Fund - Startup fund.
  • Trillium Lakefront Partners III - a fund that provides expansion capital for growing companies that are profitable or approaching profitability as well as select buy-out financing.

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