NextCorps

Wishing Gary Nothhard all the best as he heads into the land of permanent weekends (also known as retirement). Luminate's Optical Metrology Technician and NextCorps' all-around helpful handyman, Gary will be sorely missed. A few snippets from our farewell party, where we were joined by some of Gary's former Kodak and IMAX coworkers: "You have been a constant wealth of knowledge... not to mention wit and humor."... "Your willingness to pitch in to help in any capacity reflects your dedication." "Thanks for being NextCorps' in-house MacGyver!" "Best darn lab guy I ever met." Congratulations, and thank you from all of us!

Act fast! Applications close Monday, June 7 for Pitch.Tech. Pitch your idea-stage startup for a chance to win $10,000 in equity-free funding and $100,000+ in startup benefits through Startup Grind membership. https://pitch.tech/

Now on the Forward Faster podcast: With high-stakes work and no room for error, how can you keep employees happy and encourage your team to laugh everyday? Ask Matt Sydor, Program Manager at Sydor Optics. He shares how his family business has grown from a father-son operation to a staff of nearly 90, plus the reasons Rochester is a great place for a career in #optics. Watch/listen/subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgTU67EPGoI

ACT FAST: Tomorrow's RIT Venture Creations Incubator seminar with experts from M&T covers current trends in financial fraud, #cybersecurity tips, and best practices for protecting yourself in a remote environment. Register: https://rit.zoom.us///tJAscO6rqjkiG9xL6a8tomKM6XE5--1_SdWz

WexEnergy LLC's WindowSkin was attributed the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label, joining the Solar Impulse Foundation's #1000Solutions Challenge. Congratulations, WexEnergy! Learn more about the label and the #1000Solutions initiative: https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions/windowskin#

Now on the Forward Faster podcast: The founders of Sniffy Labs are pet lovers who started developing a dog walking app and pivoted to a comprehensive dog training tool with in-depth tutorials, a progress tracker, and connections to certified trainers. https://nextcorps.org//spotlight-on-sniffy-labs-putting-p/

Go, DIEMlife, go! The Wefunder campaign for NextCorps member DIEMlife closes at 11 PM tonight, so there's still time to invest in this incredible startup that's enabling life-changing goals. Learn more and invest https://wefunder.com/diemlife

What are your plans for #EarthDay? (That's tomorrow!) WexEnergy LLC's Rachel Rosen will share the stage at PSEG and TechUnited's BetterPlanet Challenge launch day with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and other impressive panelists. (Way to go, Wex!) WexEnergy was the first-ever winner of the $50,000 BetterPlanet Challenge prize. This year's competition is focused on startups that are reducing carbon emissions through #electricvehicle technology. Register to watch: https://techunited.co/event/2021-betterplanet/

Good news for leisure and hospitality businesses in the state. Plus, find out how NextCorps is helping local entrepreneurs develop apps and other software.

This Wednesday Get tips for engaging, scaling, and mobilizing a personal network into the thousands and identifying contacts for specific business needs. Register for our free virtual workshop: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-and-managing-your-prof

80% of economic growth comes from small businesses that are less than 5 years old. Now on the Forward Faster podcast: Empire State Development's Vincent Esposito shares how ESD forges strategic partnerships (like the ones with NextCorps and the Luminate Accelerator) with the "long game" in mind. Supporting entrepreneurs and startups is critical to the future of our region's economy. Watch/listen to the full episode: https://nextcorps.org//finger-lakes-forward-a-vision-for-/

Yes, we beat the organizational goals we set for ourselves in 2018, but we're not resting on our laurels! (Special thanks to Perdix Software, Belvista Software, and Farther Farms for sharing how NextCorps has helped you grow.) https://rbj.net//nextcorps-seeks-new-ways-to-reach-assist/

Tomorrow at 3:00 PM: Learn how the founder of Bevy went from bootstrapping to a Series C round and a valuation of $325 million. Register for this free virtual event from Startup Grind ROC: https://www.startupgrind.com//startup-grind-rochester-pre/

BIG NEWS: We are THRILLED to announce that we're launching a new software accelerator for non-technical founders! This program will tap into the "no-code" movement and support those with good ideas who may lack technical experience. We'll be engaging students from the Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Rochester and working with a network of partners to create a software cluster in our region. Read the story in the Rochester Beacon, and stay tuned for more as we build out this program. #softwareaccelerator #softwaredevelopment #nocode #nocoding #nontechnical #startupfounders #startups #entrepreneurs #rochesterny