E7: Sarah Tanbakuchi-Ripa, on 43North Foundation transforming Buffalo

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On this episode of The Series Buffalo Podcast, Greg Pokriki sits down with Sarah Tanbakuchi-Ripa, CEO of the 43North Foundation, to unpack Buffalo's next chapter of innovation-driven growth. Sarah breaks down the Foundation's four strategic pillars: a new venture studio, the TechBuffalo talent pipeline, the Series B storytelling platform, and a corporate connectivity initiative. She shares lessons learned from ecosystems like Salt Lake City and Indianapolis that helped guide the strategy. The conversation closes with Sarah's vision for what success looks like for Buffalo a decade from now.

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Episode Timestamps

• 00:18 — Intro: meet Sarah Tanbakuchi-Ripa, CEO of the 43 North Foundation
• 00:52 — What is the 43North Foundation?
• 02:23 — Why now is the right time to evolve beyond the 43North competition
• 04:58 — Overview of the Foundation's four strategic pillars
• 08:25 — Pillar 1: the venture studio model (Radial Ventures)
• 10:11 — Pillar 2: talent and TechBuffalo
• 14:29 — Pillar 3: corporate connectivity in Buffalo
• 20:23 — Pillar 4: Series B and telling Buffalo's innovation story
• 27:19 — The long-term vision: what does success look like for Buffalo in 2035–36?
• 30:43 — Last Call: productivity tools, podcast listening speed, coffee order, and wings (drumstick or flat?)

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