GENIUS NY, the world’s largest accelerator for uncrewed systems startups, is thrilled to announce that applications for its 9th cohort will open on January 9, 2025. This prestigious program provides one grand prize winner with a $1 million investment and awards $500,000 investments to four additional finalists, along with a suite of resources designed to accelerate startup growth. The accelerator is funded by Empire State Development and managed by CenterState CEO.

The program is currently supporting its 8th cohort, featuring winners Aviant, INVOLI, Crover, Flyhound, and Aerialoop. These teams recently received funding and are actively engaged in the accelerator program at The Tech Garden in Syracuse, New York, where they are leveraging mentorship, workshops, and access to the region’s robust UAS ecosystem, including partners like NUAIR and Think Variant.

GENIUS NY is more than an investment—it’s an opportunity to join a vibrant innovation hub. Participants gain access to free office space, events and workspace, tailored business programming, expert advisors, and connections to customers, corporate partners, VCs and service providers. Central New York offers GENIUS NY teams a unique environment to thrive, with access to top-tier talent from regional universities, the nation’s first 240-mile BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) corridor, a vibrant manufacturing community, and a low cost of living that supports business growth. This region has become a hub for innovation, combining world-class infrastructure with unparalleled support for startups in uncrewed systems and advanced technologies.

Applications for the 9th cohort will be open through April 30, 2025, and startups from across the globe are encouraged to apply.

For more details and to apply, visit geniusny.com.