Q&A with Grow-NY Judge Damian Murray

At the Grow-NY Summit this November, a panel of seven expert judges will evaluate our 20 finalists’ pitches and determine which startups will take home a $1 million grand prize, two $500,000 awards, and four $250,000 awards. One of those judges will be Damian Murray, an Investment Analyst at Level Up Ventures who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in venture capital to his new role. 

As an investor, Damian backs pre-seed and seed founders who have faced barriers to capital. He is a generalist interested in a wide swath of industries, including transportation and mobility, supply chain and logistics, sports, healthcare, fintech, pet health, and sustainability. 

Previously, Damian worked at Volvo Cars Sweden across the venture fund, pension fund, and strategic projects; plus, he brings community investing experience through HBCUvc and the Black Venture Capital Consortium. He is passionate about practical innovation, storytelling, and long-term partnerships that compound for founders and communities. 

Question: What makes the Grow-NY region an excellent place for food and ag startups to land? 

The region blends world-class research from Cornell, deep grower and processor networks, affordable lab and pilot space, and a culture that rallies around founders. 

Question: What advice do you have for food and agriculture innovators launching new businesses? 

Start with the farmer/customer and validate early. Build a ruthless path to unit economics and surround yourself with operators who know the supply chain. 

Question: What made you want to become a Grow-NY judge? 

I invest at Level Up Ventures and care about backing diverse founders who are typically underrepresented in these technology categories. It is also a chance to help high-potential teams sharpen their story and unlock meaningful capital. 

Question: As an investor, what are the most exciting opportunities you see in food and agriculture today? 

I’m excited by precision agriculture using AI, high-res imagery, and on-farm sensors to target inputs and cut runoff. AI automation and robotics have the potential to boost efficiency, ease labor gaps, and lower costs, from autonomous harvesters to AI-guided platforms. 

The 2025 Grow-NY Summit will be held November 12-13 at the Hotel Canandaigua in Canandaigua, NY and virtually. Register today at cvent.me/E10znv.