Key Takeaways
- Grow-NY selected 20 finalists for its seventh annual food and agriculture business competition.
- Startups represent 41 countries and 31 U.S. states, with strong representation from New York.
- Finalists advance to a 10-week accelerator, receiving mentorship, business development support, and regional connections.
- Winners will share $3 million in prize money, including a $1 million top prize, announced at the Grow-NY Summit in November.
- Nearly half of applicants include a female founder, and 74% include a founder from a culturally diverse background, highlighting the program’s emphasis on inclusive innovation.
Grow-NY Names 20 Finalists for 2025 Competition
Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement announced the 20 startups selected as finalists for the seventh round of Grow-NY, the global food and agriculture competition. Funded by New York State’s Upstate Revitalization Initiatives and ESD’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, the program aims to drive economic growth in Upstate New York by requiring finalists to commit to creating jobs or building partnerships in the region.
This year’s competition attracted 270 applications from 41 countries and 31 U.S. states. Of those, 53 came from New York, and nearly half of all applicants included a female founder.
The selected finalists are:
- Brekland (Brooklyn, NY) – Biodegradable foam coating for crop frost protection.
- DeepAgro (Rosario, Argentina) – AI-driven solutions for selective spraying, sowing, and diagnostics.
- Ergo Bioscience (Sunchales, Argentina) – Plant cell culturing platform for plant-based proteins.
- Finger Foods Farm (Bloomfield, NY) – Health-forward frozen soups using local ingredients.
- Frost Methane (Juneau, AK) – Neutralizes methane from manure ponds, earning carbon credits.
- Full of Beans Kitchen (New York, NY) – Fava bean platform from regenerative crops to ready-to-eat foods.
- Knead Technologies (Calgary, Canada) – Software platform streamlining food rescue operations.
- Living Ink Technologies (Berthoud, CO) – Biomass waste to sustainable black inks and pigments.
- Medium Well Technological Solutions (Ramat Yishai, Israel) – Biodegradable bioresins and biobags.
- Mothership Materials (New York, NY) – Converts agricultural waste into carbon-negative feedstocks.
- Picketa Systems (Fredericton, Canada) – Real-time plant analysis for precision nutrient management.
- PollenSmartHive Ltd (Nairobi, Kenya) – AI-powered smart hive technology and precision pollination.
- Renewal Mill (Canandaigua, NY) – Upcycled baking ingredients and snacks from food byproducts.
- Roca (Alameda, CA) – Electrochemical ammonium recovery system for fertilizer use.
- Seen Nutrition (Ithaca, NY) – Menopause-focused food tech startup with patented calcium chews.
- Shire’s Naturals (Peterborough, NH) – Clean-label, plant-based, dairy-free foods.
- ThermoShade (Los Angeles, CA) – Shade panels that reduce outdoor heat by up to 20°F.
- Trebe Biotech (Pergamino, Argentina) – Insect larvae-based bioproducts for animal health.
- Whipnotic (New York, NY) – Whipped cream with patented nozzle infusion of natural flavors.
- ZILA BioWorks (Renton, WA) – Converts vegetable oils into recyclable bio-epoxy resins.
Global Representation and Inclusive Innovation
Finalists span a wide range of agtech and food system solutions, from crop protection and soil sensing to sustainable packaging, alternative proteins, and value-added food products. Startups hail from across the U.S., Canada, Israel, Argentina, and Kenya, among others, reflecting Grow-NY’s continued global reach.
A panel of 40 expert judges evaluated the submissions, selecting finalists to move forward into the 10-week accelerator program.
Accelerator Support Ahead of the Summit
During the accelerator, finalists will receive tailored mentorship, pitch coaching, and site visits to potential locations in the 22-county competition region. The program also provides access to investors, economic development agencies, and local partners to help refine go-to-market strategies.
Jenn Smith, program director of Grow-NY, said: “The Grow-NY competition operates at the intersection of innovation, agriculture, and economic development. We’re excited to facilitate deep regional connections for these startups over the next couple of months and look forward to sharing their pitches with the public in November.”
Grow-NY Summit and Awards
The 2025 Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit will take place November 12–13 in Canandaigua, New York. The event will feature 20 live finalist pitches, networking opportunities, expert roundtables, and a symposium on food and agriculture innovation.
At the conclusion of the Summit, winners will be announced, with $3 million in prize money distributed: one $1 million award, two $500,000 awards, and four $250,000 awards.
Registration for in-person and virtual attendance is now open.
