The Series Buffalo Podcast

Steve Rossi, on Buffalo's business case

In this episode, WorkSport CEO Steve Rossi reveals why Buffalo is the secret weapon behind his company's rapid growth and why he chose it over Texas, Ohio, and his home base in Canada. Steve breaks down what makes Buffalo a legitimate manufacturing advantage: affordable, stable hydroelectric power, well-connected land, rail, and port corridors, and a workforce that pairs engineering talent with real work ethic. He also challenges the idea that cheap labor drives success and makes a compelling case for why quality, energy, and community matter more. Steve Rossi is the founder and CEO of WorkSport, with decades of experience in international trade and a focus on energy, manufacturing, and U.S. economic growth.

Sharon Cryan, on building FoodNerd in Buffalo

On this episode of The Series B Podcast, we sit down with Sharon Cryan, founder of FoodNerd, to explore how innovation in food science is reshaping the way we think about nutrition, shelf life, and access to healthy foods. Sharon shares the story behind FoodNerd’s mission, the challenges of building a food-tech company, and why Buffalo is becoming a place where big ideas can grow. From entrepreneurship to the future of food systems, this conversation dives into what it takes to build something groundbreaking in an industry ready for disruption.

Mike Pell, on how Microsoft does innovation

Mike Pell is the inventor of the PDF and Apple's stylized font menu. He now serves as Envisioneer at The Microsoft Garage, helping the tech giant and other industry customers rethink how they do all things innovation. On this episode, Mike discusses Microsoft's hackathon structure, how corporations should approach innovation, and why Buffalo is worth investing in.

Rohit Gupta, on why the Valley is looking at Buffalo

Rohit Gupta is Managing Director at Future Communities Capital, a fund backing founders transforming legacy industries. His investments span companies like SpaceX and Lyft, and in Buffalo include HELIX Intel and Ognomy. In this episode, Rohit breaks down why he’s betting on places outside Silicon Valley and what he sees in Buffalo specifically. We talk about how he first got connected to the region, what keeps bringing him back, and why some of the best opportunities are hiding in overlooked markets. We also get into what founders still get wrong when raising capital, how much networks actually matter, and his view on building companies in the age of AI.

Welcome to The Series B Podcast

Welcome to the Series B podcast, where we’re documenting a new round of growth in Buffalo, New York. On this show, we’ll interview the builders, doers, and creators powering Buffalo’s economic revival. The people rolling up their sleeves, placing bets, and asking ‘why not us’? We’ll also go national, talking with leaders in venture capital, tech, and innovation who are shaping the future elsewhere, helping us imagine what it could look like here. We’re in a race for relevance. We’ll be talking to the people who believe that to be true and are willing to do something about it.  If you do too, join us. Follow Series B at seriesbuffalo.com and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.