RECOUP Named a Finalist in $3 Million Grow-NY Business Competition

Recoup is one of 20 with a chance to win up to $1 million investment

NEW YORK, NY (September 17, 2026) — Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement announced that Recoup Beverage Inc, led by co-founders Siwat Siengsanaoh and Susan Buckwalter Hartman, has been chosen among the top 20 finalists for Grow-NY, a food innovation and agriculture technology business challenge which attracts entrepreneurs from across the globe. The company is based in New York, NY and its clean-label, sparkling functional hydration drinks are available in Wegmans, Sprouts, and select Target stores. The finalist announcement comes ahead of Climate Week in NYC, a particularly relevant moment for Recoup as the company is committed to building resilience for people and the planet, and is the first beverage brand to be Regenerative Organic Certified®

 Recoup founders will now join 19 other finalists from around the world to compete for $3 million in investment, including a $1 million grand prize. Over the next three months, each finalist will work 1:1 with a dedicated mentor to craft a business pitch that will be presented to a panel of judges during a live pitch competition at the Grow-NY Summit on Nov. 12-13 in Rochester, N.Y. The winners will be unveiled following the competition.

“Being selected as a Grow-NY finalist is an incredible validation of what we’re building at Recoup and the opportunity we see to redefine functional beverage,” said Siwat Siengsanaoh, co-founder of Recoup. “As a New York-founded company with deep Cornell roots, this recognition is especially meaningful. We’re excited to learn from the Grow-NY network and explore how we can continue to scale while creating meaningful impact across New York’s food and agriculture ecosystem.”

Grow-NY is a renowned business competition focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage, and agriculture innovation cluster present in upstate New York. In total, 334 startups applied from 49 countries. Domestic teams also showed strong interest, with 32 states represented in the applicant pool, including 96 entries from New York state. Forty-six percent of applicants included a female founder, and 69% included a founder from a historically underinvested community. Recoup is proud to be both certified minority-owned and female co-founded.

A panel of 30 judges, reflecting a depth and breadth of regional expertise, knowledge of the region’s agriculture and food production communities, and entrepreneurial experience, reviewed all the applications to determine the top 20 finalists that will pitch their business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit in Rochester this November. Grow-NY will invest a total of $3 million in seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize investment, two $500,000 prize investments, and four $250,000 prize investments.

Recoup is bringing innovation to the hydration category as the first Regenerative Organic Certified beverage brand and one of the few functional beverages with no added sugar or sweeteners.

“Recoup starts with Regenerative Organic Certified® maple tree water, a New York-grown, plant-based source of natural electrolytes,” said Susan Hartman, co-founder of Recoup. “This unique ingredient has fewer calories and a more positive climate impact than coconut water. We thoughtfully blend it with prebiotic fiber and real ginger for gut support and use organic fruit juice for sweetness instead of added sugar or sweeteners. The result is a new approach to functional hydration that’s better for people and the planet. Grow-NY gives us an exciting opportunity to deepen our connection to the farmers, producers, and partners helping shape the future of food.”

The 10-week business development phase is an accelerator through which the 20 finalists receive:

• Dedicated mentorship from a business advisor selected by our program team for their subject matter expertise and presence in the region;
• Introduction to the region’s leaders and resources to connect them to potential partnerships and other strategic opportunities;
• Site visits, business tours, and industrial and economic development agency introductions for finalist team representatives;
• Business development support and workshops helping them fine tune their regional plans; and
• Pitch training to hone their live presentation skills for the Grow-NY judges and other potential sources of capital.

“Being selected as a Grow-NY finalist is a game-changing credential,” said program director Jenn Smith. “While seven of these companies are guaranteed a piece of our $3 million investment, all 20 finalists will leave with something money can’t buy: mentorship and strategic relationships. Their journey over the next 10 weeks culminating with presenting their ideas to judges at the competition will bring access to industry leaders, and a strong network that’s already generated more than $100 million in follow-on funding.”

The accelerator culminates with a live pitch at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit, scheduled for November 12 and 13, at the DoubleTree Rochester in Rochester, NY. The Summit will be held in two formats simultaneously, in-person and virtually, with finalists pitching their business ideas live in front of an audience and answering questions from a judging panel. This year’s winners will be revealed in a live awards presentation at the conclusion of the Summit.

Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement is administering the competition and Empire State Development is providing funding for the Grow-NY competition through its Upstate Revitalization Initiative connected with the three regions – Central New York Rising, Finger Lakes Forward, and Southern Tier Soaring.

The winner will be required to make a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which features counties within Central NY, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier of New York state where there are vibrant farmlands as well as several major urban centers, including Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Geneva, Corning, and Binghamton. The winning business will help contribute to job growth, connect with local industry partners, and contribute to a thriving economy. Registration for the summit is now open. 

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About Recoup Beverage Inc.

Recoup is Organic, Sparkling Hydration with Benefits—crafted with natural electrolytes from regeneratively grown organic maple tree water, real ginger, and a proprietary blend of prebiotic fibers. With no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and no caffeine, Recoup delivers clean functional hydration that's better for people and the planet.  It is USDA Organic Certified and the first beverage brand to be Regenerative Organic Certified. Founded by Susan Buckwalter Hartman and Siwat Siengsanaoh, the company is committed to building resilience through regenerative agriculture and thoughtful innovation. For more information, visit the site or follow @recoupwellness.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development (ESD) promotes a vigorous and growing state economy, encourages business investment and job creation, and supports diverse, prosperous local economies across New York State through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, marketing and other forms of assistance. 

 About the Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement

The Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) supports economic growth in Upstate New York through entrepreneurship and innovation. We help people advance ideas that will create jobs in all fields in our region, to enrich the area’s economic diversity.