Edenesque, a plant-based dairy and food products company founded by Leslie Woodward, is an example of Buffalo’s growing reputation as a place for startups to build and grow.

UB Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships has been central to the company’s Buffalo story.

Edenesque is a Cultivator graduate, an Incubator @ CBLS tenant and a START-UP NY company receiving tax benefits for office space. Through Cultivator, the company received $100,000 in pre-seed funding, mentorship, business-development support and connections to people and resources across the region’s startup community.

In a Buffalo News feature, Woodward described how moving Edenesque to Western New York brought the company closer to contract manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment partners while connecting it with startup support from organizations including UB and LaunchNY.

In addition to selling its milks in Whole Foods, Edenesque is in the midst of placing its product in stores along the East Coast, working toward a $1.6 million raise, and expanding its plant-based product line – including its signature Barista Blend Pistachio Milk.

Read the Buffalo News feature and editorial (subscription required).