TechBuffalo

Serve the overlooked market, and you don't stay small for long. At the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, students are learning to do just that: move fast, stay scrappy, and build where others aren’t looking. And last night's Springboard Speaker Series event on national trends in venture capital proved the impact of Western New York's rising VC presence and growing tech workforce. More reflections from Jeffrey Botteron in this week's WNY Tech Insights 👇

Thanks to all who joined us to learn from Highmark technology leaders at last night's Women in Tech WNY meetup! Julia McDowell and Melissa Shiah shared several ways their internal AI assistant, Sidekick, increases efficiency across teams and ultimately delivers better experiences for their customers. Julia's keynote presentation also spotlighted the broad impact of Highmark's AI Center of Excellence, ensuring AI use cases connect back to their overall business strategy. While considering business and ethical requirements, Highmark team members build internal adoption of these new technologies, and identify where AI has the opportunity to make the biggest improvements. We hope everyone learned new ways they might use technology to create more space for human connection and make a difference in their work. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York | Douglas Development Corporation | Be in Buffalo | 43North

Find your path to a fulfilling career in tech! Buffalo companies are hiring. Check out the top openings this week: Artificial Intelligence Consultant @ Highmark Apply: https://hubs.ly/Q03KZhSL0 Business Transformation Associate @ Moog Inc. Apply: https://hubs.ly/Q03KZfv80 Strategic Insights Intern @ Rich Products Corporation Apply: https://hubs.ly/Q03KZpyP0 Get these job openings (and more) straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://hubs.ly/Q03KZbLT0

Exciting to see the incredible and innovative companies that are interested in calling #Buffalo home! This year's 43North finalists span from the UK to America's West Coast, and many work on solving complex problems with AI. Check out the finalists and join the Finals event in October where they'll each be pitching for the chance to move themselves and their company to Buffalo. https://hubs.ly/Q03KzV3F0

Nearly 200 people are registered for tomorrow's Women in Tech WNY meetup at Seneca One! This community is a powerful reminder of what happens when you create space for conversation and connection - and help others learn and grow along the way. We look forward to hearing from Highmark's Julia McDowell and Melissa Shiah about the practical benefits of generative AI tools and systems, and how to lead through this era of AI and innovation. Limited spots are still available: https://hubs.ly/Q03KrJ6G0 Thanks to our partners for making this event happen: Be in Buffalo, 43North, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, Douglas Development Corporation

Let's move forward together and learn how technology and AI can make a difference! At our next Women in Tech WNY meetup, we're learning about real AI applications that are making a difference for an impactful local business. Join us, 43North and Be in Buffalo for discussions with Highmark's VP of AI Strategy and Enablement Julia McDowell, and Principal Product Manager Melissa Shiah: https://hubs.ly/Q03KbsS10 Special thanks to Highmark and Douglas Development Corporation for supporting this event!

Common Ground represents a pivotal moment for our region’s future. These conversations, convened by Aleron Group - Acara Solutions, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct and Leadership Buffalo start to bridge the gap between established leaders and emerging voices who will shape our community’s tomorrow. The next conversation in this community-building series is next Wednesday night at the Buffalo History Museum. Discussion will run from 5:30-7:30 followed by a brief networking reception. This gathering is a vital continuation of our region’s leadership journey. Attendees will be joined by established and emerging leaders equally committed to the long-term vitality of Buffalo Niagara. Learn more here about the Common Ground initiative and register for the Sept. 24 event here: https://hubs.ly/Q03K1KS10

The winners of this era of AI and innovation will be regions that teach with the tools rather than around them. Luckily, Buffalo has the ingredients to turn this debate into a durable advantage. Concerns around AI use in classrooms across our region are valid: Is AI undermining critical thinking? Is it cheating? How do we protect integrity? But while colleges wrestle with protecting the learning process, employers are already redesigning work around AI. They need graduates who can apply critical thinking with the tools, not in spite of them. Western New York has a chance to lead. Startups like Makeoff are already showing how AI can turn hours-long tasks into minute-long breakthroughs. For students, using AI is expected. If we teach with these tools and uphold integrity, we’ll prepare a workforce that doesn’t just adapt to change, but drives it. The time is now to move past debating AI in the abstract—and start building with it. More on this in the latest WNY Tech Insights from Jeffrey Botteron.