Syracuse, N.Y. -- A fast-growing Syracuse company that helps car dealers all over the world turn online shoppers into buyers has secured one of the largest single equity investments ever received by a local startup.
Impel, whose digital engagement software is used by 4,000 auto dealerships in 53 countries, last month received a $104 million investment led by Silversmith Capital Partners, a Boston-based growth equity firm, with participation from existing investor Wavecrest Growth Partners. Impel said it will use the funding to rev up its growth even more through product expansion, and mergers and acquisitions. “This investment will significantly strengthen our ability to introduce new products and innovations that generate meaningful business impact for manufacturers and dealers alike, while enhancing the customer experience at every touchpoint,” said Devin Daly, Impel co-founder and CEO. Impel got its start at CenterState CEO's business incubator, The Tech Garden, in downtown Syracuse. The $104 million investment is not the largest single funding series received by a Syracuse startup in recent years, but it’s close. Read more from syracuse.com, here. From Rick Moriarty | Syracuse.com, Dec. 15. 2022 A nearly $25 million expansion of The Tech Garden business incubator will give a dreary stretch of downtown Syracuse a bright, modern look. CenterState CEO, which operates the facility, plans to start construction on a two-story addition in the spring of 2023. Completion is expected in the fall of 2024. The addition will add 46,000 square feet of flexible office and meeting space that will nearly triple the number of startup companies that can work there.
Read the full story on syracuse.com here. Archangel Imaging Wins GENIUS NY $1 Million Grand Prize; Four Other Finalists Receive $500,000 investments as Part of $3 Million Awarded to Innovative Companies that will Now Operate in Syracuse Investment Complements "CNY Rising" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy Photo of Winner Available Here Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the winner of the $1 million grand prize from round six of the GENIUS NY accelerator is Archangel Imaging from the United Kingdom. Archangel Imaging deploys smart machines, alongside people, to protect valuable assets and at-risk staff in remote or challenging places. Whether its cables being stolen, oil being tapped or elephants poached for ivory, the company provides the ability for the security team to know before these incidents are about to happen and immediately intervene or follow up. The GENIUS NY program is the world's largest business accelerator competition focused on unmanned systems, data to decision and IoT. The year-long program awarded five finalist teams a total of $3 million at its Finals Night event in downtown Syracuse, including investments of $1 million and four $500,000 awards. The program, which is administered by CenterState CEO's Tech Garden in Syracuse, offers incubator space, company resources, programming and mentoring to accelerator finalists. To date, New York State has invested $18 million in 32 GENIUS NY teams over the program's six rounds. Participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year.
"As we continue to support innovation and key industries throughout New York, key investments are being made to revitalize Central New York," Governor Hochul said. "The GENIUS NY competition continues to transform the landscape of Central New York by attracting the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs from around the world to the region. Our continued investment in uncrewed aerial system businesses is helping to ensure that New York State remains at the forefront of this important industry, bringing quality jobs and economic growth to the region." During the live event, the five teams pitched their business plans to a panel of judges and audience. Following the pitches, all five competitors were awarded one of five investments. Additionally, the teams will use these investments to continue to accelerate their growth and expand their presence in the region. "Being selected as the GENIUS NY 2022 Grand Prize winner is an incredible achievement and recognition for our team, particularly in the context of such high-quality companies in the cohort this year," said Dan Sola, CEO of Archangel Imaging. "This investment enables us to create high value jobs and fuel long term growth and local partnerships. Throughout the program we have benefited from the amazing support and investment from GENIUS NY, CenterState CEO and Empire State Development. Both local government and local businesses here have helped us to hit the ground running and we're already hiring and engaging in joint development. We are proud to be a part of the Central New York community." Fusion Engineering, Netherlands, AVSS - Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions, Inc., Canada, Wonder Robotics, Israel and Dronehub, Poland, were each awarded investments of $500,000. Since 2017, GENIUS NY companies have raised more than $ 90 million in follow-on funding and have created 75 jobs in the region. The advancement of the GENIUS NY program builds on the progress of CNY Rising, the region's award-winning strategic plan to revitalize communities and grow the economy. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner, Hope Knight, said, "The GENIUS NY program is supporting the incredible growth of the uncrewed aerial systems industry in Central New York. Congratulations to all of these forward-thinking innovators who are bringing their exceptional entrepreneurial ideas to the region and are ready to take advantage of New York State's unmatched UAS assets and infrastructure." CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson said, "The GENIUS NY programs represents our region's commitment to advancing new and next stage innovations in the uncrewed, smart systems and IoT sectors. The investments these high-potential teams receive now will enable them to accelerate their growth and participate in the exciting progress that is driving our community forward. These international teams will continue in this program with the tools and resources they need to leverage these investments, advance their technologies and platforms, create jobs and contribute to the growing ecosystem we have established in Central New York." GENIUS NY at CenterState CEO director Kara Jones said, "The pitch finals event is an exciting opportunity for our community to see firsthand the incredible teams that have come here from around the world to grow their companies. The investments the teams receive during this event will enable them to go to market, build stronger partnerships with GENIUS NY teams from prior rounds, and focus on technology and business development, hiring and establishing headquarters and offices in Central New York. As they move into the program's second round they will receive targeted support from mentors and advisors and will have additional opportunities to meet with investors to ensure their success." New York State continues to establish itself as the nation's premier destination for drones and related UAS industry businesses in the Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions. In addition to the GENIUS NY accelerator competition, the state has focused on making major investments in the uncrewed aircraft systems industry. Since 2016, New York has committed to investing $56 million to develop and maintain a state-of-the-art, 50-mile drone test corridor that runs on Syracuse International Airport to Griffiss International Airport in Rome. Additional industry investments have included $9 million for Skydome, Oneida County's indoor drone testing facility at the UAS test site, and $16.6 million in ongoing investments for the Tech Garden's expansion in downtown Syracuse to further grow its UAS industry efforts in the region. The GENIUS NY teams' business plans and pitches were judged by Marcia Mitchell the director of New York Ventures; Chris McCall, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Fotokite; Jeffrey Cole, CEO at Hidden Level; Rob Lindsay, the Founder of Air Mobility Partners; And Gretchen West the president & CEO of Schiebel Aircraft, Inc. State Senator Rachel May said, "It is always exciting to see the expansion of new opportunities for Central New York's flourishing UAS industry. Programs like GENIUS NY enable our area to attract and retain top talent in the industry and continue the growth we've seen over the past several years. This benefits CNY's Drone Corridor and contributes to the entire region's economic engine. Congratulations to the winners of GENIUS NY, and I look forward to seeing the innovation you bring to our community." State Senator John W. Mannion said, "Through state investments like Green Chips and the Genius NY program - Central New York is now home to vibrant and growing next-generation industries including drones, wireless communications, and coming soon: computer chip manufacturing. This ecosystem of innovation that includes Micron, JMA, MACNY, established drone companies and Genius NY start-ups, union labor, and our colleges and universities will be a magnet for further investment, jobs, and economic activity. I look forward to a continued partnership with Governor Hochul to keep the momentum going in Central New York." Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, "By drawing these companies to the Tech Garden through the GENIUS NY competition, Onondaga County continues to establish itself as a world leader in the drone and technology industry. The partnerships and opportunities created locally during the entrepreneurial stage create a catalyst for growth and industry leadership in the world-wide cutting-edge industry." Assemblymember Pamela Hunter said, "The GENIUS NY program continues to incentivize innovation and new investment in Central NY. CNY is poised to become a global hub for UAS technology development and I look forward to working with Governor Hochul on this continued investment. These programs greatly contribute to our revitalization efforts and will bring many new opportunities to our communities. " Assemblymember Al Stirpe said, "Congratulations to the Round 6 winners, entrepreneurs that keep our region headed towards a responsible future and firmly on the international stage. From the unparalleled growth in uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and robotics to making Reforestation scalable to mitigate the worst effects of climate change; the GENIUS NY program continues to invest in the people, industry, and economic growth of Central New York, making us all winners!" Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said,"It is incredibly exciting to see the emerging UAS industry continue to grow right here in downtown Syracuse. On behalf of Onondaga County, I congratulate and welcome these innovative companies who are ready to put down roots in Central New York. I have no doubt that they will continue to play an important role in our regions' overall economic success." Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said, "The GENIUS NY program is a perfect example of how Oneida County and CenterState CEO's strong partnership is solidifying Central New York and the Mohawk Valley as the epicenter of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the nation. I am excited to see where the winners will take our region's UAS industry." Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, "GENIUS NY is part of a thriving technology ecosystem in Syracuse and Central New York. The program has helped put our region on the map around the world as a key center for uncrewed aerial system development. More important for the city and our Syracuse Surge strategy for inclusive growth in the New Economy, GENIUS NY is creating good jobs and investment. I congratulate the latest round of winners and thank Governor Hochul and the teams at Empire State Development and CenterState CEO for their commitment to keep GENIUS NY soaring." Central New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Randy Wolken, President & CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and Le Moyne College President Linda M. LeMura said, "Many Congratulations to all of the GENIUS NY round six winners. We are incredibly proud to welcome these imaginative entrepreneurs to the Central New York as they commit to growing their innovative business in this region. Through the regional council's continued support for the GENIUS NY competition, we are ensuring that New York state remains at the forefront of the growing UAS industry in Central New York, creating new opportunities and jobs for residents in the region for generations to come." About GENIUS NY GENIUS NY is an in-residence business accelerator program at The Tech Garden in Central New York that goes beyond substantial direct investment. In addition to the grand prize of $1 million and four $500,000 investments, the program also offers resources, programming, and connections, making it among the largest competitions of its kind across the globe. More information is available here. Accelerating CNY Rising Today's announcement complements "Central NY Rising," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.3 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan - capitalizing on global market opportunities, strengthening entrepreneurship and creating an inclusive economy. Now, the region is accelerating Central NY Rising with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 5,900 new jobs. More information is available here. On Thursday November 3rd, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown at 5:00 pm, five extraordinary technology companies from around the world will compete in-person, “Shark Tank” style, for a $1 million grand prize at the GENIUS NY Pitch Finals. This is the 6th year that the GENIUS NY accelerator competition has been held. The companies – each developing innovations in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), internet of things (IoT) and/or robotics – arrived in Syracuse in August 2022 and have spent the past few months working out of The Tech Garden building in downtown Syracuse, busily getting acclimated to their new surroundings, participating in business workshops and visits to local tech startups, and perfecting their pitches. Each team will have five minutes to present to a panel of expert judges on why their company should be chosen as the recipient of the $1 million grand prize. Though one team will come away the grand prize winner, the remaining four teams will each be awarded $500,000, for a total of $3 million in funds.
The teams competing are Archangel Imaging, Ltd., (United Kingdom), AVSS - Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions, Inc. (Canada), Dronehub (Poland), Fusion Engineering (Netherlands), and Wonder Robotics (Israel). The public is invited to attend this exciting FREE event. Register online for tickets. For more information about the teams, judges, and the GENIUS NY program, visit http://www.geniusny.com/finals.html GENIUS NY is the world's largest business accelerator competition focused on uncrewed systems, IoT and big data startups. The program is funded by Empire State Development and administered at CenterState CEO's The Tech Garden incubator. SAN FRANCISCO – September 7, 2022 – Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced it has acquired Rosie, the premier e-commerce platform for local and independent retailers and wholesalers. With this acquisition, Instacart is deepening its commitment to serving local and independent grocers and expanding its Instacart Platform e-commerce offerings.
Founded in 2013, the Rosie team has spent nearly a decade building relationships and supporting local and independent retailers like Rosauers Supermarkets, Lee’s Marketplace, Niemann Foods, Inc., and Geissler’s Supermarkets across more than 40 states. Rosie offers independent grocers affordable and easy-to-use branded e-commerce websites and mobile app capabilities that power order flow, fulfillment, and customer insights. Rosie’s product features include shoppable weekly ads, store loyalty and rewards programs integrations, third-party fulfillment logistics integrations, payment processing and more – all developed for local and independent grocers. Rosie’s turnkey e-commerce solutions get grocers online quickly and efficiently, helping customers easily find and discover local stores. The locally focused e-commerce company got its start in Central New York. Support from CenterState CEO’s long-standing seed funding program, Grants for Growth, made it possible for Rosie to develop new technology, operational procedures and systems to manage food security, access and nutrition issues on a national scale for the SNAP EBT program. The program’s investments enabled the company to become the leading technology partner for independent grocers participating in the USDA Food Nutrition and Service SNAP online pilot program. The pilot began in 2019 with eight states. Rosie was also the winner of CenterState CEO’s Startup Labs Syracuse business competition in 2013. The program provided seed capital, mentorship and technical support to help startups validate their team and business model to later stage investors, with a goal of helping early stage startups succeed and accelerate their growth with capital and support from influencers. Today, Rosie is the preferred e-commerce partner for the nation’s leading wholesalers. In 2022, Rosie is on pace to launch over 100 retailers with hundreds of store locations around the United States with online SNAP programs. With the acquisition of Rosie, Instacart is introducing new e-commerce solutions built specifically for local and independent retailers that complement the company’s existing Instacart Platform offerings. Through the Instacart Platform, Instacart is further enabling grocers to chart their own digital transformation through a suite of enterprise-grade technologies. With Instacart Platform, Instacart gives retailers access to the solutions behind Instacart’s consumer marketplace, helping retailers like Schnucks, Tops Friendly Markets, and The Fresh Market create new online and in-store solutions that enhance the customer experience and help their businesses grow. “Our focus is on creating technology solutions that are tailor-made to meet the online and in-store needs of all grocers – whether they’re national chains or independently owned and operated,” said Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer at Instacart. “Local and independent grocers are so important to the grocery ecosystem. They have loyal customers, create meaningful job opportunities and serve as cornerstones of their communities. The Rosie team understands these grocers better than anyone, and that’s why we’re proud to welcome them to Instacart. Together, we’ll build more technologies that help independent grocers accelerate their pace of innovation so they can continue to compete, grow, and serve their customers however they choose to shop.” Adding Rosie’s offerings to the Instacart Platform gives more retailers access to tools and technologies that can lead to growth in their businesses and deeper engagement with their customers – all while retaining their unique store experience and brand identity. Through this acquisition, Rosie customers will have the opportunity to utilize Instacart’s in-store offerings like Foodstorm’s order management system and Caper’s smart cart and checkout technology, the Instacart shopper network to help support new picking and fulfillment options, Carrot Ads and loyalty programs to increase customer engagement and affordability, and more. “For nearly a decade, our team has lived, breathed, and devoted ourselves to the success of local independent grocers and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” said Nick Nickitas, Founder and CEO of Rosie. “Instacart’s mission of powering the future of grocery is closely aligned with our own, and I’m confident that combining our teams and technologies is the way to best continue serving these important retailers. Together, we will continue to innovate and build easy to use and affordable digital solutions that help our retailer, wholesaler, and brand partners thrive and better meet the needs of their customers.” “For nearly 90 years, Rosauers has served communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and we strive to give our guests as many avenues to shop our stores as possible,” said Cliff Rigsbee, President and CEO of Rosauers. “With the help of Rosie, we have an award-winning in-store experience and a highly customized branded online shopping experience that enables everything from EBT-SNAP payment processing to digital merchandising. Instacart and Rosie together will be a winning combination for our business and customers.” “As a local grocer our roots began with delivering groceries almost 100 years ago. Now, in our 4th generation of family ownership, we continue that same tradition through our partnership with Rosie. Helping our communities grow, and nourishing them with the best in local and fresh products, wouldn’t be possible without the robust platform Rosie provides,” said Robert Rybick, President and CEO of Geissler’s Supermarket. “We have always pushed Rosie to meet or exceed our in-store experience online, and with a combined Rosie and Instacart we are excited for the new possibilities that will further allow us to bring the best local and fresh products to our customers and communities.” Jason Sokol, Vice President of Marketing at Associated Foods Stores shared, “For over 8 years, I’ve experienced all that Rosie has to offer, from shopping on the platform and promoting it as a marketer, to operating it as a retailer and recommending it to other independent stores as a wholesaler. I’m excited about the possibilities that Instacart and Rosie can deliver together – their combined software platforms, extensive support capabilities, and deep relationships will help all independently owned retailers across the country compete and win.” Moving forward, the Rosie team will lead Instacart’s business strategy and technology development for local independent grocers, as Instacart continues to build best-in-class e-commerce and fulfillment solutions for this critical segment of the grocery industry. About Instacart Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 900 national, regional, and local retail brands to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 75,000 stores across more than 13,000 cities in North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of busy people and families to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for more than 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders for customers on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging brands – partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company. John Liddy Joins CenterState CEO as Interim Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship7/28/2022
SYRACUSE, NY – CenterState CEO announced new leadership for The Tech Garden. John Liddy Joins CenterState CEO as interim vice president of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
As the interim vice president of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Liddy is responsible for leading CenterState CEO’s entrepreneurship portfolio and support programming, operated out of its incubator, The Tech Garden, located in downtown Syracuse. Liddy most recently served as entrepreneur-in-residence at The Tech Garden, where he brought his experience with startups, scaling companies and investments to its programs and members. He has also worked for more than a decade to provide business coaching to teams as they look to scale and grow their companies within the region’s tech ecosystem. Liddy has also helped mentor the GENIUS NY cohorts over the last five years. Liddy is an accomplished entrepreneurial executive with more than 30 years of business experience. For over a decade he’s helped people start and grow businesses, primarily by contracting with organizations whose role it is to support entrepreneurs. His clients include educational institutions, government agencies, economic development organizations, accelerators, incubators, and individual entities. The support he provides through this consulting work, incudes immersion programs, accelerator formation, content creation, course delivery, mentorship, workshops, entrepreneur-in-residence, strategic planning, and one on one coaching. "John comes to us with a breadth of entrepreneurial and ecosystem experience," said Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. "We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with his entrepreneurial expertise and knowledge of The Tech Garden - its programs and clients - work with us as we continue the process of searching for a more permanent replacement." Liddy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Vermont and a Master of Business Administration, from Syracuse University. He is also the recipient of numerous professional awards. He and his wife, Jen, and their son, Jack, live in Syracuse. To learn more about CenterState CEO, please visit www.CenterStateCEO.com. About CenterState CEO CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. We serve as an advocate and resource for smart business, catalyze and facilitate regional growth, and promote community prosperity through results-driven partnerships, planning and problem-solving. www.centerstateceo.com Ithaca, NY (June 30, 2022) – Rosie announced today the hiring of Lori Brown to join the team as Senior Vice President of Industry and Customer Development. In this role, Lori will focus on the expansion of Rosie’s industry leading ecommerce service and growth of Rosie’s independent retailer media network, reporting to Chief Revenue Officer Merrick Rosner.
“Lori’s enthusiasm for independent grocers and wholesalers is legendary,” shared Rosie CEO and cofounder Nick Nickitas. “She brings years of experience and a passion for delivering delight to shoppers, retailers, and organizations across the US. She is a tireless champion of our industry and a true servant leader. As Rosie continues its rapid growth, we couldn’t be more excited for Lori to join our team.” Prior to joining Rosie, Brown was at Post Consumer Brands for 18 years, most recently as Regional Vice President leading Post Consumer Brands in the West Region responsible for major accounts including URM Stores, Associated Food Stores (AFS), CERTCO, Brookshire Brothers, and Stater Bros. Markets. She earned a master’s degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business and serves on several boards including California Grocers Association (CGA), Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA), and The Illuminators. Brown is also acting President, Boy Scouts of America, Pacific Harbors Council. Lori’s excitement for the opportunity at Rosie was on display when she shared, “I’ve watched Rosie closely over the last few years and have admired the team’s care for locally owned independents and wholesalers. I’ve been able to work directly with them from my previous work at Post and I look forward to bringing my experience, network, and mission to Rosie.” Lori continued, “I grew up in a small town, and the local food center was the heart of our community; completely invested not only in their business, but in the people. Independent grocers have more obstacles to overcome than larger chain accounts, but they figure out a way to get it done. They are scrappy and resourceful. Rosie helps independent grocers differentiate and compete.” Rosie’s rapid growth over the last few years has been due to a deep focus on independent grocery retailers, their wholesaler partners, and national CPG brands. Today, nearly 300 retailers representing close to a thousand stores, have selected Rosie as their trusted ecommerce and mobile platform. With stores and wholesaler partnerships reaching all 50 states, Rosie is poised for even greater expansion with Brown joining the team in this senior position where she will work closely with retailers, brands, and wholesaler leaders. Ray Sprinkle, president of URM Stores and current chair of Retailer Owned Food Distributors (ROFDA) and past chair of WFIA, shared, “Lori has spent her career demonstrating her passion for ensuring the success of the Retailer. Combining Rosie’s technology with Lori’s experience and knowledge in the industry, it is the perfect fit for bringing enhanced value to the Independent Retailers we all serve. URM is excited to continue our relationship with her and Rosie.” In early 2015, Rosie began building partnerships with CPG brands to directly support the ecommerce programs of retailers and to find unique and inventive ways to engage online shoppers with brand driven digital programs. These have expanded over the last 7 years to include campaigns with Kraft-Heinz, Johnson & Johnson, McCormick, Litehouse, and many others. As shoppers shift habits to online shopping, Rosie’s expansive market penetration and merchandising platform make for a one-of-a-kind partnership opportunity for brands, wholesalers, retailers, and their online guests. Brown will oversee Rosie’s growing digital media platform in her newly created position. Carole Christianson, COO of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), said, “Lori Brown is one of the finest industry executives that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her work ethic, commitment to lifelong education and passion to serve the food industry is greatly admired and appreciated.” In early 2021, Rosie completed a $10 million round of Series A funding, enabling the team to introduce new tools to enhance the shopper and retailer experience, launch new products to provide a seamless omnichannel journey for shoppers at home, in-store, or on-the-go, further invest in monetization opportunities to increase retailer profitability, and recruit the best and brightest talent to accelerate product development and expansion across the independent grocery space. Greg McNiff, President of Stater Bros. Markets and WAFC immediate past chair, stated, “Lori is truly a servant leader. I’ve been blessed to know and work with her for several years. She is the first to raise her hand to assist in any industry event (regardless of how busy she is) and always does it with a smile. Lori is a leader who builds trusting relationships which will benefit any organization fortunate enough to land her.” About Rosie Rosie is the most trusted, locally-focused ecommerce company, where shoppers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online from local stores. We partner with leading independent grocers and their wholesalers to provide a fully-customizable, branded e-commerce presence, delivery opportunities, omnichannel marketing and deep data services. Rosie serves as the preferred ecommerce partner to the nation’s leading wholesalers including Associated Food Stores (AFS), Associated Grocers, Inc (AGBR), Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), Bozzuto’s, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company, and URM Stores. Visit rosieapp.com to learn more about how to get started with ecommerce. For information about Rosie, visit Rosie. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. CAZENOVIA, NEW YORK – One year after celebrating its 40th anniversary in Central New York, Marquardt is soaring into new territory. The local contract manufacturer and global technology supplier has entered into the drone technology industry, bringing new manufacturing business and jobs to Cazenovia.
Marquardt is a major supporter of GENIUS NY, a $3 million business accelerator competition focused on uncrewed systems, Internet of Things, robotics and big data startups. Marquardt is offering its expertise and experience in manufacturing to companies in this competition, which includes access to its 115,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Earlier this year, Marquardt secured a partnership with the 2021 GENIUS NY grand prize winner, Airtonomy – a company focused on drone data management. To continue to support new business opportunities along with its other current projects, Marquardt is now actively hiring for several positions including Engineers, Production Associates, and Business Development roles. “We’re looking to hire people who are passionate, innovative, and want to be involved with shaping the future of drone technology and high-tech manufacturing in Central New York,” said Steve Maloney, Director of Human Resources at Marquardt. Marquardt is known as a leading manufacturer of complex systems in the automotive, off-road, and home industries; partnering with top corporations like Ford Motor Company, General Motors, John Deere, and Stanley Black & Decker - just to name a few. The company makes a wide range of products and solutions, including wireless communication systems, electronic components, and e-mobility technology. Marquardt has evolved throughout the years to stay competitive, and is not afraid to pursue business opportunities outside of its traditional scope. The sky is the limit, and Marquardt sees a big future in drone technology. New York State has invested heavily over the past five years to create a 50-mile Uncrewed Autonomous Systems Corridor and Advanced Air Mobility Proving Grounds, commonly known as the “Drone Corridor” between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, Managed by NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, Inc). Marquardt's facility, located on Route 20, is just a short drive from this giant testing range. “Central New York has the potential to be the ‘Silicon Valley’ of drone technology. As these new drone start-ups look to build their businesses in our area, Marquardt’s goal is to help them launch products with a precise blueprint for success,” explained Chris Berry, Business Development Manager. Marquardt offers product development support, product-testing, assembly and testing equipment realization, injection molding, electronic production, assembly production, and lifecycle/supply chain support. In addition, a full staff of passionate design, validation, and industrial engineering staff, as well as equipment maintenance technicians. "Marquardt treats its partners as true extensions of itself, willingly sharing knowledge, expertise and resources – serving to help these companies bridge the gaps in their manufacturing processes,” Berry said. In addition to local partnerships, Marquardt has extended its outreach to drone companies on a national level. Marquardt recently attended AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2022 in Orlando, Florida, an annual conference that attracts top minds and unmanned aerial system industry leaders. Marquardt made several new connections at the show, and is hopeful to attract these companies to the Central New York area in the near future. About Marquardt Switches, Inc.: Marquardt is a global leader in the field of electro-mechanical and electronic switches, controls and wireless communication systems. Major and emerging companies, worldwide, rely on Marquardt’s expertise and experience in several industries, including automotive, electro-mobility, off-road, and home appliances. In fact, you probably use Marquardt’s switches in your vehicle on a daily basis. The company has remained competitive for 95 years due to its constant ability to evolve and innovate. Marquardt is shaping the future of mobility by drastically expanding its capabilities beyond the traditional flip of a switch or push of a button – introducing touch technology, lighting, and battery management systems to its product portfolio. Marquardt has over 10,500 employees in 21 locations worldwide. Marquardt's U.S. Division is comprised of its North American Headquarters, located in Cazenovia, NY, featuring a state-of-the-art, 115,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. The company also has an office in Rochester Hills, MI, which focuses on growing and supporting Marquardt’s automotive business. For more information, visit marquardt.com/us/partners. Zak Niazi was a student in the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and asking the question: What if? What if he could find a way to show 360-degree video without the complicated and tedious stitching required to make a seamless stream?
The question led Niazi to find solutions in physics for that kind of real-time, spherical, 360-degree streaming video. In overly simplified terms, he used polygonal lenses and designed them to have polygonal fields of view, instead of circular lenses with circular fields, and stuck them together so that where they touch each other the fields of view line up. Niazi let the person who assembled the first system name the product. He chose Hydra, after the mythical Greek character with multiple heads. In 2017, Niazi founded Circle Optics, which is now based in Rochester. Who might use Hydra and Circle Optics technology? NASA and the Department of Defense, especially the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, are among customers. So are companies developing technologies for fields in UAS, the unmanned aerial systems commonly called drones. What makes it useful in drone technologies? “You get much higher quality data, and you don’t get the overlapping fields, which is what takes lots of post-processing and computer resources,” Niazi said. “On a small drone, an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), and other aircraft, it drains away your battery. “Higher quality data then leads to better AI (artificial intelligence). That leads to better decision making from the drone. Better data also leads to a more complete visual perception of the drone’s surroundings for remote operators.” The drone application brought Niazi to the GENIUS NY program at The Tech Garden in Syracuse, where his company was a GENIUS finalist and won a $500,000 investment. He’s learned that starting and leading a growing company requires giving autonomy to others. It can be hard for an entrepreneur: “When you start a company, it’s your baby, and so you’re very protective of it.” He said good leaders establish a bold purpose larger than themselves, creating a North Star for their company. Read the full article from Stan Linhorst on syracuse.com, here. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — It is a success story for this one-time Syracuse *startup”, now a unicorn, Density, which is now valued at over a billion dollars.
It’s also a success for the Syracuse Tech Garden, and the region. Density is now opening a major manufacturing facility in the Whitlock building on South Salina Street, across from Salt City Market. Watch the interview with NewsChannel 9, here. |
Archives
December 2023
|