The final slate of presenting companies has been chosen for the 13th Annual SmartStart Upstate New York Technology Group (UNYTECH) Venture Forum, presented by the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) in Albany. A total of 23 high-growth early-stage companies will be featured, including 10 from the Capital Region.

This year’s list includes Chef Key, Clipcentric, Ener-G-Rotors, My Music Machines, PayWithMe, Pipesnapper Welding Supply, Thermal Solution Resources, Virtual Phantoms, Vital Vio and Vulcan Technologies. These firms will present their business plans to the investment community May 15-16 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.

“The collaboration of this forum is an important component to strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in upstate New York,” said F. Michael Tucker, CEG’s president and CEO. “By providing opportunities for connections and deal flow, this venture forum is an ideal platform for the movers and shakers in the startup community. We are honored to play a key role in presenting this forum.”

SmartStart UNYTECH is upstate’s premier venture forum to highlight the best early-stage companies to investors. Since its inception, 285 high-quality companies have presented, and 62 have raised more than $500 million in equity financing, including more than $72 million directly attributable to their participation in the forum.  

“The field of companies this year is strong and diverse, representing a broad range of market opportunities from biotech to medical devices to clean technology and social media,”  said Richard E. Honen, chairman of the SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum and a partner at Phillips Lytle. “It showcases the strength of the state’s research and entrepreneurial communities.”

Besides the company investment pitches, the two-day forum will feature panel presentations on topics such as the America Invents Act, trends in angel funding, university gap funding and more. 

For more information on this event, please visit www.smartstartvf.org. 

--Jennie