Blueflite Wins $1 Million GENIUS NY Grand Prize

Posted On
October 6, 2023

Image
Blueflite co-founders James McClearen and Frank Noppel win GENIUS NY competiiton.

More than 200 people gathered in the grand ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown to watch innovative uncrewed aerial systems companies compete for CenterState CEO’s GENIUS NY accelerator’s $1 million grand prize. The five competing companies each pitched their industry disrupting technologies to the crowd and a panel of judges.  

At the end of the night, judges awarded blueflite the $1 million. The company offers a drone-based logistics platform. Its patented, unique, and all-electrical drone design has vertical take-off and landing capabilities, advanced maneuverability, and is built to meet the rigorous demands of commercial operations.  

“Blueflite is thrilled to have won the prestigious GENIUS NY $1 million prize, organized by CenterState CEO. We see this as a remarkable achievement and testament to our capabilities, and we are enthusiastic to begin an exciting journey strengthening our presence in the State of New York," said blueflite co-founders Frank Noppel and James McClearen. "The support from GENIUS NY has been invaluable, and we look forward to drive innovation and excellence in the drone industry, benefiting not only our company but also the communities we serve.” 

While $1 million is the grand prize, it’s not the only prize. The GENIUS NY program, administered by CenterState CEO and funded by Empire State Development, distributes a total of $3 million across the five teams. The four other finalists each received a $500,000 investment: 

  • Aloft provides software solutions for individual aircraft and full fleet management to make drone operation safer and more valuable. 

  • Greenjets creates electric propulsors that make drones safer, quieter and more sustainable.  

  • Voltela provides software that ensures a reliable and consistent communication network for uncrewed aerial systems. 

  • VOTIX supplies a hardware-agnostic platform that enables drone automation, orchestration and remote operation. 

 

Read More:

CNY Central

CNY Business Journal

Oneida Daily Dispatch

The Daily Orange

Syracuse.com

Unmanned Systems Technology

Other
Media Coverage

Image
CenterState CEO Generic
Media Coverage | 12/03/2025

CenterState CEO Staff Named to Syracuse Mayor-Elect Sharon Owens

Rob Simpson, Dr. Juhanna Rogers and Kevin Schwab will serve on Syracuse Mayor-Elect Sharon Owen's transition team.

Image
IIH from above
Media Coverage | 11/25/2025

Site Selection Features New York in Area Spotlight

Site Selection Magazine featured upstate New York in its Area Spotlight.

Image
Op-Ed: Energy Strategy
Media Coverage | 11/20/2025

Upstate Business Community Leaders Call For 'All-Of-The-Above' Energy Generation Strategy

Leaders in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo published opinion piece on the need for reliable, carbon-free energy.

Image
ribbon cutting at INSPYRE
Media Coverage | 09/19/2025

INSPYRE Innovation Hub Opens in Downtown Syracuse

CenterState CEO with its public and private sector partners celebrated the opening of CenterState's INSPYRE Innovation Hub in downtown Syracuse.

Image
Constellation NY Nuclear
Media Coverage | 09/04/2025

Carbon Free NY Shares New Report on Impact of Nuclear Power in New York

Carbon Free NY shares a report that explores the impact of nuclear power and the ZEC program.

Image
UAS drone operator
Media Coverage | 09/03/2025

GENIUS NY Finalist Shares CNY UAS Ecosystem Insights on Syracuse.com

Modovolo CEO Justin Call shares Central New York's strengths in the uncrewed aerial systems sector in Syracuse.com opinion article.

Image
Ben Sio and Greg Lancette on Newsmakers
Media Coverage | 08/29/2025

CenterState CEO Shares Insights on Community Preparation for Micron on Newsmakers

Ben Sio and Greg Lancette appeared on Newsmakers with Andrew Donovan.

Image
Gov. Hochul Shovel Ready Podium
Media Coverage | 08/19/2025

Oswego County IDA Awarded $8.1 Million FAST NY Grant to Advance Industrial Park Infrastructure

Empire State Development awarded $8.1 million through the FAST NY Shovel Ready Grant Program to the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency.

Image
GNY Stage 2024
Media Coverage | 08/13/2025

GENIUS NY Names Five Finalists for Cohort Nine

GENIUS NY, operated by CenterState CEO, unveiled its five selected finalists for the ninth cohort of the accelerator for uncrewed systems.