Involi and Aviant win 2024 GENIUS NY UAS accelerator

Empire State Development (ESD) today (October 29) announced Norwegian last-mile drone company Aviant as the USD1 million grand prize winner of round eight of the GENIUS NY uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) accelerator, following a pitch competition at the annual Innovation Night event in Syracuse, New York. 

INVOLI took home the USD500,000 prize at the GENIUS NY finals.

The year-long programme, operated by CenterState CEO, has received USD24 million of New York State funding over eight rounds. Since 2017, GENIUS NY companies have also raised more than USD350 million in follow-on funding. Participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year. Aviant CEO Lars Erik Fagernaes said the company intends to launch a last-mile logistics service in Syracuse in 2025.

Following a seed round in September 2022 which raised EUR2.3 million, Aviant landed an additional EUR1 million of public funding from Innovation Norway in 2023 to autonomously deliver vital prescription medicines directly from pharmacies to people in remote and suburban areas. The company has been granted permission by the Norwegian CAA to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) home deliveries.

Involi was awarded a grant to support its work in advancing low-altitude airspace safety and operational efficiency through innovative surveillance solutions.

Four teams also received a prize of USD500,000 in the GENIUS NY programme: Aerialoop, Crover, Flyhound, and INVOLI.

The five finalist teams made their pitch for the USD1 million grand prize to a panel of judges and audience during the Pitch Finals. The event’s judges included experts from across the startup and UAS sector. In addition to the grand prize investments, the programme offers resources, programming, and connections.