Grow-NY 2025: $3M Food and AgTech Startup Competition Offering $1M Grand Prize in New York
Grow-NY® Food & Agriculture Startup Competition: A Global Call for Innovation
The Grow-NY® Food and Agriculture Startup Competition is a premier worldwide competitors that helps the development of cutting-edge startups in the meals, beverage, and agriculture sectors. Launched to domesticate a thriving innovation cluster in the Grow-NY region of New York State, the competitors awards $3 million in funding yearly to seven top-performing startups.
The program has turn into a beacon for entrepreneurs trying to scale their improvements whereas making a long-lasting financial influence in the Finger Lakes, Central NY, and Southern Tier areas of Upstate New York.
About the Competition
Grow-NY identifies and invests in high-growth startups with revolutionary concepts in agtech and meals innovation. The competitors brings collectively world entrepreneurs to pitch their startups and compete for substantial funding awards.
- Top prize: $1 million
- Total funding awarded yearly: $3 million
- Number of winners: 7 (1 grand prize, 2 second-tier, 4 third-tier)
- Number of finalists: Up to twenty startups
Benefits for Finalists
All chosen finalists obtain a wide selection of help to assist develop their companies:
- Dedicated mentorship from skilled business professionals
- Customized enterprise improvement journeys to the Grow-NY area (bills coated)
- Pitch coaching to organize for the reside competitors
- Introductions to potential buyers, companions, and collaborators
2025 Competition Timeline
- Applications Open: March 1, 2025
- Applications Close: May 15, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET
- Finalists Announced: August 25, 2025
- Mentorship & Regional Business Trips: Late August – November 2025
- Pitch Competition & Summit (Winners Selected): November 12–13, 2025 in Canandaigua, NY
Economic Impact Since 2019
- Over $100 million raised by finalist firms in follow-on funding
- 246 jobs created in the meals and agtech sector
The Grow-NY Region
Winners should set up and preserve a presence in the Grow-NY area for at the very least 12 months. The area contains the next counties:
- Central NY: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego
- Finger Lakes: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
- Southern Tier: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins
Presence necessities could be met by:
- Establishing headquarters, manufacturing, or R&D services in the area
- Making capital investments or assembly job creation targets
Failure to keep up regional presence may consequence in award compensation obligations.
Annual Prizes
Prize cash is distributed in phases primarily based on milestone completion:
- 1 Grand Prize: $1 million
- 2 Second-Tier Prizes: $500,000 every
- 4 Third-Tier Prizes: $250,000 every
Awards are tied to financial improvement commitments in the area and a “pay-it-forward” fairness warrant provision.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, candidates should be a formative-stage enterprise entity similar to an organization or LLC and meet at the very least two of the next:
- Less than 7 years since formal group
- Product or service in testing or pilot manufacturing
- Pre-revenue or early income stage
- Active management crew working towards commercialization
Definition of “Food and Agriculture Field”
Eligible improvements could embody:
- Food merchandise: Fruits, greens, meats, dairy, fish, packaged items
- Fuels: Ethanol and agricultural byproducts
- Fibers: Cotton, hemp, wool, bamboo, and so on.
- Raw supplies: Livestock feed
- Processes/applied sciences for manufacturing, processing, or distribution
- Software or {hardware} enhancing agriculture and meals techniques
Ineligible Businesses
The competitors excludes:
- Non-scalable or sole proprietorships
- Non-profits, retail shops, or leisure companies
- Real property, playing, and franchise-based retailers
- Businesses unrelated to the outlined “Food and Agriculture Field”
Hemp-Related Business Requirements
To be eligible:
- Must maintain acceptable New York State licenses or be acknowledged Research Partners
- Must adjust to FDA and state/federal rules
- Cannot produce or promote unapproved hemp-based merchandise
Judging Criteria
Startups can be evaluated primarily based on:
- Team: Cohesion, range, readiness
- Business Model: Commercial viability and sustainability
- Customer Value: Clear worth proposition and market demand
- Growth Potential: Scalable income and job progress
- Innovation: Contribution to the development of meals and agtech
- Job Creation in the Grow-NY Region
- Participation: Engagement in the competitors actions
Winner Selection Process
A panel of judges will:
- Review all purposes and choose as much as 20 finalists
- Evaluate reside pitches through the Summit
- Assess crew responses throughout a short Q&A session
- Announce winners primarily based on last deliberation and prior judging
Regional Presence Requirement
Award recipients should:
- Relocate or set up a significant presence in the Grow-NY area inside 3 months of the award
- Maintain presence for at the very least 12 months
- Document job creation or capital funding in the area
Apply Now and Transform the Future of Food and Agriculture
The Grow-NY Competition affords not simply funding—however an actual alternative to scale your small business, entry key markets, and contribute to a booming agtech hub. If your startup suits the eligibility standards and you’re able to make an influence, submit your application by May 15, 2025.
For extra alternatives please go to the Opportunities for Youth‘s web site!
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Grow-NY 2025: $3M Food and AgTech Startup Competition Offering $1M Grand Prize in New York
