From a biobased plastic replacement to AI robots that monitor crops plant by plant and a maple-water hydration drink, 20 food and ag startups from across New York state and the world will pitch their business plans at the Grow-NY Summit as they compete for $3 million in prize money.
The annual two-day food and agriculture business competition and networking event will take place Nov. 12-13 at the DoubleTree hotel in Rochester, New York.
Now in its eighth round, Grow-NY invests $3 million into high-growth potential food and ag tech startups each year. The 20 finalists will include their plans to make a positive economic impact on upstate New York in their pitches. A grand prize winner will receive a $1 million investment, two startups will each receive $500,000 and four will each receive $250,000.
Grow-NY is administered by Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and funded by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation.
“Year after year, we hear finalists say that while the financial investment is transformative, the connections they make through Grow-NY are just as valuable,” said Jenn Smith, Grow-NY program director. “The summit is where so many of those relationships come together.”
Attendees come to the summit not only for the pitches, but also to make new connections within the region’s agrifood ecosystem. To help foster those connections, each day of the event will open with networking roundtable discussions centered on relevant topics for the food and ag community. The topics range from what retail buyers really want to the latest in ag tech for the Northeast, packaging innovations and how farmers and startups can build better partnerships.
“You never know what connections will take root,” Smith said. “It could be an idea shared by a thought leader over a breakfast roundtable, a chance conversation between an investor and an entrepreneur on the way into a pitch, or an introduction to someone in the region who provides a much-needed resource. These encounters open doors for startups, and the connections are often mutually beneficial.”
The summit will also include a showcase where attendees can meet the finalists, see demonstrations of their innovations and taste their products.
Grow-NY Summit Champion sponsors will offer opportunities to learn about resources for food and ag innovators in the region. Farm Credit East will host daily “Ask an Expert” sessions featuring FCE team members offering insights on topics affecting businesses producing or using food and ag tech. And a networking reception on Nov. 12 will showcase how New York State Grown & Certified and the New York Farm Viability Institute are advancing innovations on local farms through the Infrastructure and Technology Grant Program.
“Nothing is more powerful than a new idea, but ideas alone aren’t enough. It takes partnerships, opportunities and expertise to bring new ideas to practice,” said Ben Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Grow-NY brings together people who are passionate about advancing agriculture and food systems and creates an environment where those connections can flourish.”
The summit is open to anyone interested in food and beverage production, agriculture technology and sustainability, including students, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, farmers, media and service providers.
