Congrats to Zack Ellis, founder of TheirStory for pitching on the Social Enterprise Pitch Battle.  All the startups had a great pitch and are going to make a social impact. Check out this excellent pitch.

Thanks to Michael Thaney and the Startup Grind team for partnering with Roc Growth to bring the community together to make this event happen.

And this event is nothing without our judges! A Special thank you to: Maureen Ballatori, Kelly Metras and Kathy Driscoll.

Amy Bach, Founder and Executive Director of Measures for Justice, and Jaime Saunders, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester, discuss their organizations' innovative approaches to tackling some of our community's greatest challenges.

Measures for Justice (MFJ) equips communities with their own data to help solve systemic problems in criminal justice. Funded by some of the nation’s leading foundations, MFJ has just launched a new platform that helps police and prosecutor offices be transparent about their practices and accountable to their communities by publicly tracking monthly data and shared policy goals.

United Way has shown resilience and the ability to adapt to our community’s emerging philanthropic needs for over 100 years. Its efforts were recently recognized by global philanthropist MacKenzie Scott with a transformative $20 million gift. It was one of fewer than 400 recipients among 6,500 organizations considered.

RocGrowth's mission includes a commitment to promoting greater equity in our community.  We also attempt to empower the new leaders of Rochester and highlight our community's great innovators.  With that in mind, we proudly co-produce this event with Conscious Capitalism.

Building a Diverse Talent Pipeline and Inclusive Culture:

We welcome Steve Metzger (LaBella Associates), Jeff Wight of (General Code) and Mohammed Ahamed to discuss LaBella and General Code's path to embracing a commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) in their workplace. Implementation is a "work in progress" and they will share successes, setbacks and future plans. Mohammed will share his perspective as a D&I consultant to major organizations.

Hear Zach Sarkis, founder of NY HempLab, and Jason Klimek, Esq., Chair of the Cannabis Practice at Boylan Code LLP, to discuss the likely legalization of marijuana in New York State this spring.

The legislation is currently being crafted and negotiated by the governor and legislature.  This is a critical time for New Yorkers to help shape the laws and regulations that will govern commercialization.  Our conversation with two experts on this issue will shed light on the legislative process and what it might mean for our region.

RocGrowth's mission is about building community for our region's great innovators and entrepreneurs.  For seven years, we have featured our leading entrepreneurs in a series of open interviews, including audience participation.

Hear Jay McHarg, CEO, AeroSafe Global, describe how his company is playing a critical role in distributing the COVID vaccine throughout the U.S.  Having raised over $125 million from leading private equity firms and Merck, AeroSafe Global provides a critical link in the "cold chain" by ensuring delivery of the vaccine at the required temperature to its end user.  The company, located on Buffalo Road, employs 200 people and almost doubled in size last year.

RocGrowth's mission is about building community for our region's great innovators and entrepreneurs.  For six years, we have featured our leading entrepreneurs in a series of open interviews, including audience participation.

RocGrowth Candids-Virtual

Episode Links, Chat and Video

Norm Silverstein, CEO of WXXI, has been one of the most impactful and underrecognized innovators in our community.  Celebrating 25 years as the leader of an organization that includes numerous TV and radio stations, along with City Newspaper and The Little Theatre, he has had a lasting and profound impact upon our community.

WXXI represents far more than Sesame Street and a place to listen to nomination hearings for Supreme Court justices.  It is an essential contributor to our arts community and media source for critical issues shaping Rochester's future.

RocGrowth's mission is about building community for our region's great innovators and entrepreneurs.  For six years, we have featured our leading entrepreneurs in a series of open interviews, including audience participation.  Learn how Norm Silverstein has built WXXI into a public broadcasting affiliate recognized nationally by its peers for excellence and innovation.

RocGrowth Candids-Virtual

Show Chat and Conversation

Hear Austin McChord, founder of $4.5 billion publicly-traded Datto, describe why he has returned to Rochester to build his next billion dollar company. He will be joined by Nicholas Conn, PhD founder of Heart Health Intelligence (HHI). Austin and Nick share a strong connection to RIT and are leading HHI after its recent round of venture funding.

RocGrowth's mission is about building community for our region's great innovators and entrepreneurs. For seven years, we have featured our leading entrepreneurs in a series of open interviews, including audience participation.

RocGrowth Candids-Virtual

RocGrowth Community-

TEDxRochesterSalon in partnership with RocGrowth, focusing on how diversity enhances innovation and entrepreneurship.

We live in a dynamic city, and Rochester is looked at nationally as an innovation hub. Innovation work requires a vibrant and open community in which people feel welcome, have their ideas heard and opinions valued.

This TEDxRochesterSalon will explore how diversity and inclusion impact innovation and entrepreneurship here in Rochester.

Ana Liss, Director of Economic Development & Planning for Monroe County, will be conducting a candid interview.

Kevin S. Beckford, Sr. HR Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, University of Rochester [email protected]

Dr. Deanna Kimbrel, Inclusion and Diversity Manager, Paychex [email protected]

Victoria Van Voorhis, CEO, Second Avenue Learning [email protected]

Hinge Neighbors works to empower people in the neighborhood to raise their voice in a way that will be heard. 

Hinge Neighbors works along with residents and other community partners currently separated by the Inner Loop North to prepare them to raise their voice in a way that will be heard.

[email protected]

[email protected]