Empire State Development has announced the grand-prize winner of sixth annual Grow-NY business competition: Unibaio, a company that offers naturally derived particles to trap active ingredients of pesticides and fertilizers, allowing them to penetrate plants more efficiently.
The competition awarded $3 million — including the $1 million grand prize — to seven of the 20 finalists participating in the business development accelerator. The announcement took place at the Grow-NY Summit, a two-day event in Ithaca where finalists pitched their business plans to a panel of expert judges. Each winning team will commit to operating in the region for at least one year, while also providing a modest equity stake to Cornell University, to fund future food and ag entrepreneurship programming. The competition is managed by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Congratulations to the Grow-NY winners, and to all of the teams that participated in round six of this unique agriculture-based business accelerator and competition. Grow-NY is rooted in Governor Hochul’s support of startups that are building entrepreneurial ecosystems and continues to nurture economic growth across the rich farming areas of the Finger Lakes, Central and Southern Tier regions.”
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Grow-NY competition is an annual opportunity to spotlight New York agriculture’s diversity and strengths, and the many opportunities it holds for innovative businesses that are looking to grow and thrive. Now in its sixth round, Grow-NY has proven itself to be a program that is integral to enhancing our agricultural economy. I congratulate all the winners and participants this year and thank Governor Hochul for her continued support in making sure New York agriculture remains a powerhouse nationwide.”
Matia Figliozzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Unibaio said, “Winning the $1 million grand prize at the Grow-NY Summit is a dream come true. It’s more than just the money — it’s validation of our team’s hard work, innovation and dedication to creating a solution that will have a lasting impact on farming. The mentorship we received and relationships we developed through Grow-NY were invaluable, helping us refine our strategy and prepare for growth. This win will allow us to scale our operations in Upstate NY and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.”
The finalist teams were provided with expert mentorship and guidance as they developed their business plans leading up to the Summit. During the event, they presented their pitches to a panel of seven judges with expertise in agriculture, food production and venture development.
Other 2024 winners
$500,000 Winner: PureNanoTech, Parsippany, New Jersey
Created a nanobubble irrigation solution to maximize irrigation performance and optimize energy usage in the agriculture, pond and lake restoration, wastewater treatment, and disinfection industries.
$500,000 Winner: UdderWays, Albion, New York
Uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats. With the startup’s patented vortex-style application, farmers can achieve consistent stimulation and effortlessly promote milk letdown.
$250,000 Winner: Clean Crop Technologies, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Combines electricity and food-grade gasses to remove pathogens from seeds before they are planted, increasing yields, reducing waste, and improving food safety without preservatives.
$250,000 Winner: ClearLeaf, San José, Costa Rica
Offers safe fungicides and bactericides protects soil and crops from a wide range of pre- and post-harvest pathogens, without harming the environment or your health.
$250,000 Winner: For Bitter For Worse, Portland, Oregon
A distillery using certified organic, locally farmed ingredients to create a healthier, more inclusive culture with their non-alcoholic cocktails.
$250,000 Winner: Zordi, Oakfield, New York
Builds autonomous greenhouses with robots and AI to make delicious, high-quality produce available anywhere.
The public also participated in the competition by voting for the “Wegmans Audience Choice” award, which went to Bialtec of Delft, Netherlands, earning them $10,000 sponsored by Wegmans.
More than 1,100 people registered for the sixth annual Grow-NY Summit. The Summit culminated with the presentation of awards, where individuals from previous Grow-NY competition winners and finalists Capro-X, WeRadiate, Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen and GR8PE by Stil-Bène announced the four $250,000 winners.
Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball revealed the two $500,000 recipients as well as the $1 million award winner. The winning companies will now immediately get to work executing their business plans in New York state, leveraging the connections made and regional knowledge gained from the competition.
In its sixth year, the Grow-NY competition attracted 312 applicants from 50 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Italy, along with 89 entries from New York, with 44 percent of applicants featuring a female founder and 60 percent representing a culturally diverse group. The winners will now focus on executing their plans in New York state, fostering job growth and leveraging the regional connections made during the competition.
Grow-NY Program Director Jenn Smith said, “Through the Grow-NY competition we’ve touched more than 1,800 startups wanting to build their businesses in Upstate NY. This year’s finalists are all exceptional, and we are thrilled to add Unibaio to our portfolio of ventures growing in the region.”
Grow-NY judges-based award decisions on the following criteria:
- The viability of the startup’s business model
- The diversity, quality, readiness and completeness of the startup team
- The value that the startup offers customers
- The agrifood innovation that that the startup has invented
- The job growth and opportunity potential that the startup can bring to the region
All winners are required to work toward making a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which consists of 22 counties home to vibrant farmlands, a hardworking population, abundant freshwater and several rising cities, including Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Geneva and Binghamton. The winning businesses will drive job creation, collaborate with local industry partners and help strengthen the regional economy.
