FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Judges will score each application based on the following criteria:

• Overall strength of the team – We look for founder(s) and a team that are uniquely qualified to solve the problem their company is addressing.
• Team’s knowledge of the market – We look for companies that target a large addressable market, led by founder(s) with years of industry expertise and/or personal experience.
• Viability of the product/service/technology – We look for products/services/technologies that address a unique need in the market and are superior to their competitors.
• Product relative to the target market – We look for companies that have strong evidence of product/market fit and address a significant need in the market.
• Revenue and financing plans – We look for companies that have revenue or a clear path to revenue in the next 12 months, as well as investment outside of friends and family contributions.

43North typically invests in companies that have founders with domain expertise, a strong team, and traction with customers (what some may classify as pre-seed and seed stage startups). We’ve invested earlier and later, so we encourage you to apply if this sounds like you.

Our mentorship and programming is catered specifically towards helping portfolio companies scale their sales, marketing and fundraising operations, so we’re looking for companies that have some serious skin in the game and proven traction.

The 2022 application opens on June 2, 2022 and closes July 8, 2022 at 12 PM EST. Sign up here to get on the waitlist and be notified once it’s open for 2022.

If you miss the application window, subscribe to our newslettter to be kept informed on when to apply in the following year.

Does an investment of $1 million sound good to you? How about mentorship; workspace; recruiting, marketing, and fundraising support; connections to investors; and an opportunity for follow-on funding? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Apply online here!

Yes. 43North takes a 5% equity stake in each winning company. You can read up on the Award Agreement here.

No. The 5% equity is non-negotiable in the form of a warrant.

Our winners are required to relocate 50% of their staff and their CEO to Buffalo for a minimum of 12 months. Please note that commuting does not count as relocation – you are required to have a residence within a 30-mile radius of the Niagara Power Project. But don’t worry, we offer lots of programming and activities to get you rooted in our community!

In addition to the investment, 43North winners receive free incubator space in Buffalo, mentorship from experts related to their fields, and access to other exciting incentive programs. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Yes! 43North is open to applicants from anywhere in the world, and we’ve had companies from as far away as Nigeria, Israel, and Taiwan receive investment.

We do accept solo founders, but please understand that our expectations will be as high (if not higher) than that of companies with multiple founders. You will need to prove that you have a diverse skill set to handle all facets of a business, that you are resilient during the toughest challenges, and that you are committed to building a strong team around you in Buffalo. We’ve had teams with one founder succeed tremendously in our program, so it definitely can be done! Just know that we will set the bar higher for you, as we understand the ups and downs of growing a startup – especially when you have a small team.

There is no cost to apply to 43North.

Our apologies for any inconvenience, but we’re here to help! Please send an email describing your issue to application@43north.org.

Yes! The application is open to applicants from previous years, and a few of our portfolio companies applied a couple of times before being chosen for investment. You can also copy over many of your answers from last year’s application – simply use the same login credentials and your answers will auto-populate.

The following businesses are not eligible for the Competition:

(1) retail businesses with brick and mortar storefronts,

(2) residential real property business,

(3) investment vehicles that invest in the securities of other entities,

(4) sports venues,

(5) gaming and gambling businesses,

(6) places of overnight accommodation,

(7) past 43North cash-prize winners ,

(8) entertainment-related establishments.,

(9) single-purpose entertainment or event productions (e.g. movies, albums, concerts)

For this purpose, “retail business” means a business that is primarily engaged in making retail sales of goods or services to customers who personally visit such facilities to obtain goods or services. In addition, generally excluded are the following: buy-outs, roll-ups, real estate syndications, tax shelters and franchise-based outlets.

There are 3 rounds of judging: an online written application, a live video pitch, and our Finals in Buffalo.

43North has a team of judges from throughout New York State and the United States who are experts in various fields.

No, you may not be both an applicant and a judge in the same application year.

No. Due to the sheer number of submissions received by 43North, none of its staff, agents, including judges, or assigns will enter into any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement. Please thoroughly review our Terms and Conditions before entering 43North.

43North will cover hotel rooms and flights for all the finalists.

43North Finals week will be the week of October 17, 2022 with Finals taking place on October 20, 2022.

Up to 20 companies will travel to Buffalo and compete at 43North Finals.

Our Finals Judges are investors from across North America.

Over the past 8 years, our accelerator program has evolved into so much more than a check for $1M. In addition to receiving investment, you get:

• Free workspace – Our new headquarters is located in Seneca One Tower in downtown Buffalo. You will work alongside some of the city’s fastest-growing companies, leading researchers, esteemed business executives, and brightest minds.
• Mentorship – We pair our portfolio companies with experts and other founders specific to their industry, and also have a team of mentors ready to help with any general business needs the company has, from marketing and sales to web development, recruiting, and manufacturing.
• Access to our network – The 43North team is incredibly connected in the Buffalo business community, so whether you need introductions to potential customers, manufacturing space, corporate partners, or service providers, we are here to help! We’ve also built up a network of hundreds of VCs and angels from across the country, so we can introduce you to potential investors when you’re ready to raise your next round.
• Recruiting, marketing, and fundraising support – We’re here to help you scale in Buffalo, from hiring top talent to building a digital marketing strategy that supports your sales objectives. We have a full-time Director of Talent Strategy on our team, whose sole focus is helping you make great hires and a marketing team that can assist with everything from public relations to video production, graphic design, social media marketing, and event planning.
• The opportunity to operate tax-free – Through the STARTUP-NY program, you and your employees can work free of state income taxes for up to 10 years. Learn more about eligibility for this program here.

43North was established to help create a culture of entrepreneurship in Buffalo, NY, and grow the local business economy. Since 2014, we’ve invested in $35 million in 59 portfolio companies that have gone on to create more than 1,000 local jobs. The collective portfolio has gone on to raise over $1B in capital and boasts a market value of $4.4B.

Our Y2 portfolio company and unicorn, ACV Auctions, was our first IPO in 2021. Other rising stars include companies like barbershop software platform Squire, who trippled their valuation to $750M in 2021 alone; and Circuit Clinical, a startup aimed at bringing diversity to clinical trials, who recently closed a $29M Series C – just to name a few.

The 43North team comes from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, including PR, politics, HR and recruiting, multimedia, digital marketing, and national event planning. As long-time Buffalo residents, we have built up an extensive network with the area’s largest and most esteemed brands, so whether you’re looking for new customers, suppliers, partners, or vendors, we can connect you with the right people to help you scale. And if you’re looking for something to do in your free time, we have a team dedicated to events and quality of life – so you’ll always have a new restaurant to try, concert or sporting event to attend, or outdoor activities to participate in (all year round)!

There is never a shortage of things to do around Buffalo, no matter the time of year.

In the warm weather months, there are food and art festivals nearly every weekend, live music at outdoor venues, a vibrant waterfront, great places to golf, and tons of parks and bike paths. And when the snow begins to fall, you’ll find us skiing and snowboarding at places like Holiday Valley, sledding at Chestnut Ridge Park, and ice skating at Canalside.

We’re also very devoted to our professional and minor league sports teams, the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, and Buffalo Bisons. If the arts and architecture are more your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Frank Lloyd Wright left his mark on buildings around Buffalo, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is home to world-class modern and contemporary art, and Frederick Law Olmsted created the beautiful parks around the area. Add to that a diverse and delectable food scene (far beyond chicken wings) and a friendly vibe, you’re sure to fall in love with Buffalo.