Astrabeam
Sensing & payloadsRadar and AI perception for robots operating in degraded environments.
Westchester, New York. GENIUS NY Round 10 finalist; a Central New York office is planned.
Aerospace, defense and quantum startups in Upstate New York
Dealroom counts 26 VC-backed aerospace, drone, defense and quantum startups headquartered in Upstate New York. Venture capital into them reached $107M in 2025, more than double any earlier year. Nine startups present their work at Future of Air & Space in Rome, New York, on November 5, 2026.
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26VC-backed aerospace, drone, defense and quantum startups
127aerospace, drone, defense and quantum companies, funded or not
$107Mventure capital raised in 2025
$379Mventure capital raised in total
$65MHidden Level Series C, the largest round
The 26 VC-backed startups by segment and county
Click a company for its Invest NY profile · Open the full map →
All 127 companies by segment and county
Includes companies that have never raised funding · Click a company for its Invest NY profile · Open the full map →
Venture capital into these startups reached $107M in 2025
Venture capital raised by year, Upstate New York aerospace, defense and quantum startups
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$107M’25
2026
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Aerospace and drones each count 11 of the 26 VC-backed startups
VC-backed startups by segment, Upstate New York. A company can count in more than one segment.
Aerospace and defense each count 56 of the 127 companies
All companies by segment, Upstate New York. A company can count in more than one segment.
Hidden Level and SeeQC have raised the most venture capital
Total venture capital raised, Upstate New York aerospace, defense and quantum startups
10 of the 26 VC-backed startups with a founding year started in 2020 or later
Startups by economic region
Startups by year founded
33 of the 99 companies with a founding year started in 2020 or later
Companies by economic region
Companies by year founded
The nine startups at Future of Air & Space
November 5, 2026 · Innovare Advancement Center · Rome, New York
Sensing & payloads
BQP
Quantum & simulationQuantum-enabled and quantum-inspired engineering simulation and optimization.
Syracuse, New York headquarters; additional offices outside the region.
EMPEQ
Defense & intelligenceAI-powered equipment and parts intelligence for asset management and defense sustainment.
Ithaca, New York headquarters.
Flyhound
Sensing & payloadsDrone-mounted payload detects and locates mobile-phone radio signals.
Syracuse, New York headquarters and company address.
Full Spectrum Research
Defense & intelligenceDefense R&D and technology transition; event showcases PRISM sensor-fusion/command-and-control.
Oneida County, New York. HUSTLE alumnus and GENIUS NY Round 10 finalist.
Modovolo
Aircraft & autonomyModular uncrewed aircraft designed for adaptable payloads.
Utica, New York headquarters.
Revolute Robotics
Aircraft & autonomyRobots alternate between rolling and flying for inspection and monitoring.
US-based, outside the region. GENIUS NY Round 10 finalist; exact headquarters under review.
Skyfire AI
Aircraft & autonomyAI-enabled multi-aircraft operations and drone-first-responder systems.
Hope, Maine and Huntsville, Alabama locations; not an Upstate headquarters.
Vigilare AI
Defense & intelligenceTitanOps turns sensor/video inputs into operational intelligence.
Syracuse, New York headquarters and downtown operations.
No companies match.
Test sites, programs and research around the showcase
Public and program figures, not venture capital
$27MGENIUS NY program investmentNine completed rounds since 2017 · September 2026 · ESD · CenterState CEO: GENIUS NY
>$500MParticipant follow-on fundingGENIUS NY-reported cumulative funding · September 2026 · ESD · GENIUS NY: Round 10
50 milesCentral NY–Mohawk Valley drone corridorDocumented infrastructure · July 2022 · New York State: SkyDome completion
$13MSkyDome project completed in RomePublic capital project · July 2022 · New York State: SkyDome completion
$7.5MRome quantum-network Phase 2Included in the earlier $21.1M award · October 2026 · IonQ: Rome quantum network
What this means
Upstate New York raised more venture capital for aerospace, defense and quantum startups in 2025 than in any earlier year. Hidden Level and SeeQC account for most of it. The nine showcase startups range from drone payloads and radar to quantum simulation. The region’s companies and investors are on Invest NY, the startup ecosystem platform for New York State, powered by Dealroom.
