To attract and retain high-growth startups in Buffalo by providing funding, mentorship, workspace and connections.
43north Bpc Inc centers its grantmaking on Buffalo startups, with repeat investments that typically land at the seed and growth stages. Its recent records show a pattern of large capital support for companies building in Buffalo, alongside a mix of accelerator programming and local entrepreneurship events tied to the city’s startup ecosystem. The foundation’s flagship accelerator selects five companies each year for $1 million investments, 12 months of programming, office space, mentorship, and support from the 43North team. In recent grant records, the largest award listed is a $44,138,661 grant to 43north Foundation Inc for growth and working capital, followed by multiple seven-figure and high six-figure awards to local ventures. That profile points to a funder using substantial balance-sheet support to help young companies scale, retain talent, and build operational capacity in Western New York. The foundation also administers a civic hackathon in Buffalo, which adds a community-facing layer to its startup-focused platform.
A core theme is seed-stage startup growth. The 43North Accelerator Program gives five companies $1 million each, paired with 12 months of programming in Buffalo, mentorship, office space, and support from the 43North team. Another thread is venture-style expansion capital for local companies: Zam Helmets Inc received $1,000,000 for growth and working capital, while Leaping Harts Inc (dba Kredit Academy) received $900,000 for the same purpose. The foundation also backs sector-specific startups, including Infuiss Health Inc with a $500,000 grant and Shearshare Inc with grants of $500,000 and $400,000. Beyond company building, 43north Bpc Inc supports community-oriented tech activity through Code:Buffalo Hackathon, which awards cash prizes for projects that support Buffalo.
Grant sizes are heavily weighted toward large investments: the typical grant sits at $292,500 at the 25th percentile, $500,000 at the median, and $592,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including Shearshare Inc, Flox (us) Inc, Otrafy Inc, Mod Tech Labs Inc, Big Wheelbarrow Inc, and Taskunite Inc. That repeated pattern suggests ongoing backing rather than isolated awards. 43north Bpc Inc is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The data also shows an application pathway for some activities, including unsolicited registration for the hackathon and the accelerator’s application-based selection process.
$59.4M
$10.9M
$9.8M
$10M
Most grants fall between $293K and $593K, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$293K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$593K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NY.
COLLEEN HEIDINGER
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
The foundation’s grants are concentrated in New York, with 100% of reported grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Buffalo dominates the recipient map, appearing repeatedly across the recent grants list, while Blasdell also appears in Western New York. The grant programs themselves are centered on Buffalo, including the accelerator and the hackathon, and the accelerator is open to applicants worldwide even though funded companies operate in Buffalo. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the supplied data.
The data shows support for seed-stage startups, tech startups, economic development, accelerator programming, and startup community events. Recent grants also go to companies described as building with growth and working capital, including ventures in healthtech, SaaS, clean tech, agtech, and civic tech.
Typical grant size is $292,500 at the 25th percentile, $500,000 at the median, and $592,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes $1,000,000 awards and several $900,000 and $500,000 grants.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat awards to several recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Shearshare Inc, Flox (us) Inc, Otrafy Inc, Mod Tech Labs Inc, Big Wheelbarrow Inc, and Taskunite Inc.
Some activities are application-based, including the 43North Accelerator Program, which selects five companies for $1 million investments, and the 43North Finals pitch competition. Code:Buffalo Hackathon accepts unsolicited registration through its event page.
All reported grants are to U.S. recipients, and the top state by grant count is New York. Buffalo is the main recipient city in the recent grant list, with Blasdell also appearing.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZAM HELMETS INC | BUFFALO, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| G CARDS INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| GUIDESLY INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| LEAPING HARTS INC (DBA KREDIT ACADEMY) | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| STEPWISE ELECTRIC INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| EMPIRICAN GROUP INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| OUIBY INC | BUFFALO, NY | $166,666 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| OTRAFY INC | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| MOD TECH LABS INC | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| TASKUNITE INC | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| OTRAFY INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| MOD TECH LABS INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| TASKUNITE INC | BUFFALO, NY | $900,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| TWIPES USA LIMITED | BUFFALO, NY | $685,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| SHEARSHARE INC | BUFFALO, NY | $400,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| PHOOD INC | BUFFALO, NY | $333,333 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| FLOX (US) INC | BUFFALO, NY | $215,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| BIG WHEELBARROW INC | BUFFALO, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| 43NORTH FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $44,138,661 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| TOP SEEDZ LLC | BUFFALO, NY | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| BIG WHEELBARROW INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| VERIVEND INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| SHEARSHARE INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| ZEALOT INTERACTIVE INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| BETTERMYND INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| INFUISS HEALTH INC | BUFFALO, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| CLEANFIBER INC | BLASDELL, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| AIRZAAR INC | BUFFALO, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| KANGAROOTIME INC | BUFFALO, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| FLOX (US) INC | BUFFALO, NY | $285,000 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| IMMERSED GAMES INC | BUFFALO, NY | $33,334 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| WHOSEYOURLANDLORD | BUFFALO, NY | $33,333 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
| RALLY BUS CORP | NEW YORK, NY | $33,333 | 2023 | GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL |
ZAM HELMETS INC
$1,000,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
G CARDS INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
GUIDESLY INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
LEAPING HARTS INC (DBA KREDIT ACADEMY)
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
STEPWISE ELECTRIC INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
EMPIRICAN GROUP INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
OUIBY INC
$166,666GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
OTRAFY INC
$100,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
MOD TECH LABS INC
$100,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
TASKUNITE INC
$100,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
OTRAFY INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
MOD TECH LABS INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
TASKUNITE INC
$900,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
TWIPES USA LIMITED
$685,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
SHEARSHARE INC
$400,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
PHOOD INC
$333,333GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
FLOX (US) INC
$215,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
BIG WHEELBARROW INC
$100,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
43NORTH FOUNDATION INC
$44,138,661GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
TOP SEEDZ LLC
$1,000,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
BIG WHEELBARROW INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
VERIVEND INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
SHEARSHARE INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
ZEALOT INTERACTIVE INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
BETTERMYND INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
INFUISS HEALTH INC
$500,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
CLEANFIBER INC
$300,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
AIRZAAR INC
$300,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
KANGAROOTIME INC
$300,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
FLOX (US) INC
$285,000GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
IMMERSED GAMES INC
$33,334GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
WHOSEYOURLANDLORD
$33,333GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL
RALLY BUS CORP
$33,333GROWTH AND WORKING CAPITAL