Buffalo Business First chose 10 companies this year for our inaugural Inno Fire awards, representing the breadth and diversity of Buffalo’s startup scene. These are their stories.
ShearShare
CEO: Tye Caldwell
Founded: 2017
Headquarters: 43North incubator, Seneca One Tower, Buffalo
What the company does: A Web-based platform that allows stylists and barbers to rent a chair in existing salons
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ShearShare’s not messing around.
The company, which relocated from Dallas to Buffalo in late 2021, recently closed on $2.3 million in seed funding from a variety of local sources.
Eight of 15 employees are already based here, including co-founders Tye Caldwell (CEO) and Courtney Caldwell (COO). Several more senior executives are in the process of being hired.
And ShearShare recently unveiled a more customizable version of its software – a key in the company’s mission to be a key partner for salons and stylists.
On top of that, the Caldwells have been making inroads into Buffalo’s beauty and fashion industry, hosting events and signing up businesses as partners.
People are excited about the Caldwells in Buffalo. And, right back, the Caldwells are excited about people in Buffalo.
“We’ve been really well-received in Western New York,” Tye Caldwell said. “We feel like it has really validated our decision to move here.”
ShearShare moved to Buffalo after winning a $500,000 award in the 43North competition.
The company's web-based platform is a tech-enabled way to help all parties in the industry – by providing efficient and cost-effective opportunities for contractors and making use of underutilized real estate for salon owners.
“We feel like we’re feeding off the spirit of this city,” Courtney Caldwell said. “And hopefully we’re feeding it right back.”
