Governor Andrew Cuomo Announces 17 Companies Join Start-Up NY to Create 343 Additional Jobs

April 27, 2015

From the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo

Since Launch, 110 Businesses Have Joined START-UP NY, Committing to Create Nearly 3,150 New Jobs and Invest More Than $186 Million Across the State

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 17 additional companies will create 343 new jobs in New York State through START-UP NY. These companies join the 93 businesses that already participate in this program, which creates tax-free areas associated with colleges and universities across the state.

“The addition of these companies to START-UP NY represents significant private sector interest and investment in the Empire State,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York boasts some of the best colleges and universities in the country and, along with access to our talented workforce, these companies will have the opportunity to thrive in New York while creating hundreds of new jobs and boosting local economies. I look forward to seeing the companies, participating schools and New Yorkers across the state succeed thanks to this growing initiative.”

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The START-UP NY program continues to attract a tremendous amount of interest, with thousands of leads and inquiries coming in from throughout the state and across the county. We are working hard to turn the substantial interest being generated by the program into thousands of new jobs. Today’s announcement of 17 more companies joining the program demonstrates our ability to attract entrepreneurs and to the Empire State with the unique tax-free benefits of START-UP NY.”

START-UP NY launched in 2014 and offers new and expanding businesses the opportunity to operate tax-free for 10 years on or near eligible university or college campuses in New York State.

The 17 businesses announced today will additionally invest nearly $13.5 million into these new job creating ventures. They will be located in tax-free areas at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, SUNY Cobleskill, University of Rochester, University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, Finger Lakes Community College and New York University.

This group of companies joining STARTUP-NY brings the total number of businesses participating in the program to 110, representing commitments to create nearly 3,150 new jobs and invest more than $186 million throughout New York State.

The businesses will create jobs in a variety of industries, including data processing, research and development in physical engineering and biotechnology, construction equipment and textile manufacturing, industrial design, exam preparation and tutoring, software and internet publishing, custom computer programming and craft beverage.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, “Businesses from across the country continue to seek out New York State and our SUNY campuses as a result of Governor Cuomo’s innovative START-UP NY program. In communities state-wide, our students and faculty are gaining unprecedented access to workforce experiences, jobs, and research opportunities that not only enhance their education but also prepare them to contribute to New York’s economic success in the future. Congratulations to each of the campuses welcoming new business partners as a result of this most recent START-UP NY expansion.”

Below are details about each of the 17 businesses joining START-UP NY and where they will be located. All new job commitments and investments are projections over a five-year period.

SUNY Downstate Medical – 100 new jobs

ItechUSA, Inc. is a new research and development company developing a wearable, hand held, home, clinic, EMS, and hospital-based smart software electronic system to monitor vital signs in real time. The company will locate to the Downstate Bio-technology Incubator in Brooklyn and has committed to create 100 new jobs while investing $1.75 million.

SUNY Cobleskill – 74 new jobs

Echelon Materials, LLC, originally incorporated in Connecticut as a research and development company, is new to New York State and will manufacture a high performance textile product (TiTek) developed through its research efforts. The fabric is expected to have widespread applications within the ballistic armoring industry. The company intends to market, manufacture and sell TiTek to companies that produce ballistic armor protection such as vests, helmets, helicopters, and Humvees. Echelon Materials will locate to the former Guilford Mills textile manufacturing facility in Cobleskill to take advantage of a labor force with experience in the textile industry. The company will partner with SUNY Cobleskill faculty of science and mathematics, agricultural business management, and plant and animal sciences to work with students and projects focused on sophisticated armor textile product development. The company is committing to create 49 new jobs and invest an initial $5.235 million, with plans to eventually invest nearly $28 million.

Royal Meadery is an existing, formative stage business that focuses on producing honey wine, known as mead, in small batches. Using all New York State ingredients, Royal Meadery will produce small amounts of handcrafted mead to sell at wine stores and restaurants in an effort to further establish itself in the mead-production market. The business owner is currently operating out of his Capital District residence and will be relocating to a vacant manufacturing warehouse in Richmondville near the SUNY Cobleskill Auxiliary Services in Schoharie County. The partnership with SUNY Cobleskill will involve student internships. Royal Meadery is committing to create seven new jobs and invest $225,000.

Blenheim Pharmacal, Inc. (BPI, Inc.) is an existing New York State contract packager of prescription legend drugs, antibiotics and controlled substances into unit-of-use bottles and blisters. The company also provides private labeling and custom packaging services, as well as solid dose antibiotic packaging and repackaging in separately controlled facilities. BPI, Inc. is currently located in North Blenheim, NY and serves pharmaceutical manufacturers and hospitals nationally. The company will continue to operate its North Blenheim facility and expand operations into a currently vacant building, the former Maranatha Family Center, in Richmondville. BPI, Inc. will partner with SUNY Cobleskill to create internships for students in several of the college’s programs and provide post-graduation employment opportunities at the company. It is committing to create 18 new jobs and invest $4.5 million.

University of Rochester – 59 new jobs

Temida, LLC (d/b/a eStork) is an emerging, early stage software company that has developed a web-based platform to provide daily deals on medical supplies to healthcare providers. The company brokers transactions of operating room supplies to hospitals at lower unit costs, reducing their overall expenditures. Temida is a graduate of the High Tech Rochester (HTR) LaunchPad program, which provides software development entrepreneurs with access to HTR’s mentors, business advisors, and business support services at the Lennox Technology Enterprise Center in Henrietta, NY. The company will locate to the High Tech Rochester incubator in West Henrietta and is committing to create 21 new jobs and invest $35,000.

FillShift, LLC is a newly created software development company offering industries a unique staffing solution to lower employer costs through a web-based application. The program fills open shifts from a business’ existing workforce or agency partners by matching the right worker with the right skills to an appropriate shift. The FillShift automation technology uses a proprietary matching algorithm to create an efficient and effective addition to scheduling or payroll software. The company will locate to the High Tech Rochester incubator and is committing to create seven new jobs and invest $50,000.

Dogways, Inc. is an emerging, early stage software company that has developed a mobile and web application to provide dog owners with an easy way to find activities for their dogs through a daily personalized event calendar and activity feed. The application allows individuals or businesses to create an event and invite all users (based on city) or just friends. Dogways is a graduate of the High Tech Rochester (HTR) LaunchPad program and the company will now locate to the HTR incubator in West Henrietta. It is committing to create 31 new jobs.

University at Buffalo – 39 new jobs

Cytocybernetics, Inc. is a new company whose lead product is a device that helps improve drug safety screening for the pharmaceutical industry. Cytocybernetics will locate to the Sherman Annex on the University at Buffalo campus and is committing to create four new jobs and invest $41,000.

Greenwich Geriatrics, LLC is a new company that designs decision-support software for the healthcare industry using evidence-based tools and expert consensus. The software will help individuals, caregivers and health care professionals develop risk assessments, standardized care plans, and make appropriate recommendations for individuals with complex medical problems. Greenwich Geriatrics will locate to the University at Buffalo’s Center of Excellence for Bioinformatics and Life Sciences and is committing to create 20 new jobs and invest $355,000.

Geocove, Inc. is a software and application development company, currently based in Florida and moving to New York State. The company creates custom geographic information system (GIS) tools and provides GIS-based services to a multitude of industries. Geocove’s flagship software product, ARM360, enables government agencies to collect information and manage disasters more efficiently. It will locate to the Baird Research Park in Amherst, NY, which will allow for easier access to customers and opportunities in the Northeast, as well as continued growth in GIS services through a partnership with the University at Buffalo's Geography Department and GIS Program. The company is committing to create five new jobs and invest $60,000.

Zintera Corp. is a technology company, currently based in California and moving to New York State. It is pioneering bio-inspired breakthroughs in cognitive enabled technology. The Zintera technology platform uses an approximation of the biological human mind used to provide knowledge, judgment and insights from unstructured text, image, video and digital signals. The company pursues solutions and deployments in health care, genomics and life science applications. Zintera will be located in the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics at the University at Buffalo and is committing to create five new jobs and invest $91,000.

Natural Energy Systems, Inc. (NES) is a private Canadian corporation, expanding to New York State, which converts sustainable organic waste to a clean burning renewable fuel using a patented process created by the company’s founder. NES uses a proprietary Gas Phase Reduction (GPR) process to reduce organic compounds to methane without producing hazardous by-products. The gas produced is a clean-burning renewable fuel comprised mainly of methane and hydrogen and is ready for use in a variety of commercial applications, including as fuel for natural gas operated vehicles, residential and commercial heating systems and power generation. NES is pursuing contracts in New York and the United States to build GPR facilities for clients and will conduct research on various applications for the GPR technology in concert with experts at the University at Buffalo and elsewhere in Western New York. NES will locate to the Baird Research Park in Amherst, NY and is committing to create five new jobs and invest $50,000.

Binghamton University – 39 new jobs

Baceapp Corp. is a new IT business currently based in North Carolina and moving to New York. It is developing a technology platform to connect commercial building owners and operators to service suppliers such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc. The technology is still in the early stages of prototype development testing using customer feedback. The company will locate to the Engineering and Science Building at the SUNY Binghamton campus, part of the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator Hot Spot in Vestal, NY. Baceapp Corp. is committing to create 25 new jobs and invest $170,000.

LightSpin Technologies, Inc. is an existing research and development company headquartered in Maryland and founded in 2001 to develop and commercialize high performance compound semiconductor components. The company will be relocating its research and development staff currently based in New Haven, Connecticut to the Engineering and Science building at the SUNY Binghamton campus in Vestal, NY. It is committing to create 14 new jobs and invest $370,000.

Finger Lakes Community College – 18 new jobs

Construction Robotics, LLC is an existing and expanding New York State business still in the formative stage of developing a system that will potentially revolutionize the masonry industry by bringing robotics and automation to construction sites. The company’s product is a Semi-Automated Masonry (SAM) system and is designed to work with masons, assisting with lifting and placing bricks. Construction Robotics’ unique product uses technology that will partner with the Finger Lakes Community College Instrumentation and Control Technologies Program. The company will locate to a vacant manufacturing facility in Victor, NY. It already employs several FLCC alumni and will offer internships to current students. Construction Robotics is committing to create eight new jobs and invest $325,000.

Idea Boxx, LLC is an existing research and technology business and the exclusive agent for ProNatural Brands, a new line of proprietary formulated and environmentally friendly products for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting, primarily for the food service and healthcare industries. The company is currently focused on developing unique delivery devices that work with the ProNatural Brands product line and will now partner with the Finger Lakes Community College Instrumentation and Control Technologies Program to offer an internship program for students to gain hands-on learning and application of their skills. Idea Boxx will relocate their existing operations to a vacant manufacturing facility in Victor, NY near the FLCC campus. It is committing to create 10 new jobs and invest $140,000.

New York University (NYU) – 14 new jobs

Board Vitals, Inc. is an existing New York State company that is developing a machine learning driven computer adaptive testing (CAT) system to mimic advanced exams with appropriate statistical analysis and software development. Machine learning is a branch of Artificial Intelligence, which involves the design and construction of computer applications or systems that are able to learn based on data inputs and outputs. The company will advance its system from pilot testing to full integration with universities, health science libraries, and nursing, medical and dental school systems. Board Vitals, Inc. will locate to the Varick Street incubator in New York City, a certified New York State Business Incubator affiliated with New York University. It is committing to create 14 new jobs and invest $82,000.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.