Blasdell-based EagleHawk has its eye on $1 million prize

By Matt Glynn

EagleHawk is looking forward to a lucrative week.

The Blasdell-based company has made a name for itself flying drones that inspect flat roofs, using thermal imaging to detect problems. On Tuesday, EagleHawk will be one of five finalists pitching to judges in the Genius New York competition in Syracuse. The grand prizewinner will walk away with $1 million, while the other four finalists will each receive $500,000.

Not a bad chunk of investment either way. But EagleHawk is determined to claim that $1 million prize.

"Obviously we want to win," said Will Schulmeister, the chief operating officer. "There's the business acceleration side of things. But I think there's also pride. We'd love to win for Buffalo and New York and for what we did, starting with the mission and the goals in mind."

EagleHawk would use the $1 million to hire more staff, develop new products to apply its data, and grow the business, said Patrick Walsh, the CEO. Its growth plans would touch both Buffalo and Syracuse.

Genius NY concentrates on unmanned aerial systems, with a competition modeled on 43North, which also has a $1 million top prize. The $3 million in prize money comes from Empire State Development. The other four finalists this year, which is the competition's third edition, hail from Italy, Israel, Brooklyn and Syracuse.

The Buffalo News

Published April 5, 2019

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