Top photo: Grow-NY’s 22-county region includes the Finger Lakes, Central New York, and Southern Tier. Credit: Adobe Express.
Empire State Development (ESD) has opened the application window for the eighth round of the Grow-NY international business competition, offering $3 million in prize funding to high-growth food and agriculture startups. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 15, 2026. Selected finalists will participate in a regional accelerator program before competing for funding later this year.
Grow-NY targets companies developing innovative solutions across the food and agriculture value chain, including production, processing, distribution, ag tech, scalable composting, climate resilience, and workforce development. Up to 20 finalists will be selected to participate in the accelerator, which provides mentorship, business development support, and introductions to investors and regional partners.
Finalists will pitch their ventures in a live competition, where seven winners will be awarded a share of the $3 million prize pool. One company will receive a $1 million grand prize, two will receive $500,000 awards, and four will receive $250,000 each. As a condition of funding, winners must commit to establishing a meaningful presence and generating economic impact in Grow-NY’s 22-county region, which includes the Finger Lakes, Central New York, and Southern Tier.
Since its launch in 2019, Grow-NY has supported 49 winning companies, which have collectively raised more than $127 million in follow-on funding and created hundreds of jobs. Notably, 40 of those companies remain operational in the region, signaling strong retention and regional integration compared to national startup averages.
The competition is administered by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and funded through New York State’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative, which aims to drive economic growth through targeted investment in key industries. The Grow-NY region itself is home to more than 40% of New York State’s farms and benefits from established research institutions, freshwater resources, and a longstanding agricultural base.
In addition to economic development goals, Grow-NY has also played a role in expanding access to capital. In 2025, nearly half of applicants included a female founder, and 74% included founders from historically underinvested backgrounds.
Program leaders emphasize that the competition is designed not only to fund innovation but to anchor companies in the region long-term. “Grow-NY and our bountiful region have become a launchpad for agricultural companies evaluating where to grow next,” said program director Jenn Smith in the announcement.
Interested applicants can learn more and apply at www.grow-ny.com before the May 15 deadline.
