This week was an exciting one for GENIUS NY as a new cohort of five startups joined the accelerator program. The program is a year-long in-residence accelerator focused on startups in unmanned systems, IoT and big data. GENIUS NY has invested $9 million dollars in 17 companies since its start in 2017. ​

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation Company (NYSE:OSK) and Fotokite (GENIUS NY '18) announced today an exclusive partnership to provide vehicle-integrated aerial situational awareness products to firefighting and public safety teams. The exclusive partnership follows a joint product launch of the Pierce Situational Awareness System by Fotokite at the Fire Department Instructors Conference this year and builds on the strong firefighting market momentum built since first deliveries started early this year. ​

Five Teams from Around the World to Receive a Total of $3 Million in Investments and Participate in Year-Long Accelerator in CNY

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the five finalists selected to take part in the fourth round of GENIUS NY, a business accelerator program administered at CenterState CEO’s Tech Garden. These startup drone and Internet of Things (IoT) companies will participate in the year-long program as they compete for a total of $3 million in direct investment, including a grand prize of $1 million and four $500,000 awards. Throughout the program, teams will engage with community leaders, mentors, and advisors from leading companies in Central New York, while also participating in tourism activities. The goal is to encourage all participants to put down roots and stay in the region following the conclusion of the program.

SkyOp LLC, developer of industry-leading drone training courseware, announced that it has been awarded a cooperative purchasing contract to make its customizable SkyOp Drone Training Curriculum available to local school districts through the New York Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). ​

Investments Validate the Program and Support the Region’s Growing Ecosystem

Five startups in the GENIUS NY accelerator, AutoModality, Civdrone, Fotokite, OmniMesh and TruWeather Solutions, have raised over $10 million in additional private investment. This follow-on-funding validates the investments the GENIUS NY program has made in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technologies and startups over the last three years, and proves the program’s ongoing impact in Central New York. GENIUS NY is supported by Central New York Rising which advances the regions’ collective strategy to create ecosystem of resources for companies in the UAS industry.