Q&A with Grow-NY Mentor Aileen Randolph

The Grow-NY Food & Ag Summit is fast approaching, and the 2026 finalists are hard at work strengthening their business plans with guidance from an accomplished network of mentors. Throughout the fall, teams have been exploring opportunities, building connections, and gaining insights from leaders across upstate New York’s food and agriculture ecosystem. Mentors provide valuable perspective during this process, helping founders navigate challenges, identify growth opportunities, and prepare for success beyond the competition. 

New mentor Aileen Randolph brings a unique combination of agricultural expertise, strategic communications experience, and a passion for innovation to the Grow-NY program. An analytical thinker with a deep understanding of New York’s farm and food system, Aileen spent more than a decade at a nonprofit grantmaking organization dedicated to strengthening the economics of New York agriculture, where she played a key role in advancing industry-wide initiatives and supporting agricultural businesses. 

Throughout her career, Aileen has championed new ideas and technologies, believing strongly in their ability to drive progress across the food and agriculture sector. Before transitioning into agriculture, she led communications teams at global organizations, including Ogilvy Public Affairs, Pfizer, and SABMiller, helping stakeholders navigate change and embrace new perspectives. 

Today, Aileen works as a consultant in the agriculture and food industry, drawing on her diverse experience to help organizations and entrepreneurs identify opportunities, overcome challenges, and drive meaningful growth. Her blend of industry knowledge, strategic thinking, and communications expertise makes her a valuable resource for founders building the future of food and agriculture. 

Read our Q&A with Aileen below to learn how her experience advancing agricultural innovation and guiding organizational change shapes her approach to mentoring entrepreneurs. 

Question: What is your experience in food and ag innovation? 

For over a decade, I worked for a nonprofit grantmaking organization that funded agricultural research and education projects. In that time, I read more than 500 proposals that sought to build agricultural knowledge to improve the economics of farming. The best part about the grant selection process was listening to the farmers as they discussed the proposals for funding. It built my understanding of what farmers need in order adopt a new practice or technology. More recently, I ran a grant program for farmers that allowed them to purchase equipment and infrastructure, so I’ve also read more than 500 of those applications that have contributed to my understanding of how this market approaches infrastructure decisions. Additionally, I’ve managed a farmer’s market, and my husband and I have a bison farm. Prior to all this, I had leadership roles in corporate communications and issues management at Fortune 500 companies, including a global brewery. 

Question: What makes the Grow-NY region the ideal place for startups to put down roots? 

The Grow-NY region offers businesses a wide range of critical business resources and expertise, access to agricultural communities, and the unmatched consumer demand of NYC. Importantly, the State is also adopting policies and using its purchasing power to create markets for NY products. And, even more importantly, this region is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. 

Question: What should food and ag startups keep in mind as they grow? 

Focus is critical to success. If you’re building technology to support the food system, then you need to make sure you have a strong understanding of the problem the tool will solve. If you’re growing or processing a product, then you need to make sure you know who your customer is and how your product will become the one at the top of their list. And no matter what business you’re building, you need to make the math work for your business and your customer. 

Question: What excites you about mentoring a Grow-NY finalist? 

I have a strong understanding of the NY ag ecosystem, expertise with grant programs, an analytical mindset and a highly competitive nature. I’m excited to learn more about the innovative ideas that are coming to market and mentor a company that wants to go all-in to win! 

Registration is now open for the 2026 Grow-NY Summit! The two-day event will take place November 12-13 in Rochester, NY and virtually. Register here.