UAS Startups Begin Their Journeys with Largest Accelerator for Uncrewed Systems

Five inventive Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) companies set up offices in Syracuse, NY this fall as they begin the yearlong GENIUS NY accelerator program, operated by CenterState CEO and funded by Empire State Development.

As the world’s largest business accelerator program for uncrewed systems, GENIUS NY provides finalists with funding support, state-of-the-art resources and access to Central New York’s robust UAS ecosystem.

Following decades of steady investment in the industry, Central New York now stands as one of the global leaders in UAS technology. By basing operations in the region through the GENIUS NY program, teams become a part of a network that includes skilled manufacturers, leading UAS expertise and the largest BVLOS airspace in the Northeast United States operated by NUAIR. Alumni of the GENIUS NY program have gone on to be acquired by Robinson Helicopter, collaborate with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, form partnerships with leading high-precision manufacturers and much more.

This year’s finalist teams were selected from a global pool of more than 300 applicants:

• Flox (Stockholm, Sweden): AI that understands and speaks to wild animals, running on Edge pods, drones and trains, to steer wildlife away from critical areas.
• Lamarr AI (New York, USA): Uses drones and AI to inspect building exteriors, delivering faster, more affordable, and more accurate data than traditional methods.
• Lighthouse Avionics (Ohio, USA): Offers low-cost optical solutions to monitor low-altitude airspace for drone threats, bird strikes and FAA compliance.
• Modovolo (New York, USA): A drone company building low-cost, modular aircraft with extended flight times, designed for a wide range of commercial and defense uses.
• Skyfire AI (New Jersey, USA): Deploys autonomous drone swarms and AI to improve response times and situational awareness for first responders and defense teams.

The chosen finalists will work to build relationships in the region, develop their go-to-market plans, and spend time refining their pitches before presenting to a panel of judges at Innovation Night, May 7, 2026. During this pitch finals event, teams will compete for a total of $3 million in direct investment, with one grand prize of up to $1 million and four $500,000 awards.

Kara Jones, Director of Programs and Engagement at CenterState CEO, said, “GENIUS NY Cohort 9 companies are building technologies that solve real-world problems across defense, infrastructure and public safety. We’re beginning to introduce these businesses to the Central New York community while offering them the top-of-the-line assets and resources that GENIUS NY is known for. It’s also exciting to see them beginning make these connections as the first cohort to operate out of INSPYRE Innovation Hub.”

CenterState CEO’s INSPYRE Innovation Hub is now New York’s largest business accelerator by square footage following a recent expansion completed this fall, and the home base for GENIUS NY. It includes a two-story addition, a new 5,000-square-foot roof terrace accessible to clients, offices for 35 additional resident startups, state-of-the-art coworking areas, makerspace and an expanded hardware space for prototype and product development.

Applications for GENIUS NY Cohort 10 open in January 2026. To learn more about the teams, GENIUS NY and INSPYRE Innovation Hub, visit the GENIUS NY website.