Summary
Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is bridging founders, mentors, and policymakers to strengthen Upstate New York’s innovation ecosystem. Through Springboard funding from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, UVC launched the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow—connecting regional startups like Circle Optics with national investors and federal innovation networks. This initiative represents a new era of visibility and momentum for high-growth companies across Western New York.
Across Western New York, the entrepreneurial landscape is accelerating. Once known primarily for manufacturing and research institutions, the region is now emerging as a thriving hub for high-growth startups, deep-tech innovation, and collaborative mentorship.
At the center of this movement is Upstate Venture Connect (UVC), an organization dedicated to empowering founders to scale from regional promise to national presence.
This year marked a significant milestone: UVC launched the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow, a program made possible through Springboard funding from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. Among the companies selected to represent the region was Circle Optics, a Rochester-based imaging technology company pioneering stitch-free panoramic systems.
UVC’s Springboard Award recognition signaled more than funding—it represented a vote of confidence in the organization’s mission to link Upstate entrepreneurs with the mentors, capital, and policy networks they need to grow.
In her acceptance remarks, UVC CEO Olivia Goldstein articulated that mission in her own words:
“Springboard funding enables Upstate Venture Connect to better support the high-growth businesses and entrepreneurs here in Western New York. With this funding, we’re able to connect them to the resources they need—in particular in Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital—to help them find more funding sources, build more customer relationships, and connect with mentors. My vision is to bring more executives and people with ties to this region back home to experience the amazing opportunities we have right here to support the entrepreneurs of Western New York.”
Goldstein’s words echo a larger truth: for regional economies to thrive, connection is not a luxury, it is the infrastructure of growth.
For startup founders, understanding Washington is not just about policy—it’s about proximity to opportunity. The capital is home to federal agencies, innovation programs, and funding mechanisms that shape the trajectory of advanced technologies.
The Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow was designed to close that gap by bringing a cohort of high-growth founders directly into the rooms where those opportunities originate. Through meetings with policymakers, investors, and mentors, participants gained exposure to new funding avenues and strategic partnerships that can propel their companies to the next level.
For the 2025 cohort, which included Circle Optics, the experience offered both visibility and validation. It demonstrated that Western New York startups belong in the same national conversation as peers from major innovation centers like Boston, Austin, or San Francisco.
As one of the companies chosen for the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow, Circle Optics embodied the kind of innovation UVC aims to showcase. Founded in Rochester, the company has developed stitch-free, panoramic imaging systems that capture real-time, distortion-free 360° views—foundational technology for aerospace, defense, and simulation.
Circle Optics’ participation underscored how Upstate companies can represent national value while remaining anchored in their regional ecosystems. The company’s inclusion also came on the heels of earning the 2025 Forge Award for its contribution to advancing foundational technologies that strengthen the United States innovation ecosystem—a recognition that reinforced UVC’s belief in the power of visibility and advocacy.
Reflecting on the experience, Circle Optics COO Ian Gauger shared, “Olivia Goldstein demonstrated incredible vision and understanding of startup needs as she designed this event. Participating in the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow was an incredible opportunity to represent Rochester’s innovation ecosystem on a national stage.”
Since its founding, UVC has built two enduring pillars: mentorship and visibility.
- Mentorship connects early-stage founders with seasoned executives who understand the challenges of scaling a business.
- Visibility ensures that those founders are seen and supported by investors, customers, and collaborators who can accelerate their path forward.
The Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow amplifies both. Participants gain access not only to UVC’s existing mentor network through the UNY50 Leadership Group but also to new national connections that expand their reach far beyond state lines.
For Circle Optics and its fellow participants, this trip wasn’t just a milestone it was a signal that Upstate founders belong at the national table.
Goldstein reminded the audience at the Springboard Awards that Upstate New York has entered a new era of momentum:
“As I look now at how much the region has changed, we now have a critical mass of high-growth startups that operate in Western New York. They’re hiring, they’re looking for talent, they’re looking for resources. Now is the time to really lean in and support and make this region the quality region that it is, and the attention it deserves to get from the world.”
That critical mass includes innovators in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, software, optics, and defense technology all woven together by UVC’s networked approach to community building.
The Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow is only the beginning.
UVC plans to expand the program, host future cohorts, and deepen partnerships with federal innovation agencies. The goal is not just one-time visibility but sustained presence—where Upstate New York companies regularly engage with national decision-makers shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
For participating startups like Circle Optics, this initiative represents a bridge between regional excellence and national relevance. And for UVC, it represents the fulfillment of a long-standing vision: to connect people, ideas, and capital in a way that transforms possibility into progress.
As Olivia Goldstein expressed with conviction: “Now is the time to lean in and make this region the quality region that it is, and the attention it deserves to get from the world.”
Thanks to organizations like UVC, that attention is becoming reality.
Upstate Venture Connect
Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering high-growth startups across Upstate New York through mentorship, strategic introductions, and policy-level visibility. Its flagship initiative, the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow, connects regional entrepreneurs to national resources, capital, and decision-makers.
Springboard
Springboard, funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, supports organizations that build stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems in Western New York. Through Springboard funding, UVC has been able to expand its national reach and develop programs like the Upstate to DC Founders Roadshow.
VC in DC
VCinDC is a mission-driven initiative uniting the venture-capital community to catalyze startup success and economic growth across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. By positioning Washington D.C. as a thriving hub for venture capital and innovation, VCinDC creates a collaborative platform for institutional investors, founders, and ecosystem partners to exchange insight and investment opportunities.
