About
Built by founders, for founders — and for Buffalo.
Roche Development is an operator-led holding company investing in early-stage startups and Buffalo real estate. We’re operators first — we’ve built companies, navigated the legal system, and developed property. We know what founders and communities actually need.
Co-Founder & CEO
Kaylin Marcotte Roche
Kaylin is the founder of JIGGY Puzzles, a nationally recognized brand that reimagined the classic jigsaw puzzle as a platform for emerging female artists. What began as a personal creative outlet quickly grew into a successful direct-to-consumer business, earning her a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and retail launches with Anthropologie, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. After scaling and selling the company, Kaylin became a founding partner at Coast Capital, where she invests in and advises consumer startups. She now leads all venture investment and real estate projects at Roche Development.
Before launching JIGGY, Kaylin began her career in management consulting at IBM, advising media and communications clients on strategy and change management. She was the first employee at theSkimm, helping grow it into the fastest-growing email newsletter with over 8 million subscribers. She later founded Village Strategies, a marketing consultancy supporting a dozen early-stage startups with brand messaging and grassroots marketing.
Kaylin grew up in Pasadena, California before moving to the East Coast to attend Barnard College.
Co-Founder & President
Kyle Roche
Kyle is the founder and managing partner of fnf.law, a nationally recognized trial law firm that litigates cutting-edge cases. Kyle represents both plaintiffs and defendants in all phases of litigation — inside the courtroom and the boardroom. On the plaintiff side, he’s litigated everything from complex class actions against Ivy League universities to winning a trial against CNN in the first-ever punitive damages award against a media defendant. On the defense side, Kyle’s practice focuses on representing emerging tech companies, CEOs, and venture capitalists as strategic counsel.
Kyle is also the co-founder and chairman of ClaimsHero, an AI-powered claims platform streamlining insurance claims for carriers and policyholders. Kyle founded ClaimsHero in 2022 and has led its growth to becoming one of the top innovators in legal technology.
Kyle earned his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. Born and raised in Buffalo, he started Roche Development with Kaylin to invest back in the community that raised him.
Our Mission
Rooted in values. Driven by results.
Operators First
We’ve built companies, won trials, and developed real estate. We don’t advise from the sidelines — we’ve been in the rooms where the hard decisions get made.
Long-Term Thinking
Whether it’s a startup or a building, we’re not here to flip. We invest for the long term and stand behind everything we build.
Community Impact
Buffalo raised Kyle. Roche Development is our way of giving back — creating jobs, restoring neighborhoods, and betting on the city’s future before it’s obvious.
Want to work with us?
Whether you’re a founder looking for a partner or you have a Buffalo deal worth discussing, we’d love to hear from you.