Simons replaces Ticknor as UVANY executive director

The Upstate Venture Association of New York, Inc. (UVANY) announced it has named Noa Simons as its new executive director, replacing Sam Ticknor who resigned as executive director effective Aug. 5.

An upstate New York native from the Hudson Valley, Simons comes to UVANY with more than 15 years of experience as an investor and entrepreneur, the association said in an email announcement Friday. She spent over a decade in Boston and Shanghai, China in venture capital — most recently as a partner at TD Growth Capital focused on cleantech. Simons is a founding manager of the Hudson Valley Startup Fund, a $1 million-plus member-managed seed capital fund formed in 2015.

“UVANY is a solid and well-respected organization filling a vital need in the upstate New York business community, connecting investors with opportunities. I am excited to join UVANY and further develop the platform to increase access to information, relationships and opportunities, making the connections between people and capital more efficient across the state,” Simons said in the email.

The association said Ticknor will be moving on to “other professional endeavors” after serving as executive director for four years. He has agreed to serve on the UVANY board of directors.

“We are grateful for the many contributions that Sam has made in growing the UVANY community; the connections he has fostered; the great content and programming he has delivered via monthly member events that average 140-plus participants across Upstate New York; and for the strong membership network he has helped to expand,” Jennifer Tegan, president of the UVANY board of directors, said in the email announcement.

UVANY, based in Albany, is a statewide organization that seeks to advance venture capital and private-equity investments throughout New York state.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com