Food & Agriculture Startup Competition

Q: How much funding can be received?

Food & Agriculture Startup Competition Funds up to 1000000% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Food & Agriculture Startup Competition is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition?

Food & Agriculture Startup Competition is funded by Grow-NY

Q: Who is eligible for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program?

To be eligible for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program, you must: • High-growth food and agtech startups • Startups from any global location

Q: 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.

Q: Where is the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition available?

The Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program is available across Canada.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program.

Last Update: July 30, 2025

Global competition supporting innovative food and agriculture startups

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $1,000,000

Timeline

Open Date : March 1, 2025
Closing date : May 15, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Startup Competition awards up to $1 million to high-growth food and agtech startups proposing innovative business ideas. The program aims to foster job creation and economic development in the Grow-NY region by supporting startups engaged in food and agriculture innovation.

Financing terms and conditions

A total of $3 million is awarded annually to seven selected startups in the food and agtech sector.
The top prize for a single startup is $1 million.

Activities funded

Launching and growing innovative food and agriculture technology startups.
Executing business plans that create jobs and economic growth in the Upstate New York region.
Collaborating with local industry partners to enhance the food and agtech ecosystem.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 800,000

Scaling sustainable mycelium-based packaging solutions for food

$ 595,000

Commercializing vertical hydroponic towers for urban food security

$ 895,000

Developing a blockchain platform to ensure dairy supply chain traceability

$ 745,000

Developing automated food waste valorization for breweries and bakeries

$ 645,000

Piloting AI-powered crop disease detection for mid-sized farms

$ 965,000

Launching a smart greenhouse for optimized year-round strawberry production

Eligibility

The applicant must be a food or agtech startup.
The company must demonstrate high growth potential.
Startups from any country are eligible to apply.
The business idea must be innovative and focused on food or agricultural technology.

Who is eligible?

High-growth food startups
High-growth agricultural technology (agtech) startups

Eligible geographic areas

No specific geographical restrictions mentioned; startups from across the globe are encouraged to participate. However, the competition is focused on growth within the Grow-NY region in Upstate New York.

How to apply

Review eligibility and prepare documents

Review eligibility criteria for food and agtech startups
Prepare your business idea and supporting documents
Check that your company aligns with the competition’s requirements

Submit application online

Access the Grow-NY application portal once applications open
Fill out the application form by providing required information
Submit all required documents electronically

Wait for finalist selection

Wait for the selection committee to review all applications
Receive notification if your startup is among the finalists

Participate in mentoring and trips

If selected, participate in mentoring and business development trips
Collaborate with assigned mentors to develop your business plan

Present at the pitch competition

Prepare and deliver your pitch at the Grow-NY Summit
Present your business to judges and stakeholders
Answer questions about your proposal

Await final decision and notification

Wait for the judges to select winners at the summit
Receive official notification of competition results

Accept the award and proceed

If your startup is selected, accept the award
Participate in post-competition activities to implement your growth plan

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

grow-ny@cornell.edu

Apply to this program

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.