Closed
Last Update: April 10, 2026
Funding available
$ 1,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : March 1, 2026
- Closing date : May 15, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Startup Competition awards up to $1 million to high-growth food and agtech startups. The program supports innovative food and agriculture businesses through mentoring, business development support, and prize money.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : March 1, 2026
- Closing date : May 15, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Food and agriculture startup competition.
- Pitching innovative business ideas.
- Mentoring and business development for finalists.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- High-growth food startups
- High-growth agtech startups
- Startups from any country
Who is not eligible
- Sole proprietorships.
- Non-profit organizations.
- Retail businesses.
- Gaming and gambling businesses.
- Residential real estate businesses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Any state or country.
- Grow-NY Region in New York State.
- Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier regions.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed and up to 20 finalists are selected.
- Finalists pitch to a judging panel in the region.
- Winners are selected and announced after the pitch competition.
- A prize agreement is required before award payment.
- Payments are made in stages based on milestone completion.
Additional information
- Up to 20 finalists are paired with experienced mentors as part of the competition process.
- Finalists receive customized business development trips to the Grow-NY region.
- A total of $3 million in awards is distributed annually among seven startups, with the top prize being $1 million.
- The Grow-NY Pitch Competition & Summit takes place in Canandaigua, NY on November 12-13, 2025.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition?
The Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Startup Competition awards up to $1 million to high-growth food and agtech startups. The program supports innovative food and agriculture businesses through mentoring, business development support, and prize money.
How much funding can be received?
Food & Agriculture Startup Competition Funds up to $1,000,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was May 15, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program?
To be eligible for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program, you must:
Registered formative-stage business.
Early-stage, scalable startup.
Food and agriculture focus.
What expenses are eligible under Food & Agriculture Startup Competition?
Food and agriculture startup competition.
Pitching innovative business ideas.
Mentoring and business development for finalists.
Who can I contact for more information about the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition?
You can contact Grow-NY by email at grow-ny@cornell.edu.
Where is the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition available?
The Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program is available across Canada.