New York BizLab

We have an exciting New York BizLab Entrepreneurship Lunch scheduled for Oct. 12 at noon featuring Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power.
Don't miss this event!
To register, click here;

BizLab Entrepreneurship Lunch - Featuring Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh On Thursday, Oct. 12, Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power, will present at the BizLab Entrepreneurship Lunch, the first event since the pandemic.

Great to see a New York BizLab graduate doing great things!

Another successful crush demonstration at Harley-Davidson of Erie.

Come on down and join the team at Erie H-D with KIRSH Helmets to celebrate their 50th Anniversary!

It's worth the Ride to Enjoy the Ride!!!

Saddened to learn that Mike Wacholder passed away earlier this month. Mike was an inspirational yet no-nonsense person. Very insightful. He gave me many scoops during my time at the Albany Business Review, one that I was told directly led to GE Healthcare moving into the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Tech Park.
He was a thinker and had such a strategic mind. Confident. Connector. Upbeat. He thought big and yet got excited about little "projects" too, like the so-call treehouse he built for his son which had electricity and was nicer than the first apartment! He was so excited about that tree house!
The obituary (linked below) speaks of his "passion, intelligence, creativity, work ethic and vision. He was a great teacher and mentor - he had a wide reach to influence and inspire others, and always went out of his way to do so." All true!
Mike became more than a "source" but a friend. He gave me a piece of the barn that he personally oversaw the renovation and restoration of. It was a project very dear to him and some of the original beams that were left over he had cut into pieces with the words "Friends are Forever -- Wach" burned into them. I was honored to receive one of those and it sits on a bookshelf in my den that I see every day. I was also honored to have him speak at the New York BizLab as part of our monthly lunches. (It got a lot of coverage, too. Here's the Times Union story: https://lnkd.in/dps-HqrM and the ABR story: https://lnkd.in/dV-QghjR). These stories will give you a sense of the kind of mind Mike had, out of the box before that was an expression.
So many thoughts. But grateful to have had an opportunity to know him.
Here's a story I wrote about him some 17 years ago!https://lnkd.in/dGrSh42X
Here is his obituary:
https://lnkd.in/d_M-4gf3

RPI innovator Wacholder talks about being unconventional boss SCHENECTADY — "He's a real contrarian"

Hard to believe this was 4 years ago! The New York BizLab is looking to put together another DreamTeam. Let Richard D'Errico know if you're interested in being a part of the team by commenting below.

Dream Team develops marketing strategy to fight student hunger Volunteers from some of the region’s leading marketing agencies are teaming up to help schools fight hunger.

Hard to believe this was three years ago! The New York BizLab companies have done and are doing some amazing things!

Vara Safety of Latham, NY, raises $1M for smart gun safes - Albany Business Review Vara Safety, a startup that develops safes to store fi****ms, has raised $1 million from angel investors and state grants.

Great story on KIRSH Helmets graduating from the New York BizLab!

Cutting-edge helmet maker moves from Schenectady incubator to Scotia Kirsh Helmets is moving on from downtown Schenectady.

We announced yesterday that another New York BizLab protege company is graduating from the accelerator, KIRSH Helmets! KIRSH has been an amazing member of the BizLab community and will be missed. But it is part of the BizLab model, helping companies "grow smart and grow fast." After four years, it's time to expand! Looking forward to more great things coming from KIRSH in their quest to become the region's next $1 billion company! All the best to the founders, Jason Kirshon and Donnie DeVito!

Kirsh Helmets to move HQ as sales of its motorcycle helmet increase nationwide - Albany Business Review The Kirsh Helmets product is being sold in 40 Harley Davidson, Royal Enfield and Indian Motorcycle stores across the country, with more on the way.

So thankful for those who have supported the New York BizLab over the years and looking forward to meeting again in person!

It's Summertime and that hearkens back to reruns. Well... how about a rerun of a rerun? Enjoy this video of KIRSH Helmets' presentation. They've come very far since! https://www.facebook.com/newyorkbizlab/photos/a.823456721026153/1450204641684688/

It's summertime and you know what that means ... reruns! But wait... while we have new and exciting events at the BizLab (visit http://tinyurl.com/BizLabClarkson4 for our next event), Startup Tech Valley is on hiatus until September. So... here's a look at BizLab companies that have pitched this year.
We kick it off with Kirsh Helmets, which pitched at Proctors' GE Theatre in Schenectady, New York.in April 2017.
Here's the link to the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyxGuG1tqiQ