Top 5 Reasons to Apply to GENIUS NY

GENIUS NY is the world's leading drone and robotics accelerator. Since 2017, the program has invested nearly $27 million in more than 45 seed-stage startups, and those companies have raised more than $350 million in follow-on funding.

We asked founders and program leaders why the program is worth the commitment. Here are the five reasons they keep coming back to.

1. A Reputation That Precedes You

GENIUS NY selects five companies per cohort from a competitive applicant pool. Over the past nine years, the program's alumni have raised more than $350 million in follow-on funding. Many have gone on to scale nationally, expand globally, and be acquired.

For founders in the program, that track record becomes part of their own story.

"When you tell anyone that more than 500 companies applied and you are one of the five selected, it really stands out immediately," said Edwin Sanchez, CEO of Votix and a GENIUS NY, Cohort 7 team.

1. Exclusive Focus on Drones, Robotics,and Autonomous Systems

Every company in every GENIUS NY cohort operates in the drones, robotics, or autonomous systems space. So does every mentor, every advisor, and every alumni connection.

That focus compounds over time. Nine cohorts of founders working through the same industry-specific challenges build institutional expertise, which they share with their peers and mentees, deepening connections and accelerating advancement.

"At GENIUS NY, you're not just learning from history. You're also learning from cohort members facing the same issues," said Dr. Tarek Rakha, co-founder and CEO of Lamarr.AI, and a GENIUS NY Cohort 9 team.

1. Support That Lasts Beyond the Program

The 12-month accelerator residence includes mentorship from advisors with direct experience building and scaling companies, a peer cohort of founders working through the same stage of growth, and hands-on support across go-to-market strategy, hiring, and fundraising.

That infrastructure stays with founders long after the program ends. Alumni remain connected to the GENIUS NY network and continue to draw on it for years.

"The most valuable parts of the program are getting perspective from people who have walked this path before," said Todd Adelman, vice president of the Northeast Region at SkyfireAI and a GENIUS NY Cohort 9 team.

1. Central New York Is Where the Industry Lives

Central New York is home to infrastructure built for drone, robotics, and autonomous systems development, including NUAIR and the NY UAS Test Site. The region has a growing talent pipeline, and founders in the program have found success both hiring locally and attracting talent from outside the area.

"The Syracuse area has a lot to offer - people who have scaled startups before, where this is not their first rodeo,." said Sara Nozkova, CEO of Flox Intelligence, and the GENIUS NY Cohort 9 grand prize winner.

1. The Largest Investment in the Industry

Four $500,000 prizes. One $1 million grand prize. With $3 million in total funding per cohort, GENIUS NY offers the largest prize in the industry. For startups, that kind of support can make all the difference - and it's not available anywhere else.

"GENIUS NY launched the company, got us off the ground, gave us the funding to get started, and then gave us the mentorship and connections to keep it going," said Andrew Carter, co-founder and CEO of Resilienx, and a GENIUS NY Cohort 3 team.

If your startup is ready to scale, now is the time to apply. Join a global network of innovators, gain the funding and support needed to thrive, and take your company to the next level.

Applications for Cohort 10 close Sunday, May 31, 2026.

Apply Now!