There’s a lot of buzz in Buffalo about the Buffalo Billion. As you may know, Buffalo Manufacturing Works is one of the signature programs of New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion Economic Development plan for Western New York. Another signature initiative was the 43North Business Plan competition that awarded $5 million to national and international entrepreneurs in October that were willing to relocate their business to Buffalo, N.Y.

But here’s where Buffalo becomes a large living room as some say… the $1 million grand prize winner? A startup Buffalo manufacturer called Adiabatic Solutions or ASi that has developed a rapid metal forming system that makes components that cost less. It’s not surprising that with our region’s rich history in manufacturing, this company is also a driver for our future. Now, before you jump to a conclusion about a Buffalo team winning, 43North brought in a number of nationally known judges including Randall Lane, editor of Forbes Magazine, Bijan Sabat, a well-known venture capitalist and early Twitter investor, and Esther Dyson, an angel investor and philanthropist. You can read Randall Lane’s take on the competition and the decision to award a local manufacturer the grand prize for Forbes here.

One of Buffalo Manufacturing Work’s lead team members, Steve Levesque, was chosen to mentor ASi team members, Glenn Thomas and Ted Cadwallader, in the days before the final pitch.

“ASi had some stiff competition, but all of their hard work throughout the past several years has paid off. Just as the grand prize will accelerate ASi’s ability to get their technology into the marketplace, this competition provides a boost to an innovative culture and will be yet another part of the manufacturing renaissance in Buffalo,” said Steve.

Here’s a video that highlights the finalists and their experiences during 43North week. You can catch Steve at 4:57.

Mentoring and teamwork are an important part of growing the western New York economy. Having the right people on your team, with the right knowledge and expertise to build and grow a business, is at the core of what Buffalo Manufacturing Works does. Just think of us as an extension of your team. Ready to get to work? Contact us.