Grow-NY
AgTech & FoodTech · Run by Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) · NY
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Aug 26, 2026- Terms model
- Non-dilutiveGives money that does not take equity: grants, prizes, or credits. Your ownership is untouched.
- Investment
- $3,000,000 in prizes per round, including a $1,000,000 top prize
- Equity taken
- Not publishedAn annual food and agriculture technology business competition run by Cornell's Center for Regional Economic Advancement and funded by Empire State Development. Each round awards $3,000,000 across seven winners, including a $1,000,000 top prize; awards are non-dilutive and no equity is taken. Winners commit to operating in an eligible upstate New York region. Round 8 applications ran March 1 to May 15, 2026, with the pitch summit November 12 to 13, 2026.
- Program length
- Not published
- Format
- In person
- Location
- NY
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Cohort size
- up to 20 finalists, 7 winners
- Stage focus
- early-stage food and ag tech
- Sub-vertical
- food and agriculture technology
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- Cornell University, Empire State Development
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: An annual food and agriculture technology business competition run by Cornell's Center for Regional Economic Advancement and funded by Empire State Development. Each round awards $3,000,000 across seven winners, including a $1,000,000 top prize; awards are non-dilutive and no equity is taken. Winners commit to operating in an eligible upstate New York region. Round 8 applications ran March 1 to May 15, 2026, with the pitch summit November 12 to 13, 2026.
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Terms in plain English
Grow-NY is an annual food and agriculture technology business competition run by Cornell's Center for Regional Economic Advancement and funded by Empire State Development. It awards $3,000,000 in prizes each round across seven winners, including a $1,000,000 top prize. The awards are non-dilutive, so no equity is taken. Winners commit to operating in one of the eligible upstate New York regions for a period after the award. It is a competition rather than a fixed-length cohort program.
Who this is actually for
Early-stage food, beverage, and agriculture technology founders willing to establish or grow operations in an eligible upstate New York region in exchange for a shot at non-dilutive prize funding. Best for teams that can pitch a scalable ag or food innovation and are open to an upstate New York base.
Grow-NY application deadlines
Next round (annual competition, applications typically open in early spring): Timing expected, exact dates not yet confirmed.
Verified Aug 26, 2026Source
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next Grow-NY application deadline?
- A specific application window for Grow-NY is not yet published. Timing is expected but not confirmed.
- How much does Grow-NY invest?
- Grow-NY lists an investment of $3,000,000 in prizes per round, including a $1,000,000 top prize.
- How much equity does Grow-NY take?
- Grow-NY does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
- Where is Grow-NY located and is it in person?
- Grow-NY is based in NY and runs an in person program.
- Is Grow-NY still active?
- As of our last check on Aug 26, 2026, Grow-NY is active.
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Aug 26, 2026.