Unibaio’s microparticles that enhance pesticides and fertilizers efficacy won $1M grand prize at Grow-NY

Unibaio has been awarded $1,000,000 at the sixth annual Grow-NY international business competition, an event aimed at fostering innovation in the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors across Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier regions. The competition, funded by Empire State Development and administered by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement, concluded its latest summit on November 7 in Ithaca, New York.

Matias Figliozzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Unibaio, expressed that the win represents not only financial support but significant validation of their hard work and innovative approach to agriculture. “It’s more than just the money — it’s a recognition of our team’s dedication and our vision for a sustainable farming future,” said Figliozzi. Claudia Casalongue, CTO and Co-Founder of the company, added, “This award reflects the effort of our team and the trust of our partners. We deeply thank CONICET, UNMDP, SF500, IndieBio, Ganesha Lab, and all those who encouraged us to grow.”

The competition drew twenty finalists from around the world, who presented their business plans to a live audience and a panel of judges at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center. The event also included an Ecosystem Expo featuring 43 displays and attracted over 1,100 registrants.

Grow-NY awarded a total of $3 million in prize money, with Unibaio receiving the $1 million grand prize. The other awards included two $500,000 prizes and four $250,000 prizes. Winners have committed to using their awards to make a lasting impact in the Grow-NY region over the next 12 months.

Unibaio is known for its innovative particle technology, which enhances the efficacy of pesticides and fertilizers. With the award and support of the NY region, Unibaio plans to expand its team locally and launch a new product by spring 2025 — their new tank-mix product designed to help farmers reduce agrochemical use and increase salable yield, which they called TurboCharge.