CenterState CEO announces 14 companies have been named semi-finalists for the GENIUS NY program’s 8th cohort. GENIUS NY is the world’s largest accelerator focused on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies.  

The semi-finalists will now compete to see which five are selected for the one-year program based out of CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden in Syracuse, New York. A team of 50 evaluators reviewed 80 applications for semi-finalist selection. Over half of the companies in this highly competitive applicant pool were from outside of the U.S., and most applicants identified as being in the “validation” phase. 

Of the 14 semi-finalists selected from that pool, eight are international teams and three identified as minority and women-owned business enterprises. Two teams are from New York state.  


Cohort 8 Semi-Finalists: 
Aerialoop, Medellin, Colombia 
Angel Aerial, Cleves, OH, USA 
Aviant, Oslo, Norway 
Avol, Brooklyn, NY, USA 
Crover, Edinburgh, Scotland 
FlightOps, Ra’anana, Israel 
FloFleet, Milan, Italy 
Flyhound, New York, NY, USA 
Hellenic Drones, Dafni, Greece 
INVOLI, Lausanne, Switzerland 
OSCP Motion, Montreal, Canada 
Revolute Robotics, Scottsdale, AZ, USA 
Ultraview AI, Austin, TX, USA 
Uniform Sierra Aerospace, West Lafayette, IN, USA 


Semi-finalists will pitch their technologies and business plans to a panel of executive advisers. Advisers are looking for companies that will stay in the Central New York area; participate in and contribute to the region’s growing UAS ecosystem; will scale and be successful; and represent diversity of technology focus and team makeup. Finalists will be announced in early July. In August, the five finalists will arrive in Central New York to begin the program.  

Finalists will compete for the grand prize at Innovation Night this fall, where they’ll pitch to a panel of judges and the audience. Each team will have five minutes to make the case for their product. The winner will receive a $1 million investment, and the four remaining teams will each receive a $500,000 investment.  

“The pool of applicants we receive for the GENIUS NY program becomes more impressive and competitive each year. More than half of the selected semi-finalists are in the commercialization phase, and the others are well on their next step. Additionally, around half of the semi-finalist teams are focused on defense applications or detect and avoid technology, complimenting the regional ecosystem of defense manufacturers and initiatives,” said Kara Jones, director of GENIUS NY. “The advisors will now make the tough decisions on which companies will be our five finalists this year. I’m looking forward to another year of the GENIUS NY program during this exciting time in Central New York.”  

Since 2017, GENIUS NY has invested nearly $21 million in 37 companies from around the world. The program brings companies to Central New York to participate in the yearlong in-residence accelerator where they receive assistance with product development, business development, as well as networking opportunities with investors and business leaders. In addition, GENIUS NY companies have raised more than $100 million in follow-on funding and have created hundreds of new jobs in New York state.  

Beyond the grand prize investments, participants benefit from access to the region’s premier startup programming, including business planning, industry specific mentorship and access to vetted service providers offering startup friendly terms. Participants are integrated into the larger regional effort to grow uncrewed aerial systems in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, gain access to world-leading infrastructure and testing assets, and have opportunities to connect with investors for follow-on funding. 
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To learn more about GENIUS NY, visit geniusny.com.

​The Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE) and CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden have announced the eight companies selected to take part in the third year of the EPIC Buildings Accelerator. The EPIC Buildings Accelerator is a six-month Clean Tech program offered by CenterState CEO at The Tech Garden, in collaboration with the SyracuseCoE EPIC Buildings Program, providing a suite of business supports to early-mid stage companies targeting energy hardware innovations in grid-interactive and energy-efficient building technologies.
 
This program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions and the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC), as well as DOE’s Building Technology Office.​
 
The EPIC Buildings Accelerator provides cohort group services and 1:1 monthly virtual meetings that include coaching, mentorship, industry networking events and grant-writing assistance. The eight companies selected for the 2024 EPIC Buildings Accelerator are:

• Edenic Energy
• Hub Controls
• InteliEQ
• Kermise
• ReVert Technologies
• ThermoAI
• TKFabricate
• UV-Clear

 
"The EPIC Buildings accelerator provides participants with access to resources, mentorship and coaching by world class experts" said John Liddy, Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for CenterState CEO. "In addition to the environmental impact these teams have on our grid-interactive buildings, they are participating in DEI training which will ensure greater representation in our founding firms."
 
Additionally, EPIC Building Accelerator companies are able to apply to receive assistance through SyracuseCoE's EPIC Buildings Program. With Small-Scale Prototype Projects, Syracuse University faculty and students assist companies with ideation and commercialization of products that improve public health and energy efficiency in buildings, especially in low- and moderate-income communities. Through the Innovation Law Center at Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse University law students conduct intellectual property landscape surveys to provide companies with a detailed analysis of the technology space and market trends.
 
“The EPIC Buildings Program offers a unique opportunity to support companies in the green building sector,” explains Ian Shapiro, a Professor of Practice in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Associate Director of Building Science and Community Programs at SyracuseCoE. “By helping to advance commercialization of hardware for grid-interactive and energy-efficient buildings, we can reduce carbon emissions while making buildings more comfortable.”
 
For more information about the EPIC Buildings Accelerator, visit https://www.thetechgarden.com/epic-buildings-program.html

For more information about the EPIC Buildings Program, visit centerofexcellence.syracuse.edu/epic.

About Syracuse CoE: One of 13 New York State Centers of Excellence, SyracuseCoE strategically brings industry partners together with researchers and students in a thriving culture of collaboration and innovation, ultimately creating new businesses and jobs to strengthen regional and state economies. SyracuseCoE supports growth and innovation through companies and researchers. Since 2002, more than 200 firms and institutions have been engaged in SyracuseCoE collaborative projects, in addition to more than 75 faculty in Central New York. For more information, visit centerofexcellence.syracuse.edu

About CenterState CEO: CenterState CEO is Central New York’s premier business leadership and economic development organization, committed to creating a region where business thrives, and all people prosper. Its vision is to be recognized as a visionary leader, effective advocate, exceptional employer and a force for positive outcomes for our community. For more information, visit https://centerstateceo.com

Entering into its third year, the EPIC (Energy Program for Innovation Clusters) Buildings Accelerator is currently accepting applications through Jan. 31, 2024, for the 2024 cohort. 

The EPIC Buildings Accelerator is a six-month, cohort-based program offered by CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden in collaboration with the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions and the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC), as well as DOE’s Building Technology Office.​ 

Buildings account for more than 70% of U.S. electricity consumption and power sector carbon dioxide emissions. Companies participating in the EPIC Buildings Program help turn buildings into clean, flexible energy resources by combining energy efficiency and demand flexibility with communications and smart technologies. Through innovative products, American homes and buildings can be more affordable, comfortable and productive, while reducing power system costs, carbon emissions and stress on the grid, saving billions.  

This accelerator provides a suite of business incubation supports to early-mid stage companies targeting energy hardware innovations in Grid-interactive and Energy-efficient Building (GEB) technologies. The goals are to strengthen the cluster of companies engaged with the GEB market, while promoting equity and public health in the built environment and supporting the nation’s transition to net-zero emissions. 

There are multiple benefits provided to participants in the accelerator, including workshops pitching and coaching, sales training, DEI-related workshops as a best business practice, industry and investor events with travel support, access to more than 100 climate entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIRs), subject matter experts (SMEs), grant finding and grant-writing support and C-level mentors and investor deck development and creation support. 

EPIC Building Accelerator cohort companies may also apply by Jan. 31, 2024 for other EPIC Buildings program offerings, including Innovation Law Center Intellectual Property Landscape Survey research projects offered in collaboration with students and faculty from Syracuse University’s Innovation Law Center and small-scale prototype development projects.  

In 2023, 22 companies were selected to participate in the EPIC Buildings Accelerator Cohort 2. Out of those teams, six were selected to receive assistance with intellectual property landscape patent assessments, and five were selected for the small-scall prototype projects. One of those companies, Hydronic Shell Technologies has just been awarded a $3 million grant from the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge, with collaborators from other EPIC Buildings Accelerator participant companies.  

EPIC Buildings is an important program that helps New York state companies accelerate development and commercialization of innovations for energy hardware to create grid-interactive and energy efficient buildings.

Learn more about the EPIC Buildings Accelerator and apply by Jan. 31, 2024 at: https://www.thetechgarden.com/epic-buildings-program. 

CenterState CEO is pleased to share that Northland Communications is the exclusive connectivity provider of dedicated internet for The Tech Garden and is the naming sponsor of The Tech Garden’s plaza-level theater. Now known as the Northland Communications Theater, it is the first newly named space within the soon to be expanded The Tech Garden and is a critical feature for engaging tenants and other external stakeholders. The theater space has been a hub for networking, learning and entrepreneurial activity for the regional startup community for more than 15 years.

Also part of the new partnership with the company, Northland is providing 1 GB of symmetrical, dedicated internet connectivity to the facility and its tenants for the next 10 years, free of charge. This allows members and guests to access the internet from their wireless device when within range of an access point.

“Northland Communication's partnership represents the company's ongoing commitment to supporting the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Rob Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “We are incredibly grateful for Northland’s proactive support to ensuring The Tech Garden is equipped to meet the needs of growing businesses, and for the value they have placed on helping to advance innovation in our region.”

“Being a good neighbor and an engaged community member is integral to Northland's core values. We believe that by investing in initiatives like The Tech Garden, we're investing in the growth and betterment of our communities,” said Jim McCarthy, president of Northland Communications. “The naming of the theater space is a symbol of our commitment to collaborative efforts that lead to meaningful outcomes. We're excited about the expansion of The Tech Garden and its potential to become an even more vibrant hub for innovation. By offering a platform for startups and entrepreneurs to thrive, we're not only shaping the future but also contributing to the prosperity of the regions we serve. Partnering with CenterState CEO has allowed us to strengthen the technological ecosystem, support local talent, and create a positive impact that resonates with the community.”
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Get Involved! - The Tech Garden has a number of philanthropic and sponsorship opportunities for the business community and individual supporters to be part of the future of innovation in Central New York. From naming opportunities within the space to programmatic support, we can find a level of engagement that works for you. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Kelly Fumarola at [email protected].

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction has officially kicked off for the transformational expansion of CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse. The project will include a two-story, 46,000 square-foot addition, renovations to the facility’s existing space, and updates to the on-site mechanical and security systems. Expansion of The Tech Garden, which is home to the New York state supported GENIUS NY competition, also includes a 5,000-square-foot roof terrace for uncrewed aerial systems companies to launch and test drones, a 3,000-square-foot meeting room with seating for up to 180, private tenant offices for 35 additional resident startups, coworking areas, an expanded hardware space for prototype and product development, and a new entrance. The building will receive an entirely new façade that will better reflect the world- class innovation ecosystem supported by the building. The expanded space will also allow for enhanced programming to support inclusive entrepreneurial growth, at all stages of their startup journey and regardless of industry.

“The expansion of CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden facility will be critical to our strategy to make Upstate New York the next major hub for innovative, high-tech, 21st century businesses,” Governor Hochul said. “With these new state-of-the-art facilities and additional seats for start-up companies, CenterState CEO will be able to continue its important work to expand the innovation economy in Central New York and set promising, early-stage businesses on a path for success. My administration is committed to supporting organizations like CenterState working to spark growth, empower businesses, and boost the local economy.”
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The expanded facility will serve as the anchor of Syracuse's City Center Innovation Hub, a core component of the Syracuse Surge economic development strategy and will serve as the gateway to the "Innovation Alley" on Warren Street in Syracuse. This project will work to connect major assets like the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel and Convention Center, while expanding the ability of the incubator to accept new businesses. It will continue to be the central hub for the GENIUS NY program, bringing UAS companies from around the country and world to Syracuse, as well as the new Syracuse Surge Accelerator, a one-year in-person accelerator that supports Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs in launching tech-related and tech-adjacent startups.

CenterState CEO announced the five companies selected to participate in the first year of the new and innovative Syracuse Surge Accelerator program. These companies will participate in the yearlong accelerator, which provides direct resources and support to Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who want to launch and accelerate tech-related and tech-adjacent startups.
 
“Our city and region are growing as a high-tech hub, creating exciting opportunities for higher paying careers and for new businesses to take root here,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “Nationally less than 25% of tech startups are founded by people of color—we must do better in Syracuse to ensure inclusive growth in the New Economy. The Syracuse Surge Accelerator is the right kind of investment to help breakdown systemic and social barriers that have kept founders of color away from the tech space and out of the workforce. I look forward to helping these entrepreneurs grow scalable businesses and thrive here in Syracuse.”
 
Starting Aug. 22, 2023, the five selected companies will begin their 12-month experience at CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden, where they will have access to extensive programming and resources, including an ignition grant, stipends and other resources totaling $90,000. Support for the Surge Accelerator is provided by JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Microsoft. All five finalists are from Upstate New York region.
 
“We are excited and honored to work with such a diverse group of local startups,” said Dr. Emad Rahim, Syracuse Surge Entrepreneurship Manager, at CenterState CEO. “The technologies represented by our entrepreneurs provide a glimpse of emerging trends in innovation and creativity that are developing right here in Upstate New York. We look forward to showcasing these unique businesses and their leaders who will help foster inclusion in our local entrepreneurship ecosystem.” 


The five selected finalists are: 
​Certainty Analytical Labs  (Rochester, NY) is a B2B life science laboratory that offers 3rd party compliance testing services to the environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and cannabis industry. Certainty is a regulated testing laboratory that provides quality assured data, regulatory support, research and development support, and laboratory consulting services. The firm is positioned to mitigate legal risk, provide regulatory safeguards, streamline market entry, and help build & protect emerging brands. Certainty takes the worry of laboratory compliance testing away, while clients watch their margins grow. 
Founder: Dr. Brandy Young     
  
Clutch Delivery LLC  (Syracuse, NY) is designed to provide higher education institutions with a dining experience that goes beyond the traditional on-campus options. Using advanced location-based technology, Clutch delivers to areas that are not accessible by competitors, such as Doordash and Grubhub. Using a unique approach that hires students as food delivery drivers ensures that Clutch can access all the buildings on each campus. Our student delivery service also supports campus security needs.   
Founder: Celestin Abwe 
  
HippoH Apparel, LLC (Clay, NY) is a boutique streetwear brand that seeks to empower and lend voice to "Emergents”--up-and-coming BIPOC creatives and influencers-- while also supplying the most stylish streetwear culture and apparel to the masses. Through wearable technology collaborations, "Emergents" can get their content directly to culture and style enthusiasts, building the HippoH Nation fan base. Imagine a culture that is not just seen and heard, but also worn.     
Co-founders: Hasan Stephens  and Liztazia Ramirez-Stephens       
 
Sign-Speak Inc. (Rochester, NY) is a real time Sign Language recognition, avatar, and transcription solution that allows Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) individuals to communicate with businesses in on-demand situations. With Sign-Speak, businesses and local governments can ensure that D/HH customers receive information from, and convey information to, their employees and officials.      
Co-founder: Yamillet Payano  
 
Talkadot (Jamesville, NY) is a SaaS that helps public speakers collect audience data and testimonials, create real-time data reports on the effectiveness of their presentations and capture people in the audience who want to book them to speak. This allows speakers to become evidence-based presenters and bring clarity to the events space in the way review-platform Trustpilot does for consumer businesses. 
Co-founder: Arel Moodie              
 
Throughout the program teams will have access to free workspace at The Tech Garden, experts and other founders specific to their industry, executive advisors, recruiting, marketing and fundraising support, programming and events, as well as other perks like access to platforms such as PitchBook, and offer companies AWS credits. The goal is to help underrepresented BPOIC entrepreneurs grow and sustain their startups in Syracuse, New York.
 
“This is such an exciting time of growth for Syracuse and Central New York, particularly in the tech space,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “It's imperative that this growth is felt across our community. The Surge Accelerator is helping to finance BIPOC innovators and entrepreneurs that are developing unique technologies and business solutions that not only support their success here in our region but contribute to the economy of tomorrow.”
  
To learn more about the Syracuse Surge Accelerator visit The Tech Garden website.  
 
About CenterState CEO  
CenterState CEO is Central New York's premier business leadership and economic development organization, committed to creating a region where business thrives, and all people prosper. Its vision is to be recognized as a visionary leader, effective advocate, exceptional employer and a force for positive outcomes for the community. www.centerstateceo.com 
 
About Syracuse Surge 
Syracuse Surge is an inclusive community plan to ignite economic growth and neighborhood transformation in the city of Syracuse and the Central New York region. It builds on a massive investment in technology infrastructure to drive new strategic investment.​

Today we announce the 10 semi-finalists for the first cohort of the Syracuse Surge Accelerator at CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden! This diverse group of startup companies are creating and developing wide-ranging innovations in technology. All semi–finalists are from New York State, with eight based in Central New York. 

The Syracuse Surge Accelerator is a one-year in-person accelerator to provide direct resources and support for Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who want to launch and accelerate tech-related and tech-adjacent startups. This includes funding, workshops, mentoring, coaching/advising and strategic connections with potential business partners,

The teams will now go through the next round of judging. Five finalists will be announced in the coming weeks for participation in the 12-month in-person accelerator. Congratulations to these exceptional entrepreneurs!

 
Ask Nettie LLC  (Saratoga Springs NY)
Cejour Inc. (Queens, NY)
Certainty Analytical Labs (Rochester, NY)
Clutch Delivery LLC (Syracuse, NY)
HippoH Apparel, LLC (Clay, NY)
KAYA Fertilizers, LLC (Syracuse, NY)
Nightflyy (Syracuse, NY) 
Sign-Speak Inc. (Victor, NY) 
Sustainable Energy & Agriculture Technology, LLC (Camillus, NY) 
Talkadot (Jamesville, NY) 
 
Read more about the Syracuse Surge Accelerator on our website.

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the five teams selected to take part in round seven of the innovative GENIUS NY business accelerator program. Supported by the CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative and administered by CenterState CEO and The Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse, these startup, uncrewed systems industry companies will participate in a yearlong program. The five finalists include teams with international and New York state representation and were selected from a pool of more than 450 submissions. They will compete for $3 million in direct investment, with one grand prize of up to $1 million and four $500,000 awards. The program is the largest business accelerator for the UAS industry in the world. GENIUS NY participants are required to commit to operating their business in Central New York for at least one year.

“The GENIUS NY accelerator has helped to establish Central New York as a hub for uncrewed aerial systems by attracting the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs,” said, Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “New York State’s ongoing UAS investment will ensure that continued industry leadership, bringing top-quality jobs and growth to the region and beyond.”

Starting July 12, the five selected companies will move into downtown Syracuse where they will begin to refine work on their business cases, which they present at the Pitch Finals event on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.
Kara Jones, director of GENIUS NY, said, “This round’s teams bring an exciting new mix of technologies being developed in the uncrewed systems space,” said Kara Jones, director of GENIUS NY. “We are excited for their arrival in Central New York in just a few short weeks, and to work with them over the coming year as they connect with local businesses and partners on strategic opportunities for collaboration and growth. Our goal is to not only support startups so they succeed in the UAS industry, but so that they can do so right here in our region, well after their participation in the program.”​

We've moved! But this is only temporary. Preparations for The Tech Garden building expansion at 235 Harrison St. are underway. While we wait for our amazing new space to be built out, The Tech Garden will be housed at Equitable Tower 1 on the 8th floor. For more information and details, visit our dedicated page for updates. ​