BIANYS Annual Advocacy Days Drive Awareness, Action from State Legislators

ALBANY, NY – June 29, 2026 – In late February, the Business Incubator Association of New York State (BIANYS) held its annual Advocacy Days, with representatives holding effective meetings with legislators in Albany. Across the board, New York State's Assembly Members and State Senators were engaged and supportive of BIANYS's work.

BIANYS' annual Advocacy Days held February 23–25, 2026 had a two-part goal: first, education—ensuring that state senators and representatives are aware of the work being done by member incubators and accelerators in their districts—and second, championing further investment to drive capacity building for the state's entrepreneurship ecosystem, so that New York can stay competitive with other states.

“Innovation does not happen in isolation,” said Kelly Reardon, Board Secretary of BIANYS and Program Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs of University at Albany SUNY. “Behind every successful startup is a network of mentors, advisors, investors, and support organizations working to accelerate growth and reduce risk. As other states continue increasing investments in entrepreneurial infrastructure, New York has an opportunity to strengthen the organizations that help transform promising ideas into companies, jobs, and economic impact.”

BIANYS met with either legislators or staff from numerous offices including those of Assemblymembers Paul Bologna, Brian Cunningham, Jordan Wright, Albert Stirpe, Steve Stern, Chrystal People-Stokes, Rebecca Kassay, Marion Buttenschon, Daimon Brown, and Senators April Baskin, Daniel Stec, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and James Sanders.

“Many of our incubators are supported by NYSTAR [Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation], and it is important for BIANYS to make sure that the legislators know about the great work our incubators are doing in every corner of the state and the impact of that work,” added Per Stromhaug, Board Chair of BIANYS and Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development of University at Buffalo SUNY.

“We have a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem and brilliant academicians across the state, but we need our incubators and accelerators to move the ball forward,” said BIANYS Interim Executive Director Ariella Trotsenko. “BIANYS and our members get everything assembled to support these startups.”

During the Advocacy Days, BIANYS shared its vision of creating greater capacity to support the state's entrepreneurs. “If an accelerator can support five companies, how do we get it to ten, or more?” said Trotsenko. “Entrepreneurs that participate in BIANYS programs have an increased chance of succeeding; those that do not, decrease their odds of surviving to a 1 in 10 chance without that support.”

During its meetings with legislators and their staff, BIANYS extended invitations to speak with its members at its monthly webinar member meetups held on the third Thursday of every month. In July, Assemblymember Stirpe, chair of the Economic Development Committee, will speak at the meetup. Registration can be found on the BIANYS LinkedIn page and will be live streamed.