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As the GENIUS NY program enters its last call for applications, there’s no better moment to launch your startup in New York State.
Operated by CenterState CEO and funded by Empire State Development, GENIUS NY is the world’s largest accelerator for uncrewed systems and robotics startups. It awards $3 million annually to five companies, including a $1 million grand prize. The deadline to apply for Cohort 9 is May 28, 2025, at geniusny.com.
GENIUS NY is showcasing New York State’s leadership in innovation and emerging technologies at XPONENTIAL 2025 in Houston, May 19–22. Visit the New York State Pavilion at Booth 3613 to learn how the state is investing in uncrewed systems, robotics, and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
This year, GENIUS NY is also the official XPO+ Launcher sponsor, supporting the event’s startup pitch competition. The winning team will earn a fast pass to the semifinalist round of GENIUS NY’s Cohort 9, now accepting applications, for a chance to join the world’s largest accelerator focused on uncrewed systems and robotics, with $3 million in funding on the line.
Joining GENIUS NY in the booth are key New York stakeholders:
- Empire State Development (ESD), sharing how New York supports growing companies and attracts international business.
- NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance), showcasing its leadership in UAS operations, standards, and integration.
- Eight GENIUS NY portfolio companies: Aloft, Blueflite, ResilienX, Flyhound, Aviant, Aerialoop, INVOLI, and Circle Optics, representing the strength and diversity of the state’s startup pipeline.
GENIUS NY is more than a startup competition, it’s a gateway to one of the country’s most advanced ecosystems for uncrewed systems, robotics, and AAM.
Central New York is home to the largest BVLOS test corridor in the Northeast, now expanded to 450 square miles. Operated by NUAIR, the corridor supports testing in rural, suburban, and urban environments, including downtown Syracuse. It’s an increasingly valuable asset for startups working in logistics, smart city infrastructure, aerial inspections, and beyond.
Four of the five teams from GENIUS NY’s current Cohort 8 are already working with resources and assets that NUAIR provides. Past program alumni such as ResilienX, Aloft, ArchAngel Imaging, Blueflite and Aviant continue to grow their operations in Central New York, deepening their roots through hiring, partnerships, and new product development.
This summer, the innovation footprint will expand even further with the opening of INSPYRE Innovation Hub, a state-of-the-art entrepreneurship hub in the heart of downtown Syracuse. One of the largest innovation centers of its kind in the U.S., INSPYRE will serve as the new headquarters for GENIUS NY.
The facility includes a larger makerspace, a rooftop flight deck, expanded prototyping labs, and collaboration space, giving companies a place to build, test, and scale under one roof. Learn more at inspyrehub.com.
Beyond airspace and facilities, GENIUS NY companies are increasingly turning to local manufacturing to bring their products to life. Central New York offers robust industrial and prototyping talent, and many startups are taking full advantage. Blueflite is working with Think Variant, a Syracuse-based fabrication shop, to support component design and production. Other GENIUS NY teams including Aerialoop, INVOLI, and Flyhound are also collaborating with local vendors to iterate faster and scale manufacturing
without leaving the region.
With Micron’s $100B chip fab on the horizon and a deepening bench of suppliers and skilled labor, Syracuse is fast becoming a hub for hardware and systems manufacturing, not just testing.
The GENIUS NY model combines funding, a year of targeted programming, and long-term ecosystem support that continues well after the accelerator ends. For startups in autonomy, AI, robotics, edge computing, and communications, especially those working in UAS or AAM, there’s no better place to land.
Applications for GENIUS NY Cohort 9 are due May 28. Learn more and apply at geniusny.com.
