BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a final pitch on Thursday night, the winners of the 2021 43North competition were announced, and a Buffalo-based startup was the big winner of the night.
Top Seedz took home the grand prize of a $1 million investment on Thursday. Top Seedz produces artisan crackers and roasted seeds packed with nutrition and flavor using the simplest ingredients that nature provides.
BetterMynd, Inc., and Verivend from Buffalo also went home as winners, taking home $500,000 investments each.
BetterMynd, Inc., is an online therapy platform that partners directly with universities to provide their students access to a diverse network of licensed mental health counselors from the privacy and convenience of their laptops and mobile devices.
Verivend offers the quickest way available to pay and get paid, allowing businesses to transact with all customers and vendors and a digital wallet powering instant B2B and business-to-consumer (B2C) payments.
“Buffalo’s entrepreneurial community has felt the positive impact of 43North and now there are eight new innovative companies joining an already vibrant startup scene,” said Governor Hochul. “We congratulate the extraordinary winners of this year’s competition and look forward to seeing them gain momentum while creating exciting new jobs in the region.”
Other winners of the $500,000 prize include Big Wheelbarrow, INC, FLOX – The Healthy Chicken Company, Infiuss Health, ShearShare, Inc., and Zealot Interactive.
Winners also receive free space in 43North's incubator in Seneca One Tower, guidance from experienced mentors in their field, and access to other business incentive programs.
