APRIL 2026
Coming Up at NextCorps
Great software products are built with intention. NextCorps Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Zoe Koulouris leads our next free lunch & learn on what it takes to bring software to market that customers actually want. You’ll get a clear, actionable framework for aligning strategy with business goals, prioritizing what matters most, and using the right metrics to guide decisions—whether you’re building your first MVP or scaling your next release.
Space is limited and registration closes Tuesday, April 14 at 10:00 AM.
This free one-day summit brings together manufacturers, educators, and industry experts to share practical strategies for talent development, workforce retention, and business growth. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore new business opportunities, such as with the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base, and connect with potential partners through coordinated matchmaking and networking.
This Beyond the Sketch event brings together regional resource providers to show startups and manufacturers how smart design and community networks translate to competitive advantage. Hear real-world examples of companies that leveraged design resources and funding to scale production, expand markets, and create jobs here in New York. This session is for manufacturing supply chain providers and startups that want to forge connections for new product development.
👋 New face at NextCorps
Sarah Woodams has joined the Venture For ClimateTech team as Program Manager, stepping into the role full-time after gaining experience with the program as an intern. She helps keep the accelerator running smoothly while supporting communications efforts for the program and its leadership.
NextCorps in the news
Forbes recently explored how AI is reshaping entrepreneurship—and highlighted Rochester as a place where deep tech innovation and startup support are converging. Read how AI is propelling deep tech in Rochester, with commentary from URochester, Greater Rochester Enterprise, NextCorps' Jim Senall, and area startups.
Opportunities to fuel your growth
NextCorps’ Manufacturing Accelerator is a free 9-week virtual program that connects startups with industry experts, manufacturing partners, and funding opportunities to scale with confidence. Participation requires approximately four hours per week. Register for the April 8 info session.
Grow-NY is accepting applications for Round 8. The food & agriculture startup competition offers $3M annually to seven early-stage food and ag startups advancing sustainable, healthy, and scalable innovations. Winners also receive mentorship and tailored business development support in Upstate New York.
GENIUS NY is looking for cohort 10. The world’s largest accelerator in uncrewed aerial systems and robotics, GENIUS invests $3M annually in early-stage startups focused on UAS, automation, and advanced air mobility. Selected teams also receive business training, workspace, fundraising support, and more.
Join Retool’26 on June 9 to explore the latest in energy innovation and learn how AI is being used successfully in manufacturing and more. Don’t miss this day of engaging speakers, panels, and vendors, and an opportunity for networking with regional manufacturers and innovators in the clean energy sector.
Inside the incubator
PlankeApp is on a mission to connect the boutique fitness world—linking studio owners and instructors through one easy-to-use platform for jobs, collaboration, and growth. Co-founded by PJ and Hannah McMullen, the startup is helping Pilates studios and teachers around the globe find new opportunities and build stronger networks.
NextCorps community shoutouts
👋 Welcome new clients, Assignr, Audit Shield AI, Kindsoul, LinkeLearn, and Quilt Health!
👏 Congratulations to the startups selected for cohort 9 of Luminate, kicking off in-person at NextCorps later this month!
👏 Congratulations to the startups selected for cohort 7 of Scale For ClimateTech!
IngenID is helping position Rochester as a growing hub for secure voice technology. With momentum from multiple new partnerships—including one with the University of Rochester Audio Information Research Lab—IngenID is expanding its global footprint in AI-driven voice biometrics and deepfake detection.
Industry Video Productions has been selected as the official video production provider for the Rochester International Jazz Festival, one of Rochester’s most celebrated cultural experiences.
Circle Optics‘ Senior Computer Vision Engineer, Dr. Anjali Jogeshwar, is a nominee for TechRochester’s 2026 Emerging Tech Woman of the Year Award.
MYRetreat is hosting an event featuring guided meditation, intentional chocolate pairings, and mocktails at ALTBAR on April 25. Advanced registration required.
The work between wins
How we’re helping founders move forward faster
Building a company takes equal parts creativity and follow-through. Closet OS founder & CEO, Kyla Brown, spends her days refining app features, tracking analytics, and creating content that brings her vision to life—with support from the community of founders at NextCorps and guidance from Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Dan Dykens.
“The support has shown up in moments of refinement and redirection. Feedback from Dan has challenged me to sharpen both the product and the narrative behind Closet OS, while introductions to founders and investors have helped me pressure-test ideas in real time. It’s made me more decisive, more strategic, and more confident in how I build.”
— Kyla Brown
Founder & CEO, Closet OS
Want help that actually makes things happen?
👉 Apply to join the NextCorps incubator.
Community events
First Thursdays/Creative Collisions
Apr. 2, 5:30 PM, Fattey Beer Co.
Entrepreneurs and supporters of the startup community—join RocGrowth and Startup Grind Rochester for creative collisions over drinks.
Revenue Marketing for Tech Small Businesses & Startups
Apr. 7, 8:30 AM, NextCorps
Learn how to build a repeatable revenue engine by aligning marketing, sales, and operations at this TechRochester event.
Startup Grind x Grow NY
Apr. 16, 5:30 PM, NextCorps
Meet the food and ag-tech founders building what’s next. Come for the insights, stay for the drinks and networking.
RocGrowth Coffee
Apr. 17, 8:00 AM, Bar Bantam
Get a jump on the last day of the work week with caffeine and conversations (no RSVP necessary).
Tech Woman of the Year 2026
Apr. 23, 8:30 AM, MAG
Celebrate the women shaping Rochester’s tech future. This event highlights women’s contributions to high-tech fields, their commitment to lifting others, and their lasting impact in our community.
Venture NY & NYBPC
Apr. 21-22, Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship
Join investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders to connect, learn, and explore the evolving venture landscape across NYS.
Startup Drinks
Apr. 23, 5:30 PM, NextCorps
Step away from your screens and connect over drinks with like-minded entrepreneurs and startup founders.
Glass4Chips Summit 2026
May 14-15, Albany
This two-day event from FuzeHub and partners SEMI and NY Creates convenes leaders across industry, government, and research to advance glass substrates for next-generation AI and 6G packaging.
On the blog
8 expert tips to move from napkin to prototype
Turning an idea into a tangible product starts with smart design and purposeful iteration. At the first Beyond the Sketch event, founders and designers shared hard-won lessons on bridging the gap between concept and market-ready product.
30 seconds to ‘yes’: Inside the minds of VCs, angels, and grant reviewers
Fundraising is about more than getting a check—it’s about choosing the right path, the right structure, and the right long-term partner. At a recent NextCorps lunch & learn, experts and investors offered practical advice on everything from grants and SAFEs to pitch decks, valuation, and what founders should really look for in an investor.