By Bridget Hagen
High-growth food, beverage and ag tech startups can now apply for the eighth round of the Grow-NY business competition.
Grow-NY aims to stimulate upstate New York’s agricultural economy by supporting innovative ventures poised for regional impact. Each year, up to 20 finalists compete for $3 million in total prize funding, including a $1 million grand prize. Winners must commit to making a positive impact in the Grow-NY region of the Finger Lakes, Central New York and the Southern Tier.
“The Grow-NY accelerator continues to be instrumental in attracting cutting-edge agribusiness companies from around the world to New York state,” said Hope Knight, Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner. “The first seven competitions have spurred private investment in the three targeted regions, and the eighth round will build on those successes, as the dynamic innovations and ideas from each round’s winners support new economic growth throughout upstate.”
Since 2019, Grow-NY’s 49 winning companies have created hundreds of jobs and secured more than $127 million in follow-on funding. Forty of those companies remain operational in the region, outperforming national startup survival averages and demonstrating regional staying power.
Source : cornell.edu