Via Cornell Chronicle [2015-10-30]
Uma Bioseed – a Cornell student business startup formed in partnership with another Cornell startup’s technology – won $500,000 in the 43Northincubator competition in Buffalo, New York, Oct. 29.
Eleven company finalists – whittled down from 11,000 registrants in 117 countries – met in a pitch competition to serve up why their business deserved the $1 million grand prize. The winner was ACV Auctions of Buffalo, which received the grand prize and one year of space at the 43North incubator on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
43North is part of the Buffalo Billion initiative, in which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has committed $1 billion to Buffalo to spur new investment and economic activity. …
Uma Bioseed will produce a cost-effective seed coating with stabilized organic enzymes to battle fungal and bacterial seed-borne pathogens. The solution can disinfect seeds as they germinate so that more crops thrive from sown seeds, increasing yield and farm income.
Seed technology expert Alan Taylor, professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of Intergrative Plant Science, mentored the Uma Bioseed team.