More than 25 Liverpool High School students stopped by INSPYRE Innovation Hub this week to hang out with the GENIUS NY Cohort 9 teams and get an inside look at the tech shaping Central New York’s booming UAS (uncrewed aerial systems) industry.
Each GENIUS NY team shared what they’re building, the problems they’re solving, and what life is really like as a tech founder. The students—part of Liverpool’s Drone Technology Program—asked great questions about everything from startup life to how these teams are using drones, AI, and optical systems to make our skies safer and smarter.
After the group discussions, everyone teamed up for the iconic Marshmallow Challenge. Armed with spaghetti, tape, string, and one lone marshmallow, mixed teams of students and founders raced to build the tallest free-standing tower. Lots of laughter, lots of creative engineering, and lots of “wait… does this actually stand?” moments.
GENIUS NY teams continue to build their companies right here at INSPYRE throughout their yearlong accelerator experience. They’ll keep refining their technology, connecting with the community, and gearing up for the big moment: competing for the $1 million grand prize during Innovation Night in May 2026.
GENIUS NY is operated by CenterState CEO and funded by Empire State Development.
Meet the Cohort 9 Teams
Here’s a quick look at the five companies students met during their visit:
- Flox (Stockholm, Sweden): AI that “talks” to wildlife via drones, trains and Edge pods to gently guide animals away from danger zones.
- Lamarr.AI (New York, USA): Uses drones + AI to inspect buildings faster, safer, and more affordably.
- Lighthouse Avionics (Ohio, USA): Low-cost optical systems that keep low-altitude airspace monitored and compliant.
- Modovolo (New York, USA): Building modular, long-flight-time drones for commercial and defense missions.
- Skyfire AI (New Jersey, USA): Autonomous drone swarms to help first responders get eyes on emergencies faster.
