GENIUS NY
AcceleratorSyracuse · Pre-Seed–Seed · 14 people tracked
Investment thesis
GENIUS NY supports early-stage ventures developing uncrewed aerial systems, automation, and advanced air mobility technologies. The program selects five finalists annually and provides between $500,000 and $1 million in equity funding per company, along with mentorship from industry experts, workshops on product-market fit and fundraising, access to a UAS ecosystem, free office space in Syracuse, and support for hiring and scaling. The accelerator prioritizes founders with domain expertise, evidence of traction or revenue, and commitment to relocating to Central New York.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 25, 2026.
Team · 14 people
from the firm's websiteCo-founder and CTO of ResilienX, focused on system-wide safety assurance for complex systems, with extensive background integrating drones into US airspace and leading unmanned traffic management programs since 2007.
President and CEO of NUAIR with nearly two decades of experience in defense and aerospace, including prior roles as director of strategy at Saab and senior VP of business development at Fotokite.
Founder and CEO of Strategic Advisory Associates consulting firm specializing in technology business development and restructuring, with expertise in telecommunications, data networking, and cloud computing solutions.
Surge entrepreneurship manager at INSPYRE Innovation Hub supporting Black, Indigenous, and persons of color entrepreneurs launching tech startups, with experience as entrepreneur-in-residence and co-founder of Inclusive 360 LLC.
Aerospace and defense professional with over 40 years of experience in ground-based and airborne sensor systems, having led business units at Lockheed Martin, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Saab, and Sensis.
Former president and CEO of NUAIR and former GE executive who led unmanned traffic management innovation and served as managing director at GE Ventures overseeing new business creation.
Retired aerospace and defense executive with over 30 years at General Electric and Lockheed Martin, specializing in radar program management, manufacturing optimization, and global supply chain operations.
CEO and founder of Niteopark with over 35 years of experience designing and developing advanced sensor and communication systems for ground, air, and space-based applications, holding multiple patents in radar, air traffic control, medical instrumentation, and transportation systems.
Managing partner of Armory Square Ventures and former venture partner at Tribeca Venture Partners with over two decades of experience investing in early-stage startups across New York and emerging venture regions.
What they invest in
from 8 of 41 portfolio companiesRobotics ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Hardware ×3Cleantech ×2Defense Tech ×2Logistics & Supply Chain ×2Advanced Manufacturing ×1AgTech ×1
HQs:United States×4Ecuador×1
Investments · 41 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAerialoop develops drone technology for urban logistics, surveillance, and delivery operations across multiple countries using a Hardware-as-a-Service business model. The company builds autonomous drones with satellite connectivity for last-mile delivery, infrastructure monitoring, and public services in urban and remote areas.
HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationRoboticsQuito, EC
Pedro Meneses(Co-Founder & CEO)Andreas Antener(Co-Founder & CTO)Santiago Barrera(Co-Founder & COO)
Blueflite develops electric drones for logistics and package delivery, with vertical take-off and landing capabilities designed for last-mile deliveries, emergency medical transport, and industrial supply missions. The platform integrates hardware and cloud-based software for mission planning, control, and customer order management.
HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsAustin, US
Civ Robotics manufactures autonomous marking robots (CivDot+/CivDot) that use laser precision to stake construction points on job sites. The company serves engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms working on solar farms and renewable energy projects.
CleantechConstruction TechRobotics
Geopipe uses AI and machine learning to process sensor data such as photos and laser scans to create digital twins of cities at multiple levels of detail. The company reconstructs 3D models of real-world environments that customers can download for use in various applications.
AI & Machine LearningDeep Tech
Mast combines forest restoration with biomass burial to remove carbon and restore wildfire-affected landscapes. The company operates as an end-to-end reforestation provider, managing seed selection, seedling cultivation, and carbon sequestration across its owned nurseries and project sites.
AgTechCircular EconomyCleantechClimate TechFintechImpact & Social GoodSeattle, US
Advanced ManufacturingUtica, US
Justin Call(Executive Officer, Director)Arion Mangio(Executive Officer, Director)
SkyfireAI develops autonomous drone systems with AI-powered threat detection for first responders and security applications, reducing response times and false alarms in emergency situations.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechRobotics
Vermeer develops vision-based positioning technology for aerial platforms and drones that operates without GPS in contested, spoofed, or GPS-denied environments. The solution serves military and industrial customers requiring autonomous navigation in areas where traditional GPS is unavailable or unreliable.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechHardwareQueens, US
Brian Streem(CEO)Suresh Kumar(CTO)
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does GENIUS NY invest at?
- GENIUS NY invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is GENIUS NY's typical check size?
- GENIUS NY typically writes checks of $500K – $1M.
- What sectors does GENIUS NY focus on?
- GENIUS NY focuses on Hardware, IoT, Robotics.
- Where is GENIUS NY located?
- GENIUS NY is headquartered in Syracuse, US.
- Does GENIUS NY lead rounds?
- GENIUS NY typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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