A letter from our President, Colleen E. Heidinger:
The Buffalo community, like communities around the world, has faced unprecedented challenges over the past few months. But these times have also shown us how resilient we can be in times of adversity. We’ve seen first-hand how our community can come together, whether it’s ordering takeout for a good cause, donating blood, supporting local charities, or simply wearing masks and social distancing to respect and protect one another.
Everything we do at 43North is community-first, and for that reason we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our $5M startup competition for 2020. It is our responsibility to do what is best for our community, and with the great level of uncertainty surrounding the global pandemic, moving forward as planned would be contradictory to that commitment.
Until the competition returns in 2021, we remain focused on building and fostering Buffalo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This will come in many forms including community programming and mentorship for our region’s founders, along with an increased focus on 43North’s 51 portfolio companies. And a major emphasis of this effort will of course be dedicated to completing a year of programming with our Year 6 cohort.
Entrepreneurs are among the most resilient people you will ever meet. A setback is met with an even greater comeback. The word ‘no’ isn’t a deterrent, but a motivator. And it’s this entrepreneurial mentality that will bring our community back stronger than ever.
There’s a reason we say #ItsHappeningHere, and Buffalo’s comeback is going to prove just that. We’ll be back.
We remain grateful for your continued support of 43North and our family, and look forward to all that’s to come for Buffalo’s startup community.
Best,
Colleen E. Heidinger
43North President