Innovate 518

08/14/2026

Our latest newsletter is out. We are musing on hiring AI talent. Take a look, and let us know what your questions are. We are planning a future lunch & learn on this topic!

We’re in a moment that seems to be all AI, all the time. The hype shows no signs of letting up any time soon, with good reason. Artificial intelligence, in all its forms, is a game-changer for nearly every industry. This means that hiring AI talent will become more challenging. The big tech firms ...

07/14/2026

Systems thinking for researchers and founders -- if you find yourself unable to get over a hump, it may be more than just mindset. Taking a look at the systems you have (or don't have!) in place can be helpful.

Lisa Giruzzi is a transformational coach, speaker, and author who h...

06/04/2026

Business Incubator Association of New York State, Inc. Annual Conference kicks off with a little pre-conference fun on Tuesday, June 16th. Join us for an ecosystem tour, followed by some fun and games.

We'll visit UAlbany Innovation Center, STEAM Garden, Tech Valley Center of Gravity, and AMPS at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

After you catch a breath, we'll meet up for some AR golf, networking, and food at The Bunker!

Get your ticket today! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-bianys-annual-meeting

06/04/2026

Small businesses and founders, have questions about Cyber Insurance? Don't miss this webinar with Unal Tatar from University at Albany.

Cyber insurance can be confusing — but it’s a key part of protecting your business. 🛡️

Join LogicalNet and UAlbany Cybersecurity on June 5 for a free webinar: “How Does Cyber Insurance Work?” with Dr. Unal Tatar.

You’ll walk away understanding how insurers assess risk, what coverage really protects, how incidents affect claims, and how to strengthen your insurability before you ever need to file.

Practical, jargon-free, and built for business owners and leaders right here in the Capital Region.

📅 June 5, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM ET
💻 Online & free

Save your spot 👉 https://www.logical.net/resources/webinars/how-does-cyber-insurance-work.html

05/13/2026

Food. Farming. Manufacturing. Innovation.🌱

Join us at Vitality in the Valley: Farm to Factory on June 2–3 at Herkimer College for a one-of-a-kind event celebrating New York State’s food, agriculture, and manufacturing ecosystem.

Whether you're a foodie, fabricator, farmer, entrepreneur, or manufacturer, you’ll discover local flavors, innovative products, networking opportunities, exhibitors, and resources to help your business grow.

🍽️ Enjoy local food and beverage experiences
🤝 Connect with makers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs
🌱 Explore the future of NYS agriculture and innovation
🎤 Hear from expert voices on resources and entrepreneurship, Dan Rickman, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Frank Elias, Utica Coffee Roasting Company

➡️ Register today: https://bit.ly/40OB0At

04/20/2026

We are looking forward to hosting Darrin this week at our monthly lunch & learn! You can register at https://albany.jotform.com/team/ualbany-innovation-center/april-lunch--learn-rd-tax-credits

Wednesday, April 22nd at 12PM, in person at the UAlbany ETEC building.

Local tech CEO Darrin Jahnel started another company that's unlike anything he's done before. "We are off to the races on this one. I'm telling you, we've got a winner."

04/17/2026

Very exciting! Congratulations, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences!

A French life science company has selected Albany for its first U.S. location, where it plans to invest $18 million over the next half-decade.

04/16/2026

Don't miss this prototyping event next week at TVCOG!

Hear real life examples of the prototyping process from Troy Fischer at our Practical Prototyping event on April 23rd! If you've ever bought toys, there's a good chance you've come across one of Fischer's inventions. Among his many accomplishments is his LED projection technology. This has brought to life the whimsical faces of Disney's Cars and the Tron action figures at the Disney World theme park experience, which allows your own face on the figure. A lifelong tinkerer with 25 years of toy invention experience, he's passionate about helping others through their prototyping roadblocks through his work as a member and mentor at TVCOG.

Register at www.tvcog.net/community-events

Tech Valley Center of Gravity is a certified NYS Incubator and affiliated Innovate 518 Hotspot partner supported by the Empire State Development Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR).

04/16/2026

Wednesday, April 22nd -- join us for lunch and learn about R&D tax credits ---> https://bit.ly/rd-tax-credits-april26

Are you leaving R&D tax credits on the table?

Many startups and growing companies are already doing qualifying R&D—without realizing it.

Join Darrin Jahnel and Zach Hartman of InfoLink R&D Tax Specialists for a practical, plain‑language session that breaks down the R&D Tax Credit and shows how companies in manufacturing, software development, engineering, and architecture can turn everyday innovation into real tax savings.

💡 You’ll learn how activities like:

• Improving production processes
• Engineering new or enhanced structural solutions
• Developing custom software for performance or quality

…may qualify for valuable R&D credits.

Key takeaways include:

✔️ What activities qualify across multiple industries
✔️ How “technical uncertainty” applies to real projects
✔️ Documentation best practices to support a claim
✔️ How to assess your organization’s R&D credit potential

👉 Register today and start turning innovation into savings. https://bit.ly/rd-tax-credits-april26