Upcoming Events
Startup Summit Rochester NY: AI and Innovation for Start Ups
Join us for the 2025 Rochester Start Up Summit kick off event at the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship. The Start Up Summit is an event designed to inspire, motivate, provide insights, offer resources, and create networking opportunities within the Rochester Start Up and Entrepreneur community. The event will feature many successful business leaders in a panel discussion format, break out rooms and featured speakers. Vendor opportunities are also available for companies who provide services or resources to the local Start Up community, or in our Start Up Alley! The event is presented by Flower City Union, FSE Agency and Mammano Ventures, with support from the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship.
Net proceeds to benefit the Golisano Institute for Business and Entreprenuership. Light apetizers, refreshments, beer and wine tastings during the event.
Schedule
3-4:00 PM PM: Arrival/Networking/Visiting Sponsors, opening remarks
4 PM-4:50 PM: Panel Discussion “Resources for Rochester Start Up Companies” featuring Michael Thaney: Start Up Grind, Richard Glaser: RocGrowth Candid, Melanie Russo: Rochster Chamber, David Grome: Greater Rochester Enterprise, Holly Barret: Next Corps Rochester, Moderated by John Mordaci Golisano Institute for Business and Entreprenuership
5-5:45 PM: Breakout Sessions:
Capital Raise, Fundraising and Pitching: featuring David Brown Impellent Ventures, Gregory Van Laeken RIT Venture Fund, Flossie Hall: FHall Consulting, Yahaira Zapata: the Enterprise Center at Pathstone
AI and Innovation for Start Up's: featuring Graham Anthony Golisano Institute for Business and Entreprenuership, Carolyn Spencer Co- Pivot
Start Up Sales and Marketing: featuring Tim Mason Mason Marketing, Olivia Goldstien Upstate Venture Connect, Rebecca Leclair: Rebecca Leclair Communications, Rumella Cameron, Conversance Business Solutions.
Power of Sports Marketing for Start Up's: featuring CJ Scroger Rochester Red Wings, Casey Catlin Flower City Union, Rochester Amerks and Knighthawks, moderated by Mark Washo Freedom Sports and Entertainment
6pm: Featured discussion with Rochester entreprenuer Aaron Newman founder of CloudCheckr
6:45-7:45 PM: Networking mixer and happy hour
More speakers and panelists added soon, check back often as speakers are subject to change, thank you!
CNY Leadership Symposium 2025
Hear from Headliner, Jeff Knauss, Founder & CEO of Arcovo AI.
Doors open at 8 am for registration and breakfast.
The Symposium begins at 9 am.
Member Rate $135
Non-Member Rate $160
Receive a discount for registrations of 3 or More
(contact info@cortlandareachamber.com with questions)
Contact: info@cortlandareachamber.com, or 607-756-2814
48th Annual Crystal Ball & Sales and Marketing Excellence Awards
Founder and CEO of Arcovo AI, Jeff Knauss, will be receiving the 2025 Crystal Ball Award at the 48th Annual Crystal Ball & Sales and Marketing (CNYSME) Excellence Awards.
Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives annually bestows the prestigious Crystal Ball Award to a local businessperson or group of business people for contributions to the sales and marketing profession and for their endeavors in the areas of community development and support.
Jeff Knauss, a serial entrepreneur and angel investor who lives in Skaneateles NY, is the youngest Crystal Ball Award recipient since its inception in 1977.
At this annual event, local CNY companies honor their best and brightest. Enjoy networking with the area’s premier businesspeople, a silent auction, drinks, a sit-down dinner and more!
6:00 pm Cocktail & Networking Hour (Cash Bar)
7:00 pm Dinner & Award Ceremony Begins
Dress is business casual.
Transform Your Business with AI ft. Jeff Knauss
🚀 Unlock the Power of AI for Your Business & Life
AI isn’t just a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s transforming the way we work, live, and do business. Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to automate tasks, optimize efficiency, and leverage AI as your competitive edge, this workshop is for you.
Join Jeff Knauss, CEO & Co-Founder of Arcovo AI, for an engaging, no-fluff session on how to integrate AI into your business and daily workflow. Learn how AI-powered tools and AI Agents can save time, drive productivity, and help you scale smarter.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
What is AI & Why is it a Game-Changer?
The fundamentals of AI, from Machine Learning (ML) to Generative AI
The companies & projects leading the AI revolution
Responsible AI & Best Practices
Ethics, transparency, and making AI work for you, not against you
Mastering AI Tools & Prompt Engineering
Get hands-on with ChatGPT, Claude, and other top AI platforms
Learn the do’s & don’ts of prompt writing to get the best AI outputs
The Future of Work: AI + Humans
Why AI won’t replace you, but the people who know how to use AI will
How to build a human-AI partnership that enhances creativity & productivity
Understanding AI Agents & the Digital Workforce
How AI can act as an extension of your team, handling repetitive tasks
The rise of AI-powered agents and how to integrate them into your workflow
AI-Powered Business Automation
How AI is revolutionizing Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support
Real-world use cases to automate repetitive work and increase efficiency & revenue
🎯 Who Should Attend?
✔️Business owners & executives looking to future-proof their companies
✔️Entrepreneurs ready to scale faster & smarter
✔️Professionals eager to integrate AI into their daily workflow
🗓️ Event Details:
🕘 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM → Networking with Glazed & Confused Donuts | Coffee & Snacks from Cafe Kubal
🕘 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM → The AI Advantage: Keynote Presentation by Jeff Knauss
🕘 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM → Live Q&A with Jeff
🚨 Limited Seating – Reserve Your Spot Now!
With just 100 seats available, this exclusive event ensures direct access to industry insights and practical AI strategies you can apply immediately.
📍Location: Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)
🎟️ All proceeds from this event will be donated to The MOST.
Take the first step into the AI-powered future.
Sign up today and walk away with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to transform your business and life with AI.
Questions? Contact Caitlin at caitlin@arcovo.ai
Book Us To Speak
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Jeff Knauss, Founder & CEO
Jeff is a serial entrepreneur, AI enthusiast, & angel investor. He is currently a partner and investor in 13 businesses ranging from various startups focused on medical research, professional networking, mobile payment apps, commercial real estate, 3 restaurants, diversity recruitment, and e-commerce. In 2021, his digital marketing agency that he co-founded with Jake Tanner was successfully acquired. Jeff has received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from SUNY Oswego.
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Jake Tanner, Founder & COO
Jake has started multiple companies and grown them to seven and eight-figure revenue ranges by focusing on smart operations, practical innovation, and strong teams. Now, with Arcovo AI, Jake combines his experience in scaling businesses with the power of AI Automation to help clients move faster, cut costs, spark new growth, and empower people to focus on what matters most to them. I’m driven by the excitement of seeing how the right technology can transform a business and unlock its full potential.