News Summary
Five innovative companies have been chosen as finalists for Genius NY, the world’s largest business program focused on uncrewed systems and robotics. These finalists, hailing from locations such as Syracuse, Ohio, and Sweden, will compete for $3 million in funding, with a major focus on fostering economic growth in Central New York. The selection came from a competitive pool of 91 applications, with the finalists poised to showcase their advancements in technology by the upcoming Innovation Night.
Syracuse, NY – Five promising companies have been selected as finalists for the ninth round of the Genius NY business accelerator, which focuses exclusively on uncrewed systems and robotics. The finalists represent firms from diverse locations including Utica, Syracuse, Ohio, New Jersey, and even Sweden. The announcement was made by Empire State Development (ESD) on a recent Monday.
These five innovative teams will compete for a total of $3 million in direct investment. The competition includes a grand prize of up to $1 million and four additional awards of $500,000 each. This accelerator is recognized as the largest business program worldwide dedicated to the uncrewed systems and robotics sector.
The selection process for finalists was highly competitive, with 91 applications submitted from various companies across the globe. The finalists will have until Innovation Night on May 7, 2026, to refine their business plans and pitches. Additionally, participating companies are required to conduct their operations in Central New York for at least one year, fostering local economic growth.
The five selected finalists and their respective innovations are as follows:
– Flox (Stockholm, Sweden): A pioneering company that combines AI technology with drones and edge pods to monitor wild animals, effectively steering them away from sensitive areas.
– Lamarr.AI (Syracuse/Atlanta): This firm specializes in utilizing drones and AI for inspecting building exteriors. Their approach promises quicker, more affordable, and precise data collection compared to traditional inspection methods. This technology emerged from six years of research involving Syracuse University and other institutions.
– Lighthouse Avionics (Ohio, USA): Focused on providing affordable optical solutions, this company aims to monitor low-altitude airspace, ensuring compliance with FAA regulations to prevent potential drone threats and bird strikes.
– Modovolo (Utica, NY): Modovolo is committed to developing low-cost, modular drones tailored for various commercial and defense applications, featuring extended flight capabilities.
– Skyfire AI (New Jersey, USA): This company leverages AI-driven autonomous drone swarms to improve situational awareness and response times for emergency services and defense teams.
The Genius NY program, operated from the INSPYRE Innovation Hub in downtown Syracuse, is a key part of New York’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) and is administered by CenterState CEO. Since its inception in 2017, Genius NY has attracted over 42 startups to the Central New York region, contributing nearly $24 million in investments to participating companies. Furthermore, these startups have collectively raised more than $350 million in follow-on funding and created hundreds of jobs throughout New York State.
Genius NY aims not only to provide financial support but also to cultivate relationships in the Central New York region that focus on uncrewed aerial and robotics technologies. The program underscores the importance of networking, connecting participants with investors and business leaders, and offering assistance in both product development and business growth.
As the program moves toward its upcoming Innovation Night, the expectation is set high for the finalists as they prepare to showcase their innovative technologies, which could significantly reshape the uncrewed systems and robotics landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Syracuse.com: CNY Drone Startup Among 5 Finalists in $3M Genius NY Competition
- Wikipedia: Drone
- CNYBJ: Five Finalists Selected for Ninth Round of Genius NY Business Accelerator
- Google Search: Drone Technology
- Commercial UAV News: Why Upstate NY is the Center of the Drone Universe
- Google Scholar: Drone Innovation
- Syracuse.com: Drone Delivery Business Wins $1M Grand Prize in Genius NY Competition
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Drone Delivery
- GovTech: How Central New York Became a Drone Manufacturing Hub
- Google News: Drone Startups
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