Launch NY's 2021 build to scale venture challenge build program, entitled fast forward for tech-driven startups, is an initiative designed to catapult the growing pool of seed stage companies…

Launch New York, Inc. received a $1.5 million Project Grant award from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration under the BUILD TO SCALE federal grant program. The grant will support Launch New York's FAST FORWARD FOR TECH-DRIVEN STARTUPS initiative, which is designed to help seed-stage companies progress to market entry and expansion. As the sole venture development organization serving 27 counties in Western New York, Launch New York will introduce the FAST FORWARD program to serve its high volume of startups that have advanced beyond customer discovery and minimum viable product development. Specialized protocols will also target priority industry clusters like cleantech as well as underrepresented founders. The funding period is from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024.

Launch NY's 2021 build to scale venture challenge build program, entitled fast forward for tech-driven startups, is an initiative designed to catapult the growing pool of seed stage companies spawned from the well established launch NY entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) program and other ecosystem partners to the market entry and expansion phase for innovative technologies in upstate NY. As the only venture development organization serving the 27 westernmost counties of new york state, launch NY will introduce fast forward to serve its high volume of startups who have progressed beyond customer discovery and minimum viable product development to help them scale commercial operations in technology-driven industry sectors. Additionally, specialized fast forward protocols will be created for high priority clusters including cleantech and underrepresented founders, aligning with its emerging cleantech opportunity (ECO) incubator and founders go big (FGB) diversity, equity, and inclusion progr