20 startups advance to final round of Grow-NY finals

Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement today announced the 20 finalist startups selected for the seventh round of Grow-NY, an internationally recognized food and agriculture business competition that awards $3 million annually.

Funded through New York State’s Upstate Revitalization Initiatives — Finger Lakes Forward, CNY Rising, and Southern Tier Soaring — and administered by the ESD’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, Grow-NY was created to drive economic growth in Upstate New York. As part of the program, finalist startups must commit to creating jobs, building partnerships, or establishing operations across the 22-county region.

“Each year, the Grow-NY competition attracts world-class startups and entrepreneurial talent to Upstate New York,” said Hope Knight, President, CEO and Commissioner of ESD. “With continued state support, these innovators will generate new investment, create jobs, and strengthen the regional economy for years to come.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball echoed that sentiment, highlighting Grow-NY’s role in fostering innovation and investment in the state’s agricultural sector.

This year’s competition drew 270 applicants from 41 countries. The U.S. accounted for entries from 31 states, including 53 from New York. Nearly half of applicants (46%) featured a female founder, and nearly three-quarters (74%) included a founder from a culturally diverse background, underscoring Grow-NY’s emphasis on inclusive innovation.

A panel of 40 expert judges, with backgrounds in agribusiness, food systems, capital access, and entrepreneurship, selected the 20 finalists who will advance to a 10-week business development accelerator.

2025 Grow-NY finalists

• Brekland (Brooklyn, N.Y.): Biodegradable foam coating for crop frost protection.
• DeepAgro (Rosario, Argentina): AI solutions for precision agrochemical spraying and monitoring.
• Ergo Bioscience (Sunchales, Argentina): AI-driven plant cell culture platform for plant-based proteins.
• Finger Foods Farm (Bloomfield, N.Y.): Locally sourced frozen soups celebrating New York agriculture.
• Frost Methane (Juneau, Alaska): Methane capture from manure ponds to generate carbon credits.
• Full of Beans Kitchen (New York, N.Y.): Vertically integrated fava bean platform for regenerative foods.
• Knead Technologies (Calgary, Canada): Software for food rescue and surplus redistribution.
• Living Ink Technologies (Berthoud, Colo.): Biomass-based sustainable printing inks.
• Medium Well Technological Solutions (Ramat Yishai, Israel): Biodegradable BioResin and BioBags.
• Mothership Materials (New York, N.Y.): Agricultural waste converted into carbon-negative feedstocks.
• Picketa Systems (Fredericton, Canada): Real-time plant analysis for precision nutrient management.
• PollenSmartHive Ltd. (Nairobi, Kenya): AI-powered smart hives and pollination services.
• Renewal Mill (Canandaigua, N.Y.): Upcycled, gluten-free baking ingredients and snacks.
• Roca (Alameda, Calif.): Electrochemical system converting wastewater ammonium into fertilizer.
• Seen Nutrition (Ithaca, N.Y.): Patented calcium chews targeting menopause-related bone health.
• Shire’s Naturals (Peterborough, N.H.): Clean-label, plant-based dairy alternatives.
• ThermoShade (Los Angeles, Calif.): Shade panels reducing outdoor heat by up to 20°F.
• Trebe Biotech (Pergamino, Argentina): Insect larvae platform for animal health bioproducts.
• Whipnotic (New York, N.Y.): Whipped creams infused with natural fruit flavors via patented nozzle.
• ZILA BioWorks (Renton, Wash.): Vegetable oil–based recyclable bio-epoxy resins.

Over the next 10 weeks, finalists will receive mentorship from industry experts, connections to regional partners and investors, tailored business development support, and pitch training. Their efforts will culminate at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit, held Nov. 12–13 in Canandaigua, N.Y.

The Summit will showcase 20 live finalist pitches evaluated by a national panel of experts, alongside a symposium exploring opportunities and challenges in the region’s food and agriculture sectors. Attendees will also have the chance to engage in networking roundtables connecting startups, investors, and industry leaders, participate in daily “Ask an Expert” luncheons hosted by Farm Credit East, and witness a student startup competition highlighting the next generation of food and ag innovators.

A total of $3 million in prize money will be awarded: one grand prize of $1 million, two $500,000 prizes, and four $250,000 prizes. Winners will be announced during the Summit’s closing ceremony.

“The Grow-NY competition sits at the crossroads of innovation, agriculture, and economic development,” said Jenn Smith, Program Director of Grow-NY. “We’re excited to connect these startups with the Upstate New York ecosystem and look forward to showcasing their ideas in November.”