Aviant Wins $1 Million Investment From GENIUS NY, World’s Largest UAS Accelerator

Four Other Finalists Receive $500,000 Investments as Part of $3 Million Awarded to Innovative Companies Operating in Syracuse 

Aviant is the $1 million grand prize winner of round eight of the GENIUS NY accelerator following a pitch competition at the annual Innovation Night event in Syracuse. The Norway-based company leverages advanced drone technology to provide autonomous last-mile delivery solutions, enhancing efficiency and reliability in logistics. The year-long GENIUS NY program, funded by Empire State Development and operated by CenterState CEO, attracts the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs in the uncrewed systems field to Central New York. To date, New York State has directly invested $24 million in 42 GENIUS NY teams over the program’s eight rounds. Participants are required to operate their business in Central New York for at least one year.   

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Congratulations to all of the forward-thinking innovators who have brought their exceptional entrepreneurial ideas to the region and are ready to take advantage of New York State's unmatched UAS assets and infrastructure. The GENIUS NY program is taking the uncrewed aerial systems industry to untold heights, fueling its incredible growth and creating sky-high opportunities throughout Central New York and across the state.” 

Aviant CEO Lars Erik Fagernaes said, "Winning the GENIUS NY competition marks an exciting chapter for Aviant. This funding accelerates our innovation in drone logistics and strengthens our presence in Syracuse as we aim to launch a last-mile logistics service in 2025." 

Four teams also received a prize of $500,000: 

Aerialoop – Miami, FL, USA 

Aerialoop's drones streamline deliveries by creating efficient middle-mile networks between warehouses and stores, enabling faster and more affordable shipping. 

Crover – Edinburgh, Scotland, UK  

Crover develops uncrewed vehicles/systems that can "swim" through grains and powders to monitor and manage grain storage more accurately, helping operators reduce losses, improve quality and ensure better safety.  

Flyhound – New York, NY, USA  

Flyhound helps public safety agencies save lives by locating and identifying people fast in emergencies using their existing drone. 

INVOLI – Lausanne, Switzerland 

INVOLI provides innovative, cost-effective surveillance solutions for low-altitude airspace, enhancing safety and operational efficiency for drone operators, small airports and infrastructure managers. 

“Over the past eight years, the state has made significant investments in this program and in prioritizing the growth of a robust uncrewed systems industry here in Central New York. As a result, GENIUS NY companies are vital drivers of success in the region’s innovation ecosystem - creating jobs and spurring economic development. This year's GENIUS NY finalists are further advancing that impact,” CenterState CEO President Rob Simpson said. “We've built a worldwide reputation as a place that has some of the most robust assets, resources and technical capabilities in the drone industry, and the GENIUS NY program is a key part of that success. I am incredibly proud of the progress we are making and look forward to leveling up our efforts in 2025 when we open CenterState CEO’s new expanded incubator and innovation hub in downtown Syracuse.”  

Since 2017, GENIUS NY companies have raised more than $350 million in follow-on funding and have created top-quality new jobs in New York state.

“Congratulations to all five GENIUS NY Cohort 8 finalists! Their presence makes Central New York’s uncrewed systems industry even richer, adding more assets to the thriving ecosystem. I look forward to supporting this cohort’s future growth in this region as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with their technologies,” CenterState CEO’s Director of GENIUS NY Kara Jones said.  

The five finalist teams made their pitch for the $1 million grand prize to a panel of judges and in front of an audience of more than 450 during the Pitch Finals portion of Innovation Night. The event’s judges included experts from across the startup and UAS sector, including Mariah Murray, VP of Operations at AVSS; Kevin May, VP of Engineering at Hidden Level; Jennifer Tegan, Managing Director at New York Ventures; Pete Mathias, Principle at Alumni Ventures; Chuck Green, President of AIS; and Somak Chattopadhyay, Managing Partner at Armory Square Ventures.  

Following the pitches, event attendees participated in a live poll to vote for their favorite team. Flyhound received the Fan Favorite award, sponsored by TCGplayer. 

The GENIUS NY Pitch Finals took place as a part of Innovation Night, a celebration of the entire Central New York innovation economy. The event highlights dynamic entrepreneurs and thought leadership within the region’s innovation ecosystem–from world-class UAS technology to pioneering, homegrown startups–showing that there is space for everyone in Central New York’s innovative future.  

Innovation Night also celebrated the success of other growth programs and entrepreneurs, and featured remarks from Yami Payano, co-founder of Sign-Speak, and Peter Fuchs, CEO of Ascent AeroSystems. Payano is one of five entrepreneurs that participated in CenterState CEO’s Syracuse Surge Accelerator, a program that provides direct resources and support to Black-Indigenous-Persons of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneur founders of tech-related and tech-adjacent startups. Fuchs is a GENIUS NY program alumni from the first round of the program. His company, Ascent AeroSystems, was acquired by Robinson Helicopter in 2024, marking the first major acquisition of a GENIUS NY company.   

The Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions continue to establish themselves as the nation’s premier destination for drones and uncrewed systems businesses. In addition to the GENIUS NY accelerator, the state has focused on making major investments in the uncrewed systems industry.  

Since 2016, New York has committed to investing $56 million to develop the FAA-designated NY UAS Test Site at Griffiss Airport and $16.6 million in ongoing investments for The Tech Garden’s expansion in downtown Syracuse to further grow its UAS industry efforts in the region. The state has also invested in growing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) opportunities with a $21 million grant to fund NUAIR, which established the NUAIR Center of Excellence for AAM in 2023 at Syracuse International Airport and supports scaling commercial operations in a unique 240 square mile beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) airspace that incorporates controlled and uncontrolled, rural and urban environments. 

GENIUS NY will open applications for its ninth cohort in January 2025. To learn more and apply, visit www.geniusny.com. 

Thank you to all of our event sponsors!