Upstate Strategic Advisors

What Upstate Strategic Advisors does

Upstate Strategic Advisors LLC is a privately held lobbying, public relations, and government relations firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York, with a second office in Albany. Founded by Sam Hoyt — a former New York State Assemblyman and former Regional President of Empire State Development Corporation — the firm delivers integrated professional services including legislative advocacy, regulatory and budgetary guidance, procurement support, public relations and media strategy, business development consulting, and economic development advisory work. The firm's client base spans real estate developers (Sinatra & Company, Ciminelli Real Estate, Benderson Development), healthcare and behavioral health organizations (BestSelf Behavioral Health, Evergreen Health, Child + Family Services, DePaul, HANCI), transportation and safety technology firms (BusPatrol America, Cedar Bus Co., Founders Holding Co.), financial services (Broadview Federal Credit Union), manufacturing (Shatkin F.I.R.S.T., Buffalo Games), and preservation/tourism entities (Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff, Montana International).

The business operates on a professional services model with custom, quote-based engagements rather than standardized or productized pricing. Distribution is direct and primarily referral-driven, leveraging the founder's personal brand and nearly 30 years of state government experience as the central asset and competitive differentiator. There is no proprietary technology platform — the firm is not a software or SaaS business and delivers value through human expertise, relationships with legislators and agencies, and direct client engagement. Marketing relies on the corporate website, a LinkedIn page, an email newsletter, earned media, and client testimonials rather than paid acquisition channels.

The firm is entirely founder-owned, with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or M&A activity. Geographic focus is regional, concentrated on Western New York and broader New York State, with no global footprint claim. Headcount is reported in the 1-10 range, consistent with a senior-led boutique consultancy.

Name

Upstate Strategic Advisors

Legal name

Upstate Strategic Advisors LLC

Website

https://upstatestrategicadvisors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upstate Strategic Advisors is a Buffalo-based lobbying, public relations, and government relations firm founded by former NY Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, serving real estate, healthcare, transportation, and nonprofit clients across New York State with legislative advocacy, regulatory guidance, and economic development consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Relations and Lobbying Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHACAN

Public Sector & Policy Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Management Consulting

SECONDARYBPAHACAA

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Management Consulting

Keywords

• Lobbying services
• Government relations consulting
• Public affairs advisory
• Legislative advocacy services
• Economic development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Relations Consulting: Provides lobbying, public relations, and government relations services to clients including legislative assistance, regulatory and budgetary guidance, community relations, and campaign strategy. Works with public and private entities, entrepreneurs, established companies, community advocates, nonprofit organizations, and individuals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Upstate Strategic Advisors is a full-service lobbying, public relations, and government relations firm that helps clients execute advocacy plans to position them for timely government decisions. Services include legislative assistance (developing plans to take legislation from concept to statute, procurement, and budget advocacy), regulatory and budgetary guidance, community relations, media strategy for local, state and national outlets, business development and partnership building, and economic development consulting for companies seeking to locate or expand in New York State.

Product overview

Upstate Strategic Advisors is a full-service lobbying, PR, and government relations firm offering a unified suite of professional consulting services. The company's core offerings include lobbying services (legislative assistance, procurement, budget advocacy), public relations (media strategy, campaign development), government relations (policy advocacy across all government levels), business development (public-private partnerships), and economic development consulting. These services are delivered as integrated consulting engagements rather than standalone software products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lobbying Services Comprehensive legislative advocacy including developing plans to take legislation from concept to statute, procurement, budget, and strategic problem solving across all levels of government.
• Public Relations Services Media strategy and public relations support, including targeted campaign strategies for local, state and national media outlets to raise awareness and build media presence.
• Government Relations Services Strategic advisory services leveraging nearly 30 years of government service experience spanning economic development, legislative drafting, policy crafting, labor affairs, and social issues affecting communities.
• Business Development Services Fostering partnerships and building relationships for clients in both the public and private sectors to advance business objectives.
• Economic Development Consulting Assisting companies that want to locate or expand in New York State, as well as existing businesses facing economic challenges.

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OVG FacilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Watertown Local Development Corp. on the Thousand Islands Event Center project. OVG Facilities is a $10 billion developer and operator of sports facilities around the world.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercury Public Affairs: National public affairs, government relations, and strategic communications firm with an Albany and NYC presence; offers overlapping capabilities but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
• Manatt, Phelps & Phillips: Multi-disciplinary law and consulting firm with a substantial government and regulatory affairs practice that competes for the same corporate and nonprofit clients seeking state-level advocacy in New York.

Direct peers

• Hinman Straub: Albany-based government relations firm providing legislative advocacy and consulting to health, insurance, education, and corporate clients — directly overlapping Upstate's healthcare and association verticals.
• Ostroff Associates: Albany-based government relations firm focused on economic development, healthcare, and education policy — overlapping Upstate's primary verticals of advocacy and funding support.
• Kasirer: New York City-based lobbying, government relations, and strategic communications firm; comparable service mix but a broader geographic and client footprint than Upstate.
• Brown & Weinraub Advisors: Albany-based strategic consulting and government relations firm with strong real estate, infrastructure, and economic development practices — closely comparable to Upstate's development-sector client base.
• Park Strategies: Albany- and NYC-based government relations and lobbying firm founded by former NY State Senator George Pataki, with a similar founder-led, NY-focused public affairs model and an integrated economic development practice.
• Bolton-St. Johns: New York-based government relations, strategic communications, and public affairs consultancy with an Albany lobbying presence; competes for the same enterprise and nonprofit clients seeking state-level advocacy.
• Corning Place Consulting: Albany-based lobbying and government relations firm with deep upstate New York relationships, competing in the same regional advocacy and economic-development engagements as Upstate Strategic Advisors.
• Patricia Lynch Associates: Long-standing Albany-based lobbying firm covering a broad cross-section of corporate, nonprofit, and municipal clients; similar mid-sized, relationship-driven NY government relations model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/samhoyt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usa-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Upstate Strategic Advisors