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. The finalists were chosen from a highly competitive application process that received submissions from startups from around the world, including record interest from U.S. companies.

Awarding a total of $3 million, GENIUS NY is the world's largest business accelerator for uncrewed systems. The chosen finalists will work to build relationships in the region, develop their go-to-market plans, and spend time refining their pitches before presenting to a panel of judges at Innovation Night on May 7, 2026. The signature finals night event features the awarding of the $1 million grand prize. 

The five finalists are: 

Flox (Stockholm, Sweden): AI that understands and speaks to wild animals—running on Edge pods, drones, and trains—to steer wildlife away from critical areas.

Lamarr AI (New York, USA): Uses drones and AI to inspect building exteriors, delivering faster, more affordable, and more accurate data than traditional methods.

Lighthouse Avionics (Ohio, USA): Offers low-cost optical solutions to monitor low-altitude airspace for drone threats, bird strikes, and FAA compliance.

Modovolo (New York, USA): A drone company building low-cost, modular aircraft with extended flight times, designed for a wide range of commercial and defense uses.

Skyfire AI (New Jersey, USA): Deploys autonomous drone swarms and AI to improve response times and situational awareness for first responders and defense teams.

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