Food & Agriculture Startup Competition
Last Update: July 30, 2025
Global competition supporting innovative food and agriculture startups
Food & Agriculture Startup Competition 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
Grant Providers
- Grow-NY
Program status
Closed
Overview of the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program
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.
Eligible projects & activities
- 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 criteria of the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program
- 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 to the Food & Agriculture Startup Competition program
1
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
2
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
3
Wait for finalist selection
- Wait for the selection committee to review all applications
- Receive notification if your startup is among the finalists
4
Participate in mentoring and trips
- If selected, participate in mentoring and business development trips
- Collaborate with assigned mentors to develop your business plan
5
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
6
Await final decision and notification
- Wait for the judges to select winners at the summit
- Receive official notification of competition results
7
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.
Contact Grow-NY
grow-ny@cornell.edu
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