Over the past five years we have established Central New York as the global leader for the uncrewed systems industry. Among the central elements of those efforts is the GENIUS NY program, the world’s largest in-residence accelerator focused on uncrewed systems. Operated from CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden, the program has attracted 26 startups to Central New York. […]
Over the past five years we have established Central New York as the global leader for the uncrewed systems industry. Among the central elements of those efforts is the GENIUS NY program, the world’s largest in-residence accelerator focused on uncrewed systems.
Operated from CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden, the program has attracted 26 startups to Central New York. These innovative teams have received
$15 million in state investments, raised more than $90 million in venture capital and created more than 60 jobs across upstate New York. Validation of the program’s impact is evidenced by Empire State Development’s announcement [recently] that GENIUS NY was being renewed through round 10.
As we begin to receive applications for the sixth round of the program, it is impossible not to be excited about the opportunity to welcome new, high-growth companies into our ecosystem that support innovation and our growing tech sector. Applications are being accepted now through May 31 from tech startups focused on uncrewed systems, IoT, big data, and robotics, as well as precision and remote sensing, smart-city applications, data collection and analytics, and guidance or communication systems, among other tech categories. These sectors highlight the breadth of the industries supported by the region and the GENIUS NY program and align with efforts to advance a smart-systems cluster under our phase-two application of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge.
For more than a decade we have collaboratively advanced the resources available to startups so that they can scale and grow in the region. GENIUS NY is an important element of this success. Each new team that we attract to the region through GENIUS NY contributes to Central New York’s growing tech sector and supports the advancement of the UAS (unmanned aircraft system) and UTM (unmanned aircraft system traffic management) industries here.
To learn more or apply, visit www.geniusny.com, or contact Kara Jones, director of GENIUS NY, at kjones@centerstateceo.com.
Robert M. Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This article is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on March 31.