A look at what’s happening in Buffalo’s startup world …
Let the games begin
Zizo Technologies has officially launched its software platform and is onboarding customers.
The Buffalo-based startup was founded by Jimmy Chebat and offers a web-based business management platform. The company’s “gamified” suite of tools looks to take a growing software trend and apply it to overlooked industries.
The result is a more engaged workforce and managers with a granular visibility into their operation, he said. Those interested in becoming early adopters can click here.
“The product can scale across pretty much any industry but works best with a large team performing similar tasks, specifically call centers and sales teams,” Zizo community manager Megan Baldi said.
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Zizo has 20 employees, including seven in Buffalo, and has raised $200,000 in outside capital. One of its investors is Launch NY.
Zizo is the eighth local company to raise growth-oriented funding this year. The others include Tackle.io ($35 million), Torch Labs ($25 million), Circuit Clinical ($7.5 million), SomaDetect ($6 million), Kickfurther ($5.9 million) and Ellicottville Greens ($1 million) and MemoryFox ($380,000).
EZ as that
Geo Data Intelligence is officially a graduate of the University at Buffalo’s Technology Incubator in Amherst.
The company started out as a mapping software project at UB, but pivoted last year with its EZ Routing product, which helps K-12 school districts plan out bus routes. It’s gone from 40 clients in the K-12 space last summer to 140 across the nation.
Geo Data Intelligence moved recently to 247 Cayuga Road in Cheektowaga
The company is still bootstrapped. It has five full-time and two part-time employees.
Kyklo tightens relationship with Panasonic
Kyklo is one of the most exciting business stories in Buffalo as a venture-funded tech company that moved here during the pandemic.
The firm has announced some good news lately as it formalized a broader partnership with Panasonic. The Japanese corporation will help put Kyklo’s business management and e-commerce platform into the hands of its customers.
“We see this partnership with Kyklo as a tool for distributors,” said Erin Wu, a Panasonic director. “A tool that Panasonic can put into their hands.”
Kyklo is hiring for several different positions in Buffalo right now.
Down the I-90
The Albany Business Review reports that a telehealth startup raised $5.5 million in Series A funding.
The deal was led by Skaneateles-based venture capital firm Armory Square Ventures, one of the earliest investors in ACV Auctions. Armory Square managing partner Somak Chattopadhyay will join the board.
