Buffalo's startup and tech ecosystem is growing at warp speed. The proverbial snowball is rolling downhill, and high-growth companies like ACV, Squire, HiOperator, Circuit Clinical, Kyklo, Oddo, HELIXintel, PostProcess Technologies, and more are rising at a rapid pace and thriving in Western New York. As a result, a growing community of job seekers looking to break free from their corporate cubicles are meeting this movement head-on. Western New York, meet Forge Buffalo.
Created by 43North and its partners at Viaduct, Forge Buffalo connects talent in the 716 with job opportunities at the region's fastest-growing startups, most innovative tech companies, and dynamic emerging businesses. Designed to be more than a job board, Forge Buffalo’s online hub allows job seekers to create a free profile and view opportunities. On the flip side, companies can search the database of active job-seekers by field to find the right person to fill their role.
The creation of the online hub was in direct response to the traction of Buffalo’s startup ecosystem. As 43North’s portfolio grew, it was getting inundated with resumes and job seekers wanting to know how they could get in on the action. It was a clear signal that it was time for a resource like Forge Buffalo. "I think Buffalo as a whole is starting to take notice of what’s happening within the local startup scene, and people are realizing both the growth opportunities as well as the wide variety of roles.” said Christian Gaddis, senior marketing manager of Forge Buffalo.
A common myth is that people need to work in tech in order to be a good fit for a startup. But the reality is, startups offer a deep bench of career opportunities including roles in sales, HR, marketing, graphic design, and software development, to name some examples.
In addition to breaking down the misconceptions, Forge Buffalo offers a look inside what it’s like to work for a fast-growing tech company, showcasing the benefits and opportunities that people might not see on the surface. "Startups can grow quickly, and as a result, their employees have an opportunity for accelerated career growth as well,” said Gaddis.
Kevin Wright, inside sales for Bounce Imaging, is a perfect example of one of Forge Buffalo’s early success stories. Previously, 42-year-old Wright spent more than 13 years at a large multinational conglomerate corporation, where he handled $13 million in sales in his Upstate New York territory. Wanting to be more than a number at a corporation, see the difference he was making in the company, and be noticed for his contributions, Wright began to consider new career opportunities. He learned about Forge Buffalo where he created a profile and began his search for a career with a startup.
“There was a lot of buzz around Buffalo about startups, and I wanted to know more, so I did a ton of research and talked to everyone I could in the startup world, including friends that worked at 43North, ACV, Kangarootime and more,” said Wright. “After someone mentioned Forge Buffalo, I created my profile and uploaded my resume to the site. It was a great resource. I could see which jobs were active, and I knew that companies could easily find my resume.”
Not long after, Wright landed the position he currently holds at Bounce Imaging in which he builds out a pipeline of law enforcement and first responder customers for their throwable, tactical 360-degree cameras. Since joining, Wright has watched the team more than double in size in just a few months’ time.
“When I started at Bounce Imaging, we were a team of three in sales. Now, there are seven of us on the sales team alone and over 20 people at the company. I went from thinking about what to say during my own interview to conducting the interview. I often work directly with Francisco Aguilar, the CEO of our company to help the company grow. My goal is to hold a leadership role at some point, and at a startup, I can clearly see a path to get there.”
To view the latest startup jobs in Buffalo and stay informed about news and networking events, visit ForgeBuffalo.com. Visitors are also encouraged to create a free account and upload a resume so employers can find them. Signing up for Forge Buffalo’s email newsletter or following Forge Buffalo on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn are other ways to stay connected as well.