SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A Norwegian company won the grand prize of $1 million in the 8th round of the Genius NY accelerator. Aviant of Oslo, Norway was among five finalists involved in the pitch competition that was part of the annual Innovation Night held on Oct. 28 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. Genius NY is […]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A Norwegian company won the grand prize of $1 million in the 8th round of the Genius NY accelerator.
Aviant of Oslo, Norway was among five finalists involved in the pitch competition that was part of the annual Innovation Night held on Oct. 28 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
Genius NY is short for Growing ENtrepreneurs & Innovators in UpState New York and is housed at the Tech Garden in Syracuse. The year-long program, operated by CenterState CEO, “attracts the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs in the uncrewed systems field to Central New York.”
Aviant “leverages advanced drone technology to provide autonomous last-mile delivery solutions, enhancing efficiency and reliability in logistics,” as described in the announcement from Empire State Development (ESD).
The company was launched in the beginning of 2020 when the founders met at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the Aviant website. They got the idea for Aviant based on the “logistics issues in healthcare that intensified at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the website says.
The site’s description of the firm’s origin goes on to say, “The desire for more efficient solutions in the medical sector and the new European drone regulations from January 2021 allowed Aviant to quickly secure a pilot contract with St. Olavs Hospital in Norway.”
“Winning the GENIUS NY competition marks an exciting chapter for Aviant,” Lars Erik Fagernaes, CEO of Aviant, said. “This funding accelerates our innovation in drone logistics and strengthens our presence in Syracuse as we aim to launch a last-mile logistics service in 2025.”
Four teams also received a prize of $500,000. They included Aerialoop of Miami, Florida; Crover of Edinburgh, Scotland; Flyhound of New York City; and INVOLI of Lausanne, Switzerland.
The five finalist teams made their pitch for the $1 million grand prize to a panel of judges and audience during the Pitch Finals portion of Innovation Night.
“Congratulations to all five GENIUS NY Cohort 8 finalists!” Kara Jones, CenterState CEO’s director of Genius NY, said in the ESD announcement. “Their presence makes Central New York’s uncrewed systems industry even richer, adding more assets to the thriving ecosystem. I look forward to supporting this cohort’s future growth in this region as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with their technologies.”
To date, New York State has directly invested $24 million in 42 Genius NY teams over the program’s eight rounds. Participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year.
“Over the past eight years, the state has made significant investments in this program and in prioritizing the growth of a robust uncrewed systems industry here in Central New York. As a result, GENIUS NY companies are vital drivers of success in the region’s innovation ecosystem - creating jobs and spurring economic development. This year’s GENIUS NY finalists are further advancing that impact,” Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said. “We’ve built a worldwide reputation as a place that has some of the most robust assets, resources and technical capabilities in the drone industry, and the GENIUS NY program is a key part of that success. I am incredibly proud of the progress we are making and look forward to leveling up our efforts in 2025 when we open CenterState CEO’s new expanded incubator and innovation hub in downtown Syracuse.”
About Innovation Night
The Genius NY Pitch Finals were part of Innovation Night, which ESD describes as a “celebration of the entire Central New York innovation economy.”
The event highlights entrepreneurs and thought leadership within the region’s innovation ecosystem – from UAS (uncrewed aerial system) technology to pioneering, homegrown startups–showing that Central New York’s innovative future has a “space for everyone,” ESD said.
Innovation Night also celebrated the success of other growth programs and entrepreneurs, and featured remarks from Yami Payano, co-founder of Sign-Speak, and Peter Fuchs, CEO of Ascent AeroSystems. Payano is one of five entrepreneurs that participated in CenterState CEO’s Syracuse Surge Accelerator, a program that provides direct resources and support to Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneur founders of tech-related and tech-adjacent startups.
Fuchs is a Genius NY program alumni from the first round of the program. His company, Ascent AeroSystems, was acquired by Robinson Helicopter of Torrance, California in 2024, marking the first major acquisition of a Genius NY company, ESD noted.
