Right to Start Announces Launch of New York Starters Coalition
The Coalition Will Champion Entrepreneurship as a Civic Priority Statewide
Kansas City, Mo. – September 25, 2025 – Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, announced today the launch of the New York Starters Coalition, a statewide initiative to enhance the landscape of entrepreneurship. The Coalition will advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority across the state: convening entrepreneurs, identifying barriers to starting new businesses, and engaging all communities including those that have been historically excluded.
The coalition held a launch event this morning at 43 North Cafe in Buffalo, NY. The Coalition’s initial organizational members are the following 20 entrepreneurship-related entities: Agility3R; American Manufacturing Futures Institute; BIANYS; BOLD; Camoin Associates; CenterState CEO; Emboa Medical; Empire Center for Public Policy; Good Neighbor Fund; Hudson Valley Venture Hub; Mini Proto; Startup-IQ; Stella Foundation; Tech Valley Center of Gravity; Ten Talents; The Mind Wellness Lab; Third Eye Network; University of Buffalo Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships; Upstate Venture Connect; and, WorkSmart Coworking & Meeting Space Glens Falls.
The Coalition will grow to include both organizational and individual members. Organizational members will include entrepreneur support organizations and other civic entities; individual members will include entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and other supporters of entrepreneurship.
Managing the growth of the coalition will be Bobbie Armstrong, New York Coalition Manager for Right to Start, and a resident of Buffalo. She will be supported by Richard Lin, Right to Start’s Advocate in New York, and a resident of Troy.
The launch event featured remarks by Victor Hwang, Right to Start’s Founder and CEO, and two panel discussions. The first panel discussion focused on “Building a Level Playing Field” and featured Jason Bartz, Co-Founder, Good Neighbor Fund; Danielle Blount, Partner, BOLD Ventures, and Victor Hwang. The second panel discussion provided “Insights from the Entrepreneurial Journey” and featured Yayi Dia, Marketing Manager, Buffalo Fashion Runway; Amy Gurske, Co-Founder and CEO, sayhii; Monica Leising, Owner, 716 Accents, Shannon Scott, Owner, Sew-N-City; and, Caitlin E. Zubrowski, Program Director, IEEE Entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is key to economic growth in America, and states play a crucial role in maximizing its potential,” said Victor Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start. “That’s why I’m so pleased to be part of launching this statewide coalition in New York, which has long been in the forefront of global business leadership.”
“It's exciting to see this coalition emerging to promote entrepreneurship as a civic priority statewide,” said Bobbie Armstrong, New York Coalition Manager for Right to Start, “It’s especially important, as entrepreneurship benefits literally everyone in New York.”
New and young businesses create virtually all net job growth in America. They are leading indicators of GDP growth, and they increase community wealth and goods and services.
Every new business per 100 people adds nearly $500 to average household income in a county, according to data from the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab. Every 1% increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2% decline in poverty.
For more information, contact Henry Miller at hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.
Right to Start is a national nonpartisan movement to advance entrepreneurship as a civic priority throughout the United States. Entrepreneurship has long been viewed as a solitary endeavor – the lone starter in a basement or garage. Right to Start’s vision is to transform America so that all communities prioritize entrepreneurship, clearing away obstacles to ensure that every American has an equal right to start and a level playing field on which to embark.