What To Expect at This Year's GENIUS NY Finals Night

GENIUS NY Finals Night takes place this Tuesday, April 9 from 5 to 8PM in the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Downtown Syracuse. It will be an exciting night as five finalists step on stage for the first time to pitch their drone startups. In the end, each team will be awarded a large cash prize totaling $3 million, but only one will be awarded the grand prize of $1 million dollars! ​

Top Drone Startups From Around The World Will Pitch
GENIUS NY is bringing the latest drone technology from around the world to the stage! We hand selected these startups from Italy, Israel and New York State to join our community and grow their companies in Central New York. 

​$3 Million Will Be Awarded 
This wouldn’t be the world’s largest drone pitch competition without awarding millions of dollars! The winner of Finals Night will receive a $1 million award, while the four remaining teams each receive $500,000. The best part? All five teams are awarded funding. GENIUS NY is funded by Empire State Development with a mission to grow the rising UAS ecosystem in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley.

Meet Companies in the UAS Central Alley 
New this year we have a section for local UAS companies and the past GENIUS NY teams. See what they are up to in the community and test our their technology!
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Network with Drone Professionals, Local Startups, Investors, Community Business Leaders and More
Last year more than 250 people attended Finals Night and this year its expected to double as GENIUS NY has grown its network, partners and brand throughout the industry. Meet folks from around the area who are in the UAS industry, or have a startup of their own. The past GENIUS NY teams will also be in attendance. 

Live Fan Favorite Voting
We’re giving the audience a chance to pick their favorite GENIUS NY finalist. At the end of the five pitches you’ll be able to choose your favorite team and watch in real time on screen as the votes are tallied. The Fan Favorite prize is sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and consists of a full-year AUVSI membership as well as upgraded conference passes for AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL Conference in Chicago this May.

Food, Beverages and Free Giveaways 
We realize you’re probably missing dinner for the event…but fear not, there will be plenty of food and drink options for everyone to enjoy during Finals Night. There will also be chances throughout the night to receive free GENIUS NY swag.

An Opportunity to See One of the Oldest Ballrooms in Syracuse
Finals Night is taking place at the iconic Marriott Downtown Syracuse which was recently restored to its original 1924 glory. The inspiring space and architecture was a model for the first Waldorf Astoria and has been visited by fashion icons and influencers such as John Lennon and President Kennedy.

A Chance to Hold the $1 Million Check 
There’s just something amazing about holding a giant check…let alone one for $1 million dollars. You’ll get a chance to take a picture with the giant check to share with your friends.

Follow GENIUS NY on Social Media
Follow us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for live updates throughout the night. We’ll also be sharing a sneak peek behind the scenes look leading up to the event. Use the hashtags #GENIUSNY to be a part of the conversation.

Unable To Attend...
Don't worry, we have you covered. If you can’t be there in person, you can watch a live-stream of the awards portion of the event to see who gets the $1 million! Just look for it on our Facebook page. 

Registration is required at Finals Night on Tuesday, April 9. Register Here.