Summary
Circle Optics joined the celebration of CenterState CEO’s 15-year anniversary and the rebranding of The Tech Garden into the INSPYRE Innovation Hub. The event spotlighted regional momentum and the power of public-private alignment, with keynote insights from Waymo’s Annabel Chang and CenterState CEO President Robert Simpson.
Jennifer Sertl, VP Marketing
At Circle Optics, we’ve always believed that innovation thrives when it’s rooted in community. As members of GENIUS NY Cohort 5, we’ve experienced firsthand how Central New York’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—anchored by Rochester and Syracuse—has become a launchpad for transformative technologies. Our dual presence in both cities isn’t just strategic; it’s personal. The rebranding of The Tech Garden and the 15-year anniversary of CenterState CEO, under the leadership of Robert Simpson, have only deepened our commitment to this region’s growth.
The 15-Year Celebration of CenterState CEO opened with a forward-looking spotlight on transportation innovation. Annabel Chang, Director of State Policy and Government Affairs at Waymo, addressed the crowd with a message that was both practical and visionary. Her keynote wasn’t about hypothetical futures—it was about the now.
With a focus on real-world deployments, Chang spoke to how autonomous vehicles are transforming public infrastructure, creating more consistent and efficient transit options, and improving road safety. She emphasized that these technologies don’t exist in a vacuum—they require responsible legislation, robust local partnerships, and deep community trust.
“Autonomous vehicles aren’t just about transportation,” Chang said. “They’re about accessibility, safety, and efficiency. They represent a new kind of infrastructure—one that will require new kinds of partnerships between policy, technology, and community.”
Her insights set a tone of shared purpose—a sense that Central New York is not merely reacting to technological change, but helping to shape it.
Robert Simpson, President of CenterState CEO, followed with a reflection that was both retrospective and resolute. He spoke of a region often underestimated, but never without grit. Central New York’s success, he shared, has been neither accidental nor inevitable—it’s been earned.
“Our story is the ultimate underdog story… Counted out. But undeterred and relentlessly focused on smashing through those walls and then using each brick to build a stronger, more secure foundation for our future.”
Simpson also made powerful use of metaphor, likening the current moment in Central New York to the recent solar eclipse—an alignment of forces not often seen, but capable of transforming everything.
“Alignment matters,” he said. “The eclipse reminded us that sometimes everything has to line up just right. And that’s exactly what’s happening here.”
From investments in high-tech infrastructure to the emergence of nationally recognized accelerator programs, Simpson emphasized that Central New York’s momentum is real—and growing.
Introducing INSPYRE Innovation Hub
One of the clearest signals of that momentum is the transformation of The Tech Garden. Now rebranded as the INSPYRE Innovation Hub, the space represents a bold $32 million investment in the future of entrepreneurship. Far more than a physical redesign, the INSPYRE brand is a statement of intent—a call to build, belong, and believe in what’s possible here.
Even the design reflects this local pride: the INSPYRE icon is angled at precisely 31.5 degrees, a subtle homage to 315, the Syracuse area code. It’s a small but powerful symbol of how this region honors its roots while reaching forward.
The branding effort was a collective process involving voices from across the innovation ecosystem. Among the contributors was the creative studio Such Chaos, led by designer Andre Ivanchuk. While not the sole author of the INSPYRE visual identity, Ivanchuk’s influence helped translate complex regional energy into a coherent and compelling brand expression. At Circle Optics, we’ve worked with Ivanchuk on our own website and know firsthand his ability to turn intangible ideas into functional platforms.
The INSPYRE Hub stands today as both a symbol and a strategy: design, equity, and innovation—working in unison.
Galvanizing the UAV Community
Behind the success of the GENIUS NY accelerator and its flagship home at INSPYRE is the dedicated s work of Director Kara Jones. Jones has been a driving force in galvanizing the UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle) community—creating links between startups, research institutions, public sector partners, and investors.
Her leadership is one of quiet intensity and sharp execution. Under her guidance, GENIUS NY has evolved into the world’s largest accelerator for uncrewed systems—not only awarding capital, but creating lasting infrastructure for scale, talent development, and market access..
Why This Matters to Circle Optics
Circle Optics didn’t attend this event simply to reflect—we came to participate in the alignment. Our beyond-line-of-sight panoramic imaging technology plays a critical role in enabling safe, efficient autonomous systems, and gatherings like this reaffirm that we are developing technology in the right place, at the right time, alongside the right people.
Being part of GENIUS NY Cohort 5 was a pivotal moment in our company’s journey. It placed us in direct conversation with mentors, policymakers, founders, and regional visionaries who are shaping the future of defense, aerospace, and mobility. Having offices in both Rochester and Syracuse allows us to remain fully embedded in that dialogue.
The ecosystem here doesn’t just support innovation—it accelerates it.
And as the past, present, and future came together on stage at the 15-Year Celebration of CenterState CEO, we were reminded of why we chose this region in the first place: community, commitment, and the courage to build what’s next.
