Oh Buffalo startups. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

If you weren't aware, this Friday marks February 14--Valentine's day. If you're spending it with someone special, hopefully you've made dinner reservations by now. If you're looking for flowers, I recommend no place other than Maureen's downtown. Chocolates? Check out Blue Table Chocolates. And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you to check out Buffalo's own love-centric startup, Agape. Agape is co-founded by the incomparable David Brenner. 

Now that we've filled the air with enough love to fill a Taylor Swift album, let's look at Buffalo's startup events for February:

Startup Grind Buffalo: This month's SUG will feature Alex Kogan Data Scientist & Entrepreneur, speaking February 19, 2020, at 6 p.m. at the Innovation Center. Alex is perhaps best known as the scientist at the heart of the Cambridge Analytica controversy who collected the Facebook data and built the personality models that became a focus of international scrutiny in 2018. 

43North Jobcade:  February 19, 2020 at 3 p.m. at Riverworks. Learn about career opportunities with 50 local startups and small businesses at 43North’s JobCade! While you’re there, get a free professional headshot to update your LinkedIn profile and have your resume reviewed at the “Ask The Expert” table. JobCade is free to attend and no prior registration is required.

Founder's forum: Tentatively planned for Wednesday February 26, 2020, from 6- 8 p.m. Details to be released hopefully this week.

UB Blackstone Launchpad BXLPTS Workshop: February 27, 2020, UB Blackstone Launchpad will host a workshop on pitching best practices. 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at room 210 in the UB Student Union. Details here.

UB Blackstone Launchpad Get Seeded! Also being held February 27, 2020, UB will host entrpreneurs who will pitch their ideas. This event will immediately follow the workshop and will also be held in room 210 in the Student Union.

UB Blackstone Launchpad Medical Innovation Challenge: February 28, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., at room 210 in the Student Union. UB students and faculty present innovative ideas for clinical trial improvement, community health data collection and hospital improvements. Click here for more info.

Open coffee club: Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. at Rowhouse. This is a great event now hosted by Techstars Buffalo for anyone interested in getting more exposure to the startup community. Come enjoy a coffee in a casual open environment. Meetup details are here. Also keep an eye out for Open cocktail club. Same open event. Less coffee. More cocktails.

Founders table: Founders table is taking a brief hiatus this month. Details to follow soon.

LaunchNY #LaunchHour Twitter Chat. For the last few years, LaunchNY has hosted a monthly Twitter Chat highlighting some great topics for entrepreneurs in WNY. From raising capital to empowering female founders, this is a staple event now in our community. #LaunchHour is every third Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m.

Open office time. www.openofficetime.com. Open office hours was one of the first things Techstars recommended we kickoff here in Buffalo back in March. I’m happy to stay that what started as Alex Gress and myself this past spring has blossomed into over 40 entrepreneurs and community leaders and now even has its own website. Make sure to take advantage of this incredible asset or consider signing up and giving whatever time you can. This is all about helping people with no expectation in return.

Interested in starting an event yourself? It can be as simple as a meetup or as complicated as you want to make it! The only thing stopping you is you! Already hosting an event you want to help get the word out about? Send me the details and I’ll share it. I’ll try to do this at least monthly.

Interested in attending? Grab a friend and bring them along. Together we’ll make Buffalo a better place to work, live and play, one person at a time. #GiveFirst