$1M Breakthrough: Grow-NY 2025 Crowns New Ag-Tech Winners Driving Upstate’s Innovation Economy

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — The 2025 Grow-NY Business Competition awarded $3 million to seven emerging food and agriculture companies this week, naming Brooklyn-based Brekland the $1 million grand-prize winner. The awards were announced November 13 at the Grow-NY Summit, held this year on November 13th at the Lake House on Canandaigua, marking one of the region’s most anticipated showcases of agricultural innovation.

The competition, now in its seventh year, is funded by Empire State Development and delivered by Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement. Each year, it attracts hundreds of early-stage companies seeking to scale in Upstate New York. Finalists are required to establish or expand their presence in the 22-county Grow-NY region, aligning startup growth with regional economic development.

This year’s applicant pool was one of the most international in the program’s history, with more than 270 submissions from over 40 countries. Twenty finalists advanced to the summit for two days of business development programming, investor meetings and live pitches before a panel of judges.

The 2025 Winners

$1 Million Grand Prize: Brekland (Brooklyn, NY)

Brekland captured the competition’s top award for its biodegradable foam coating designed to improve the performance and precision of crop-protection products. The material helps farmers better withstand climate-driven pressures such as frost events and volatile temperatures. Judges cited the company’s commercial readiness and clear path to regional job creation as key factors in the decision.

$500,000 Awardees

Mothership Materials (New York, NY) Mothership Materials converts agricultural byproducts into carbon-negative feedstocks, producing low-cost glucose and cellulose that can be used in alternative proteins, sustainable textiles, and bio-based fuels. The company’s technology supports decarbonization across multiple industries.

Seen Nutrition (Ithaca, NY) Seen Nutrition develops science-backed functional food

products tailored to women’s health, including a flagship menopause-focused calcium chew made with organic, whole-food ingredients. The startup plans to expand production partnerships in the Finger Lakes region following its win.

$250,000 Awardees

Living Ink Technologies (Berthoud, CO) Living Ink transforms algae and other renewable biomass into sustainable pigments and printing inks. Its bio-based alternative to carbon-black ink offers major environmental benefits for packaging, fashion, and consumer-goods manufacturers.

Trebe Biotech (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Trebe Biotech uses insect larvae as mini-bioreactors to produce proteins, enzymes, and veterinary biologics at a fraction of traditional manufacturing costs. The company is exploring U.S. partnerships for animal-health applications.

Whipnotic (New York, NY) Whipnotic’s patented dual-nozzle canister produces swirls of whipped cream infused with natural fruit essences. The founders have positioned the brand at the intersection of food science and consumer packaged goods, with plans to tap regional dairy partners.

ZILA BioWorks (Renton, WA) ZILA BioWorks develops recyclable, plant-based epoxy resins designed for industrial applications including coatings, composites, and adhesives. Its innovations reduce reliance on petrochemical-based materials and expand opportunities for bio-manufacturing.

Audience Choice Award: Finger Foods Farm (Bloomfield, NY)

Finger Foods Farm received the $10,000 Wegmans Audience Choice Award following public voting during the summit. The farm produces frozen vegetable-based mixes and soups sourced from organic crops grown in the Finger Lakes.

Why the 2025 Competition Matters

Beyond prize money, Grow-NY has become one of the nation’s leading ag-innovation accelerators. Past winners have raised significant follow-on capital, launched manufacturing in Upstate New York, and formed partnerships with regional farms, food producers, and research institutions.

This year’s winners reflect broader trends shaping the food and agriculture sectors: climate-resilient crop inputs, carbon-negative materials, women’s health nutrition, sustainable biomanufacturing, and consumer-driven food innovation. The diversity of business models and global representation underscores the region’s growing role as a hub for next-generation ag-tech.

As the Finger Lakes and its surrounding regions work to strengthen food systems, boost entrepreneurship, and attract new investment, the 2025 Grow-NY cohort is expected to contribute meaningful economic impact in the year ahead.

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