43NORTH ANNOUNCES $5 MILLION COMPETITION SEMIFINALISTS

185 companies to compete for a spot in the 43North Finals.

43North Finals to be held October 3 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

BUFFALO, NY – Today, 43North announces the semifinalists for the 2018 $5 million startup competition. After judges reviewed 485 applications in June and July, a total of 185 applicants will move on to the semifinals round.

43North is also announcing that it has adjusted the prize structure for this year’s competition to expand the number of winners from seven to eight. The updated prize structure includes one $1 million prize and seven $500,000 prizes, with an additional $500,000 in follow-on funding available in 2019.

“We’re thrilled about the quality of applicants we’ve seen in the semifinal round this year,” said Alex Gress, 43North President. “We’ve decided to add another $500,000 winner to our prize structure this year because of the caliber of our semifinalists’ teams, their evidence of traction and their plans for growing their startups in Buffalo..”

Said 43North Chairman Eric Reich, “I’m really excited to see what these semifinalists bring to the table during the next round of judging to earn a spot in 43North Finals on October 3 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.”

The semifinalists will take part in live video pitches and reviewed by a panel of over 40 volunteer judges through the remainder of July. Up to 20 semi-finalists will be selected to participate in 43North Finals on October 3 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.