Ithaca's CryoBio lands $500K in Grow-NY's $3M agtech contest
What's the deal? CryoBioDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an Ithaca-based startup developing frost protection for crops, won a $500,000 grant at the eighth annual Grow-NYDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → food and agriculture competition in Rochester. The award was one of seven investments totalling $3 million announced by Governor Kathy Hochul's office. New York City's Barnwell Bio took the $1 million grand prize.
What is CryoBio building? The company is developing a sprayable crop treatment designed to make frost protection more effective and affordable. Co-founder and chief executive officer Murli Manohar described it as "a small polypeptide that we spray on the flowers before anticipated frost, and it works by reducing the freezing point of water." Grow-NY cites projected annual global frost losses of $50 billion.
Why now? The grant adds to a reported $1.3 million pre-seed round CryoBio closed in February 2026, so this is additional support rather than its first outside funding. The competition drew more than 330 applicants from 49 countries, 32 states, and 49 countries, underscoring a crowded field.
What's the catch? Each winner must expand jobs, partnerships, and operations within Grow-NY's 22-county region for at least one year, and provide Cornell University with a modest equity stake. Cornell's Center for Regional Economic Advancement administers the accelerator.
Who else won? Fooditive BV of Rotterdam also received $500,000. Earnest AgricultureDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Frost Methane Labs, NRGene CanadaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Spectacular LabsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → each took $250,000. Ithaca's RETRN Bioworks won a separate $5,000 audience award.
The signal: Grow-NY's crowded applicant pool reflects strong momentum in food and agriculture innovation, with climate-driven challenges like frost drawing fresh capital. CryoBio's win boosts upstate agtech, but commercial performance remains to be demonstrated.
Read more: fingerlakes1.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
