Key Takeaways
- Unibaio, a company offering natural particle-based solutions to improve pesticide and fertilizer efficiency, won the $1 million grand prize in New York’s Grow-NY business competition.
- Six other innovative agribusinesses received a combined $2 million in funding, including PureNanoTech, UdderWays, and Zordi.
- Winners will operate in the region for at least one year, with a commitment to support local economic development.
- The competition, managed by Cornell University, is aimed at strengthening the agriculture and food sectors in Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier.
Unibaio Takes Top Prize at Grow-NY Summit
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Unibaio as the grand-prize winner of the sixth annual Grow-NY business competition, held to boost innovation in New York’s agriculture and food sectors. The competition awarded $3 million in funding to seven finalists out of 20, with Unibaio receiving the top $1 million award. Unibaio, based in New York City, specializes in natural solutions to enhance pesticide and fertilizer absorption in plants, potentially reducing environmental impact. CEO Matia Figliozzi expressed gratitude for the award, noting that it represents both financial support and validation of the company’s mission.
“Winning the $1 million grand prize at the Grow-NY Summit is a dream come true,” Figliozzi said. “This win will allow us to scale our operations in Upstate NY and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.”
Other Winners and Regional Impact
The Grow-NY Summit, a two-day event in Ithaca, saw participation from more than 1,100 attendees. In addition to Unibaio, six other companies were awarded funding:
- $500,000 Winners: PureNanoTech (NJ) for nanobubble irrigation and UdderWays (NY) for advanced dairy stimulation technology.
- $250,000 Winners: Clean Crop Technologies (MA) for pathogen-removal technology, ClearLeaf (Costa Rica) for eco-friendly fungicides, For Bitter For Worse (OR) for non-alcoholic cocktails, and Zordi (NY) for autonomous greenhouse technology.
All winning companies are required to establish or expand operations in New York for a minimum of one year, providing Cornell University with a small equity stake to support future entrepreneurship programs.
A Showcase for Innovation in Agriculture
Managed by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement, Grow-NY evaluates startups based on business viability, customer value, and potential economic impact. Hope Knight, CEO of Empire State Development, emphasized the competition’s role in cultivating innovation across New York’s agricultural regions, while State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball praised its contribution to highlighting New York agriculture’s strengths.
