Colleen E. Heidinger

Colleen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Babson College.

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In her spare time, she teaches yoga at her studio in her hometown of Buffalo, NY. Deeply committed to the city’s ongoing resurgence, Colleen serves on several philanthropic boards, contributes to shaping entrepreneurial curricula at both the high school and collegiate levels, and has even restored a historic 1906 building with her father. 

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Colleen leads 43North, a Buffalo-based nonprofit accelerator committed to attracting and retaining high-growth startups in Western New York. Now in its eleventh cohort, 43North invests $5 million annually through its startup competition and yearlong mentorship program. Colleen has been with the organization for over a decade, serving as its leader for the past five years. Funded by New York State, 43North has become a powerful example of how venture-backed economic development can revitalize a city—transforming mindsets, building momentum, and cultivating a lasting culture of innovation, optimism, and growth for generations to come.

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Before returning to Buffalo, Colleen began her career in management consulting, working with nonprofit clients seeking to adopt entrepreneurial strategies. She then spent a decade in New York City and Los Angeles in the film and television industries.