A startup technology firm co-founded by two 2015 Computer Science graduates is competing with seven other startups in Buffalo for a $100,000 investment in the Rise of the Rest competition directed by AOL co-founder Steve Case.
Julian Anjorin, CIO, and Mitch Skomra, lead developer, along with colleagues Rich Rogers, Ari Goldberg and Andrew Klajbor, created Cartefi, a web service designed to connect governments and agencies with consulting firms, real estate developers and non-profits.
The Buffalo leg of the nationwide competition to be held Wednesday is being sponsored by WNY Innovation Hot Spot, a collaborative network of incubators and entrepreneurial service providers – which includes the Fredonia Technology Incubator – that work together to promote entrepreneurial activity in Western New York. Innovation Hot Spot staff helped prepare team members for their Rise of the Rest “pitch” presentations.
“Rise of the Rest is very competitive and brings the co-founder of AOL to the area to invest in local companies. To be noticed by investors at that level is very impressive,” said Kevin Kearns, vice president for Engagement and Economic Development. “It is also an indication of the quality of our graduates and the preparation for entrepreneurship and development they receive at Fredonia.”
Judging presentations to be made by the eight startups will be Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas and Buffalo entrepreneur Jordan Levy. Participants will also attend discussions that explore the business environment in Buffalo and tour Empire Genomics, tablet maker Bak USA, the Solar City factory and other companies.
The Rise of the Rest investment award is intended to satisfy the terms of recent, pending or future venture capital needs of the winning company.
Cartefi participated in the Buffalo Student Sandbox accelerator summer program that offered formal programming and mentoring to student-run high-tech startups. Instruction was given in product development and strategy refinement and meetings with stakeholders in their respective markets were also conducted.
Thomas Murdock, Innovation Hot Spot manager, indicated Cartefi was a “natural fit” for Sandbox training. “We chose them for their quality of idea, their success at Fredonia and our belief that they could quickly build their idea into something substantial,” Murdock said. “They were heavily involved in their time at Fredonia, which gave them a huge leg up against other applicants.”
The eight Rise of the Rest finalists were chosen from among several hundred early-stage ventures that included talented, experienced entrepreneurs with significant track records, Murdock added. “It’s a huge reflection on how much progress they’ve made in a short period of time, and even more so a big opportunity for them to get additional exposure and potentially some investment,” he said.
“One of the eight will walk away with a $100,000 investment from Steve Case,” Murdock remarked.
Of the eight Sandbox teams, only Fredonia and two others were comprised of students not affiliated with the University at Buffalo.
Cartefi members also attended a presentation given by Dr. Marnie LaVigne, president and CEO of Launch NY, a nonprofit venture development organization, held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Fredonia Technology Incubator.
