Local Podcasts
Talk CNY – Accelerating Innovation in CNY
by
March 12, 2025
Each year, uncrewed systems startups from across the globe apply to be a part of an accelerator program in Central New York. The five selected startups move to Central New York to take part in the world’s largest uncrewed aerial systems accelerator, GENIUS NY.
The GENIUS NY program, operated by CenterState CEO, awards $3 million in funding across the five selected teams and provides a suite of business services over the course of the program. It’s a program that produces results.
Since the program’s start in 2017, Empire State Development has invested $24 million in these uncrewed systems startups. GENIUS NY teams have since gone on to raise more than $350 million in follow-on funding.
GENIUS NY cohort 8 is currently underway. So what are these teams up to now?
GENIUS NY program director Kara Jones and Flyhound co-founder Manny Cerniglia join this episode of Talk CNY, presented by NBT Bank, to talk about the GENIUS NY experience.
