THE BUFFALO BOOM

Passionate Companies and Non-Profits are Turning Western New York into a Tech Haven.

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As Web3, robotics, AI, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality, and other advanced technologies move forward, the burden to fill roles within these frontier sectors increases.

According to the US Department of Labor, it’s estimated that 3.5 million STEM jobs will need to be filled by 2025. Employment in STEM occupations has grown 79% since 1990, and that number is projected to continue to grow exponentially over the next decade. As technology evolves, STEM universities and training programs need to proliferate at a commensurate rate to keep pace with that evolution.

It is a monumental task, but tech havens like the one cultivated in Buffalo, NY, are providing a model that other cities can emulate to keep up with the existential demand for talent within the tech industry.

Buffalo’s bucolic canvas and traditional pastoral backdrop have blended with quiet suburbs and sustainability-focused tech districts in recent years to paint an idyllic picture. Buffalo families are in the unique position of being able to enjoy the life-enhancing qualities of nature, the value-building structure of a tight-knit community and the opportunity provided by a robust and forward-thinking local economy — a balance that is not easily achieved.

“It’s a wonderful place to start your career and start a family and to engage in all the things that we think are great about Buffalo,” said Sonny Sonnenstein, CIO for consumer business and digital banking at the Buffalo-based M&T Bank.