About

Get to know the partners and programs fueling the competition

The Grow-NY competition is being cultivated by partners dedicated to leading the way for growth and innovation—and everything good that comes from them—in our region.

Empire State Development

Empire State Development is providing funding for Grow-NY through the Upstate Revitalization Initiatives connected with the three regions—Finger Lakes Forward, CNY Rising and Southern Tier Soaring.

Cornell University

While there are other universities with top 10 agriculture programs and other schools with top 10 computer and information science programs, only Cornell University can offer both. Because of that, New York state chose Cornell to administer the competition and accelerate the formation and growth of new, innovative startups. Cornell will leverage its experience managing the state’s 76West Clean Energy Competition, its resources as a top-ten institution for entrepreneurship and a top-three agriculture school, its partnerships through AgriTech and extension programs, and its long history as New York’s land grant research university. The competition will be administered by Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement.

NYS Center of Excellence for Food & Agriculture

The New York state Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech pulls together multiple partners to catalyze business development in the agriculture and food industries. The Center for Excellence serves as a hub connecting New York state businesses and entrepreneurs with the services they need to grow including:

Access to world class Cornell researchers and cutting-edge research and development
Connections to distributors and marketers, potential partners, co-packing, and manufacturing facilities
Business services, workshops, and mentorship needed for development and expansion
Physical office, lab and kitchen space, and specialized equipment

Connect with the COE

Program Director

Jenn Smith

Grow-NY Program Director

Jenn Smith directs Cornell University’s Grow-NY program, which includes an annual $3M food and ag startup competition, an ag tech hardware accelerator, and activities supporting the cultivation of Upstate New York’s regional agrifood ecosystem. The role draws on her background in craft beverage market development, most recently as the Executive Director of the New York Cider Association and the New York State Distillers Guild. In addition to working with NYCA and NYSDG, Jenn helped other food and farming entrepreneurs to launch value-added products and hospitality ventures as an NYC-based consultant.