Martin Babinec

Founder / Managing Partner

2013 - Current

UpVentures invests in early stage technology companies, primarily in Upstate NY but also NY metro, Silicon Valley and other locations where our relationships extend to help entrepreneurs start and grow companies. In addition to a portfolio of 50+ companies as a direct investor, we are a Limited Partner in more than a dozen seed and venture capital funds - many of which we helped start, have advisor relationships with or are part of the UpVentures Investor Network.

Founder / Chairman

2018

Entrepreneurs Across Borders is a U.S. based nonprofit organization founded and operated by successful entrepreneurs who are committed to transforming lives in impoverished countries through economic self sufficiency. We identify, curate and connect emerging entrepreneurs with resources they need to create jobs, sustainable livelihoods and equitable growth. We also identify programs in country that are effective at developing talent and connect these programs to experienced entrepreneurs and other resources who can help. We believe entrepreneurs play a critical role in contributing to strong and stable communities.

Board Member

2022

Endeavor is the leading global community of, by, and for High-Impact Entrepreneurs — those who dream bigger, scale faster, and pay it forward. Driven by our belief that High-Impact Entrepreneurs transform economies, Endeavor is on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world.

Founder / Director

2021

Unite NY is a non-partisan political organization that is part of a larger national movement of Democrats, Republicans and independents working together for the purpose of having elected officials put voters ahead of partisan interests. We grow voter awareness and engagement to help catalyze reforms so that our leaders have the right incentives to solve our State’s biggest problems.

Founder/Owner

2021

New class A office building in Little Falls featuring an innovative membership based Office-On-Demand model, co-working space and event options.

Author/Community Founder

2020

Based on principles in my book More Good Jobs, this is a community of startup community builders. We help each other with resources, connections, sharing of best practices, building friendships and perfecting the craft of creating an environment where people pay it forward by helping others start and grow companies in the innovation economy.

Founder/Chairman

2010

Upstate Venture Connect is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit public benefit corporation catalyzing a startup ecosystem that fosters creation of new companies and new economy jobs across Upstate New York. Our programs and initiatives focus on connecting first time entrepreneurs with resources who can help them; increasing the number and amount of angel capital investments; and replicating proven startup accelerator programs to new locations throughout the region.

Board Member

2010 - 2022

Serving more than 15,000 clients and 325,000 work site employees, TriNet is the largest independent cloud based HR provider leveraging the Professional Employer Organization model to help grow small and medium sized businesses. Our full-service HR solutions are tailored by industry and provide access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation and compliance, payroll and real-time technology. Trading on NYSE under ticker TNET, TriNet generates about $5 billion in annual revenue.

Chairman

2008 - 2010

Founder & CEO

1988 - 2008

Raised more than $130 million in 5 rounds of equity financing, completed 6 acquisitions and led development of a referral based sales and marketing organization targeting venture backed emerging tech customers. Served multiple leadership roles in PEO industry trade association with emphasis on forging coalitions for public policy development at both State and Federal levels.

Founder

2016 - 2021

Political organization advocating policies and private sector engagement to spur job growth, talent retention, government transparency, and expanded paths for candidates to run for office through ballot access reform and creation of a state wide minor party ballot line.

Co-Founder and Chairman

2012 - 2021

Built on the TechStars model, StartFast annually selected 5-8 high growth startups in the software, internet or mobile space and provided them with a private capital seed investment, intense mentoring and relationship development over a 3 month in residence program each summer in Syracuse, New York. Successful outcomes in the portfolio of more than 50 investments led to the formation of StartFast Ventures, a Seed to Series A venture capital fund where I am a founding limited partner and advisor.