Ithaca company collects $250,000 Soos Technology, an animal-science company from Kidron, Israel, won the $1 million grand prize in this year’s Grow-NY food and agriculture business competition. Halomine of Ithaca […]
Ithaca company collects $250,000
Soos Technology, an animal-science company from Kidron, Israel, won the $1 million grand prize in this year’s Grow-NY food and agriculture business competition.
Halomine of Ithaca — a firm that has developed anti-microbial products to ensure the safety of the food supply — took home $250,000.
Empire State Development and Cornell University announced the winners on Nov. 23.
“With our Grow-NY prize money, we plan to create over 20 high-paying research and engineering jobs in the next two years, by building the NY Poultry Research Hub, which will connect academic research with poultry startups and corporates, to commercialize validated research. We are thrilled to put down roots in the Grow-NY region,” Yael Alter, CEO of Soos Technology, said in a news release.
Soos Technology says it has developed artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software that controls customized incubation cells that affect the sex-development process in chicken embryos, resulting in more functional female chickens that lay eggs. The patented technology mitigates the controversial practice of male-chick culling by transforming male chickens into egg-laying females using high-tech soundwaves and vibration — a noninvasive and nonchemical solution.
Halomine is part of the on-campus technology incubator Praxis Center for Venture Development and is developing antimicrobial solutions — licensed through Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing — to ensure food safety, according to a release on the Cornell University website.
Halomine has also partnered with the McGovern Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences to conduct biological research and testing against coronaviruses.
The startup is led by CEO Ted Eveleth and chief technology officer, Mingyu Qiao, who is also a post-doctoral researcher.
In addition to Soos Technology, SoFresh of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and Zetifi of New South Wales, Australia were $500,000 winners. Besides Halomine, Leep Foods of Rochester; Candidus of Hull, Georgia; and PureSpace of Busan, South Korea each won $250,000 in prize money.
About Grow-NY
The competition focuses on strengthening the food and agriculture innovation cluster within the Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier regions of New York state. The contest attracted more than 260 applicants worldwide this year and the top 20 finalists competed in a virtual-pitch event.
Funding for the Grow-NY competition is provided through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative. Administered by Cornell University, the contest requires that winners commit to operating in the Central New York, Finger Lakes, or Southern Tier region for at least one year.
Grow-NY was held remotely Nov. 17 and 18, with more than 1,500 people registered to attend. Competition finalists were able to share their business plans and answer questions from a panel of judges in front of an online audience; each had 10 minutes to share their pitch and then 10 minutes for questions.
Competition process
Grow-NY organizers say 264 companies applied to the competition this year, including startups from 27 countries.
In the U.S., 25 states were represented. Organizers say 29 percent of applicants included a female founder and 32 percent included a founder from an underrepresented minority group.
In early September, the applicants were narrowed down and the top 20 startups were chosen to proceed to the pitch competition. Each finalist had mentorship from a hand-selected regional business advisor leading up to the pitch.