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PODCAST

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders

Join Patrick Bosek in conversations with the dynamic people of the Upstate New York start-up ecosystem. Conversations will discuss what"s happening around the region with all the dynamic businesses, capital providers, and other connectors working to make Upstate the best place to start a company.

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All Episodes

56:43

#9 - Peter Dean -- Culture as a competitive advantage

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2026/10/02

In this episode, Patrick speaks with Peter Dean a serial entrepreneur and longtime member of the Upstate New York startup community. Patrick and Peter trace his career shaped by experimentation, resilience, and a deep belief in people-first culture. Peter shares the lessons behind building three different start-ups in three very different industries.Peter tells the stories behind Athletic Dynamics, scaling the outdoor e-commerce company Upside Over, surviving its collapse during the 2008 financial

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37:55

#8 - Lauren Washington -- Creating Progress through...

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2026/03/04

Patrick Bosek talks with Lauren Washington—serial entrepreneur, community builder, and Director of the University at Buffalo’s Cultivator Program—about her amazing journey through multiple ventures to helping shape Buffalo’s startup ecosystem. Lauren shares how winning the first-ever 43North with her social listening startup “Keep Up” taught her hard lessons about platform risk and building on someone else’s APIs. From there, she talks through founding a community, Black Women Talk Tech, before

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36:50

#7 - Micheal Gursha -- Becoming a builder in the...

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2026/01/10

Patrick Bosek sits down with Michael Gursha (Point Curve CEO, UNY 50 member, and UVC board member) to explore how Upstate New York shaped his path as a builder. From launching Dream Water at Syracuse and experimenting with an early social recommendation startup, Michael shares what he learned about pitching, traction, and when quitting is the smartest move. He breaks down how founders can build a real support network—peers, advisors, and investors who want the hard truth, not just the highlights

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47:15

#6 - Elisa Miller-Out -- Connecting and coaching for...

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/09/09

In this episode, I sit down with Elisa Miller-Out, Managing Partner at Chloe Capital, to unpack her journey from a Gilded Age lineage and a childhood on food stamps to serial founder and investor with 65+ portfolio companies and multiple M&A, including a $100M exit. We dig into how her theater-to-tech operating background shapes founder empathy, sales/storytelling, and practical company-building. Elisa shares candid wins and stumbles, from a risky bridge round that became a marquee exit to

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43:21

#5 - Michael Ryzewic, Co-founder of Rosie

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/08/03

In this episode of the UVC Founders and Leaders Podcast, host Patrick Bosek sits down with Michael Ryzowick, technical co-founder of Rosie, the Ithaca-based grocery e-commerce platform acquired by Instacart in 2022. Michael shares the multi-generational roots of his entrepreneurial drive, the journey from scrappy upstate startup to successful exit, and the pivotal moments that shaped Rosie’s evolution. From dumpster-dived printers to negotiating an acquisition in the days before his wedding, this

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23:44

#4 - Jeffrey Allan, Marine vet, startup founder, and...

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/07/08

Jeffrey Allen, Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and AI at Nazareth University, joins host Patrick Bosek to share his journey from the Marines to international tech, startup ventures like Lottery.com and Echo Ridge, and ultimately academia. He discusses the ethics of AI, the societal impacts of emerging tech, and how Nazareth is building a unique interdisciplinary AI program. Jeffrey also explains how the university supports ambitious startups through STTR grants, aiming to turn

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59:49

#3 - Nasir Ali, Co-founder of UVC

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/06/01

In this episode, Patrick Bosek talks with Nasir Ali, co-founder of Upstate Venture Connect, about building a thriving startup ecosystem in Upstate New York. Nasir shares the origin story of UVC, the importance of high-growth entrepreneurship, and how community connectivity drives regional transformation. They also discuss practical ways founders, mentors, and investors can get involved in growing the Upstate innovation economy.

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31:57

#1 - Olivia Goldstien, CEO of UVC

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/05/05

In the first episode of UVC Founders and Leaders we talk to the leader of UVC, Olivia Goldstien. Olivia and Patrick discuss Olivia's journey to this position, why Upstate NY, and where UVC is going.

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47:23

#2 - Rick Pereira, Co-founder Welcome

Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) Founders and Leaders ·

2025/05/05

In episode 2 of UVC Founders and Leaders Patrick talks with Rick Pereira about his journey as a professional focused on the people at organizations. Rick tells the story of his time as Chief People Officer at Slice and co-founder of Welcome.

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9 results

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