MARCH 2026
Coming Up at NextCorps
Failure to raise capital is one of the top reasons startups stall out. Learn how to secure the funding you need to stay in the game and grow. This month’s free lunch & learn features a candid panel of experienced investors and advisors breaking down the basics of venture capital, angel investment, grants, and bootstrapping.
Great products start with smart prototyping. Join NextCorps and BZDesign for the first Beyond the Sketch event, featuring local founder stories, practical design insights, and an inside look at the NextCorps Fab Lab. Gain real-world perspective to avoid common missteps and make the most of available resources as you move from concept to functional prototype—and beyond.
Unplug and connect IRL at Startup Drinks! Created for founders, this monthly meetup is a chance to step away from your screens and sample local drinks in a room full of like-minded entrepreneurs and startup teams. Regional beverage providers to be announced.
👋 New faces at NextCorps
Harsh Yallapragada has joined the NextCorps team as Data Analyst, focused on measuring our program impact, uncovering insights, and identifying trends and opportunities to better support our startups.
Daniel Kriozere has stepped into the role of Director of Capital and Strategic Partnerships at Venture For ClimateTech, bringing deep experience building investor and founder relationships to support climate-focused innovation.
Opportunities to fuel your growth
Move from prototype to production efficiently & affordably
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.
The Rev Prototyping Hardware Accelerator is a free, summer-long, in-person program from Rev: Ithaca Startup Works. The classic track supports product ideas across all industries, and the AgTech, CleanTech, and MedTech tracks offer specialized industry connections and training.
Pitch for cash to launch or grow
KickStart Wayne County’s annual pitch competitions are back! Wayne County entrepreneurs and high school students (grades 9-12) can pitch their business ideas for a chance to win cash prizes—up to $20K for early-stage businesses and a share of $5K for student entrepreneurs.
Big Red Ventures is accepting applications for the BenDaniel Venture Challenge. New York State-based or Cornell-affiliated companies are eligible to apply to pitch during Entrepreneurship at Cornell’s Celebration Ezra, with cash prizes up to $25K.
Partner spotlight
Monroe Community College (MCC) plays a critical role in connecting businesses with the talent they need to grow. Dr. Robin Cole Jr., MCC's VP of Economic and Workforce Development and Career Technical Education, spoke to us about the college’s role in supporting the region and how founders can engage with its workforce solutions.
NextCorps community shoutouts
👋 Welcome new clients, Enigma Genetics, Moka Energy, Hackersjack Inc., and ForagerHub!
💪 Congratulations to NextCorps President Jim Senall and board member Dan Burns, who were both named to the Rochester Business Journal’s sixth annual Power 100 list recognizing power players in our region.
IngenID announced a strategic partnership with Corsound AI, combining their complementary voice intelligence technologies to deliver enhanced fraud prevention and authentication solutions.
Farther Farms was named to Gadget Review’s list of game-changing food tech innovations.
The Adventure Nexus is joining forces with PlayerCharacter Games, a massive level-up for the tabletop gaming community.
Moka Energy can now be purchased at Rococo inside the Sibley Building. If you’re in downtown Rochester, stop in and enjoy the boost of real coffee in a smooth, creamy bar that eats like chocolate.
Phlotonics Inc. was named Best Tech Startup at the 2026 TechRochester GREAT Awards.
MoneyPigeon (idea stage) and Moka Energy (development stage) grabbed silver in their categories at the international finals event of the Startup Grind Pitch Battle Royale. Congratulations to both teams on their local chapter wins (pictured here at NextCorps) and strong showings on the global stage!
The work between wins
How we’re helping founders move forward faster
High-impact support beats high-level advice. Chukwuebuka (Ebuka) Mgbenka, founder of fintech startup MoneyPigeon, is refining his strategy and pitch with guidance from NextCorps EIR Dr. Pavan Kumar, who also made warm introductions to a Kenyan payment platform and a U.S. payment processor. The Kenyan connection moved quickly from intro to active integration, giving MoneyPigeon a tangible boost on its early roadmap.
“Pavan sat with me to review our pitch deck line by line and pressure-test our strategy, helping sharpen our positioning and clarify our partnership approach. Having someone who understands fintech both opens doors and refines our narrative. It's been a game-changer.”
— Ebuka Mgbenka
Founder, MoneyPigeon
Want help that actually makes things happen?
👉 Apply to join the NextCorps incubator.
Community events
First Thursdays/Creative Collisions
Mar. 5, 5:30 PM, Fattey Beer Co.
Entrepreneurs and supporters of the startup community—join RocGrowth and Startup Grind Rochester for creative collisions over drinks.
The Western NY Tech Hub: How You Can Engage
Mar. 11, 12:00 PM, Virtual
Discover how the NY SMART I-Corridor is building America’s semiconductor future in Upstate New York, and how local businesses can tap in.
Startup Grind March Pitch In
Mar. 12, 5:30 PM, NextCorps
Connect with local startups looking for awareness and feedback. Come for the pitches, stay for the cocktails and conversations.
A Plain-English Crash Course on CMMC for DoD Manufacturers
Mar. 18, 10:00 AM, Utica
This half-day, in-person workshop is designed to arm smaller manufacturers in the DoD supply chain with clear, practical guidance on CMMC requirements.
URochester Entrepreneurs Break Down Artificial Intelligence
Mar. 18, 12:00 PM, URochester
Discover how U of R alumni, including NextCorps President Jim Senall, are using AI and data-driven decision-making to launch and build globally competitive businesses.
RocGrowth Coffee
Mar. 20, 8:00 AM, Bar Bantam
Get a jump on the last day of the work week with caffeine and conversations (no RSVP necessary).
Working with the government?
Take advantage of the Small Business Training webinar series from the Monroe County-Upstate NY APEX Accelerator.
- Selling to the Government, Mar. 18, 10:00 AM
- Marketing to the Government, Mar. 19, 10:00 AM
- Understanding Contract Format, Mar. 26, 10:00 AM
On the blog
Major tax wins for startups: R&D relief and hiring credits explained
At a recent NextCorps lunch & learn, Joshua Hoffman, CPA, MSA, and Partner at MMB+CO, walked founders through game-changing legislation that could put significant money back in their pockets, and introduced several hiring incentives that many founders don’t even know exist.
🎧 For your podcast playlist
Jim Senall joined Brown and White Ventures to talk startup growth and Rochester’s tech ecosystem.
Dustin Wilson appeared on Walk Talk Listen to share his unconventional path into entrepreneurship and explore a bigger question: what should economic development measure in an AI-driven world?