Empire State Development (ESD) and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) announced the 20 finalist startups selected to compete in the eighth round of Grow-NY, the New York State supported international food, beverage and agriculture business competition.

Up to 20 high-growth potential food and agriculture startups from around the world will be selected as finalists to compete for $3 million in total prize money. Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2026.

Brekland, a Brooklyn-based startup building a biodegradable foam coating for crop protection, was awarded the $1 million grand prize in the 2025 Grow-NY Food and Agriculture business competition. The company is among seven winners splitting a total of $3 million in prize money.

Grow-NY, the largest global food and agriculture business competition, will host its annual Food & Ag Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and Thursday, Nov. 13 in Canandaigua, New York.

2024 Grow-NY winner ClearLeaf recently closed a $3.5 million seed financing round, taking the next step in formulating non-toxic agricultural products to protect crops.

Applications for the annual Grow-NY food and agriculture business competition are open to high-growth agrifood startups through May 15.

Inventing a new product that you can hold in your hands and bring successfully to an eagerly awaiting market is sometimes likened to childbirth: If we knew from the outset how hard it was going to be, fewer of us would do it.

Hypercell Technologies of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was named the $1 million grand prize winner of the fifth annual Grow-NY Food and Agriculture business competition. Six other winners split a combined $3 million in awards.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Hypercell Technologies, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia as the grand-prize winner of this year’s Grow-NY business competition.

The startups battling for $3 million in prize money in the fifth annual Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition aren’t just bringing revolutionary innovations to market that could change the way we feed our planet – they are enriching the region’s robust agri-food system, too.