Connected Know

Connected Know Want to stay ahead of the curve in Rochester’s business, tech, and startup scene? We cover real business moves happening in our region:
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This Week's Connected Know Update:
05/15/2026

This Week's Connected Know Update:

What you need to know

Rockstar energy and Rochester coffee culture are colliding at Elvio’s Coffee.Founded by musician and entrepreneur Elvio ...
05/13/2026

Rockstar energy and Rochester coffee culture are colliding at Elvio’s Coffee.

Founded by musician and entrepreneur Elvio Fernandes, Elvio's is building a community-driven brand centered around coffee, live music, wellness and culture.

Connected Know recently featured the story behind the growing Rochester business.Read more:

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a regional economy increasingly driven by experience-based businesses, Elvio’s Coffee is emerging as one of Rochester’s more distinctive lifestyle concepts, blending specialty coffee, live music and cultural programming into a single community-focused brand.Founded by Roch...

We are looking for founders to feature on CONNECTED KNOW. If you are a founder or know a founder please consider filling...
05/07/2026

We are looking for founders to feature on CONNECTED KNOW. If you are a founder or know a founder please consider filling out a profile to be featured.

At Connected Know, we spotlight the founders, builders, and business owners shaping Rochester’s economy. From startup dreamers to seasoned operators. If you’re leading a company, launching something new, or growing a business that deserves attention, we want to tell your story.

Growth without strong unit economics is often just accelerated inefficiency.As capital markets continue to prioritize op...
05/06/2026

Growth without strong unit economics is often just accelerated inefficiency.

As capital markets continue to prioritize operational discipline, founders and business leaders need a clear understanding of the metrics that actually drive sustainable growth, from CAC and LTV to margins and payback periods.

Our latest article breaks down why unit economics matter more than ever.

Read here:

Rochester, N.Y., Every founder can tell you their top-line revenue. Fewer can clearly explain whether their business actually makes money on each customer, transaction, or product sold.That distinction matters more than most entrepreneurs realize. In today’s funding environment, investors, operato...

$20M Growth Injection for Syntec Optics -
05/01/2026

$20M Growth Injection for Syntec Optics -

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTX) has raised approximately $20 million through an underwritten public offering, signaling continued investment activity in Rochester’s advanced manufacturing and optics sector.The company sold 2,857,142 shares of common stock at $7.00 p...

What's Happening In Rochester Now - Check Out Connected Know's Friday Recap:
05/01/2026

What's Happening In Rochester Now - Check Out Connected Know's Friday Recap:

What you need to know

M&A News, T-Mobile $2B+ deal with Greenlight Networks:
04/30/2026

M&A News, T-Mobile $2B+ deal with Greenlight Networks:

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A roughly $2 billion deal is set to accelerate the growth of one of Rochester’s most recognizable tech companies, as Greenlight Networks becomes part of a major national broadband expansion strategy.T-Mobile announced it will invest approximately $2 billion to acquire a 50% sta...

Startup Wednesday is expanding to Rochester, bringing a hands-on, builder-focused program designed to turn ideas into re...
04/29/2026

Startup Wednesday is expanding to Rochester, bringing a hands-on, builder-focused program designed to turn ideas into real ventures.

A strong signal for the region’s startup momentum and a meaningful addition to the early-stage pipeline.

Read more: https://www.connectedknow.com/post/startup-wednesday-expands-to-rochester-bringing-hands-on-venture-building-to-local-founders

NextCorps

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new venture-building program is set to launch in Rochester this June, adding fresh momentum to the region’s growing startup and innovation economy.Startup Wednesday, a weekly venture-building program founded in 2025 by entrepreneur Dan Gigante in Buffalo, will begin its first...

Rochester-based Vuzix just secured a new defense development deal, further positioning the company at the center of the ...
04/28/2026

Rochester-based Vuzix just secured a new defense development deal, further positioning the company at the center of the rapidly scaling augmented reality and smart optics market.

As AR adoption accelerates across defense, enterprise, and industrial use cases, this signals more than a single contract, it’s continued validation of Rochester’s strength in optics, photonics, and next-gen hardware innovation.

Read more:

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 28, 2026 — Vuzix Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), a Rochester-based leader in AI-powered smart glasses and augmented reality technologies, has secured an additional six-figure, customer-funded development order from a tier-one aerospace and defense supplier, the company announced...

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