President

43North is a Buffalo, New York-based nonprofit organization dedicated to attracting and retaining high-growth startups, creating jobs, and strengthening Western New York's innovation economy. Founded in 2014 as part of New York State’s Buffalo Billion initiative, 43North has become a defining force in Buffalo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through its nationally recognized startup competition, the organization has invested $5 million annually in early-stage companies while bringing founders, investors, talent, and new businesses to Western New York.

Over its twelve-year history, 43North has built a portfolio that includes a unicorn and a publicly traded company, helped establish Buffalo as a destination for entrepreneurs, and created meaningful connections between the region and the national venture capital and startup communities. As 43North enters the final chapter of its current organizational structure, it has an opportunity to celebrate and amplify the impact of its twelve-year history while ensuring that the companies, relationships, talent, and economic momentum it has helped create remain deeply connected to Western New York.

The Opportunity

43North is seeking their next President to serve as the organization’s chief executive and lead it through an important and highly visible final phase. This is a unique executive leadership opportunity requiring equal parts strategic leadership, organizational stewardship, external relationship management, portfolio engagement, community leadership, and thoughtful change management.

The President will have overall responsibility for 43North’s strategy, operations, marketing and communications, portfolio management, financial health, partnerships, and broader impact across Western New York.

Working closely with the Board of Directors, New York State, Empire State Development, corporate partners, venture capital relationships, portfolio company founders, and the Western New York business community, the President will ensure that 43North’s final year of operations reflect the significance of the organization’s twelve-year contribution to Buffalo’s startup ecosystem.

A critical component of the mandate will be developing and executing a thoughtful wind-down of the organization, with operations concluding in January 2028. This includes supporting portfolio companies in building lasting roots in Western New York, preserving key relationships and institutional impact, supporting employees through the transition, and ensuring 43North’s accomplishments are appropriately celebrated and communicated.

The President will also serve as one of the organization’s most visible ambassadors, representing 43North and the Buffalo Niagara startup ecosystem locally, nationally, and globally.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead 43North through its final year of operations, translating strategic priorities into clear and actionable plans across the organization.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to celebrate 43North’s twelve-year history, its impact on Western New York, and the success of the companies built and grown in Buffalo.
• Establish clear goals, milestones, and success metrics for the one-year sunset of the annual 43North competition and broader organizational operations.
• Develop strategies that strengthen the long-term retention of portfolio companies and deepen their relationships within the Western New York Community.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors and key stakeholders to navigate structural, operational, and programmatic transitions.
• Preserve the relationships, knowledge, and ecosystem impact created by 43North so that its influence continues beyond the organization’s formal conclusion.
• Ensure a high-quality experience for 43North portfolio companies, including access to workspace, mentorship, programming, capital, customers, talent, and community connections.
• Maintain strong relationships with portfolio company founders and alumni, with a particular focus on long-term retention and continued investment in Western New York.
• Serve as a trusted resource and connector for founders navigating growth, fundraising, talent, and regional opportunities.
• Leverage personal and professional networks to attract national venture capital firms, investors, entrepreneurs, and speakers to Buffalo.
• Develop relationships between portfolio companies and the Western New York business community that can endure beyond 43North’s formal operations.
• Support portfolio companies in identifying opportunities to create and retain jobs within the region.
• Serve as 43North’s primary external spokesperson and senior relationship owner.
• Manage and strengthen relationships with New York State, Empire State Development, corporate sponsors, community partners, and other funders.