AI Momentum: Startups Secure Big Deals, Launch New Platforms, and Scale Up

Highlights:

• Nowigence secures its first multi-million-dollar contract and plans for a NASDAQ listing.
• InfoLink launches an AI-powered R&D tax credit identification and compliance solution.
• MorningLine.AI launches version 2, eyes data partnerships and harness tracks.
• AgileRadiocom builds, prepares and tests AI-powered wireless communications for drones/UAVs.
• Markets EQ acquired by Humach, prepares for scaling and hiring.
• More updates on EndoSoft, Fleetworthy, EnterpriseWeb, Deep Detection, deFacto Global, ITrakNeuro, and ReWire Group.

In addition to seeing artificial intelligence and quantum computing help double Capital Region university computer science R&D spending, the Capital Region is experiencing a surge of activity among AI startups.

Below are briefs on the milestones that local AI-related startups achieved in 2025 and that they expect to reach in 2026.

Nowigence in Saratoga Springs is an AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) provider delivering enterprise-ready AI solutions. Last December, Nowigence announced its first multi-million-dollar customer order, from MBuzz Technologies in Saudi Arabia. Also in December, Nowigence announced it received U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) qualification for a $75 million, Regulation A+ offering and plans for a NASDAQ listing.

In 2026, Nowigence’s CEO and Chairman Anoop Bhaita, a former GE engineer, expects the startup to rapidly grow. He further anticipates that Nowigence will close on its first few data center sites, and the company plans to invest millions of dollars in the company over the next two to three years. Nowigence tested its flagship foundational app, ResearchWork.AI, with researchers at the Museum of Innovation and Science (MiSci) in Schenectady. Nowigence noted that feedback from such end users “helped scope the additional features and positioning of AI research agents targeting academic, archival and corporate research and development (R&D).”

In 2025 Darrin Jahnel, CEO and co-founder of Jahnel Group, launched InfoLink in Schenectady. InfoLink uses AI to accelerate and enhance every step of the R&D tax credit process. Its proprietary, AI-assisted tools efficiently import data, uncover qualifying activities faster, ensure airtight documentation, and deliver audit-ready packages with greater accuracy and speed.

InfoLink’s recent successes include helping a Michigan-based precision manufacturer covert $2.5 million of qualified R&D spend into $162,500 in federal credits and helping a New York parts manufacturer secure $1.82 million in federal credits. Jahnel expects InfoLink to end 2026 with more than $2 million in booked revenues.

Markets EQ is a startup that initially launched in Troy and provides AI-powered tonal analysis for improving investor perception. In April 2025, Dallas-based Humach acquired Markets EQ, and it launched a customer support AI-powered digital voice agent platform that helped secure enterprise clients in healthcare, manufacturing, and utilities.

Markets EQ’s chief AI officer, Sean Austin, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumnus, said, “We  built a model where AI doesn’t replace workers—it creates jobs. Every AI agent we deploy needs real people behind it to train it, monitor conversations, and step in when things get complex. Think of it like air traffic control for AI. These are good-paying, skilled roles that didn’t exist five years ago.” In 2026, Markets EQ will scale fast and hire for multiple, mostly remote positions. Several of Markets EQ’s employees continue to remotely work in the Capital Region.

MorningLine.AI is a Saratoga Springs-based horse racing platform that leverages AI to provide advanced predictive analytics and data-driven insights for horse betting. Headed by Jahnel Group President Jon Keller, the startup in 2025 launched Version 2 of the platform just ahead of the start of the racing season at the Saratoga Race Course. This version represented a steep change in sophistication, particularly in refining the platforms AI agents so that they handicap races in a way that more closely mirroring how professionals approach different race types and conditions.

MorningLine.AI is currently in discussions with several well-known organizations in the racing and data ecosystem, particularly regarding potential new data partnerships and white-label opportunities. In 2026, the startup will focus on responsible monetization and expansion. This includes evaluating direct-to-consumer revenue models, as well as those tied to strategic partnerships. Additionally, MorningLine.AI is looking at potential expansion of the platform to support additional racetracks and racing types, such as harness tracks.

AgileRadioCom is an Albany startup that uses artificial intelligence to make wireless communications for drones and unmanned systems more dependable, with a focus on the needs of government users and critical infrastructure operators. Headed by Sisay Tadesse Arzo, a former GE Aerospace engineer, the startup in 2025 built and tested prototypes that learn from their surroundings and automatically adjust to keep connections working even when signals are congested, disrupted, or intentionally jammed.

In 2026, AgileRadiocom plans to work directly with early customers and government partners on pilot programs, bringing these AI capabilities into real-world operations where resilient communications support public safety, emergency response agencies, and defense and warfighter missions.

mavQ is a cloud-agnostic AI automation platform company delivering immediate value to organizations by orchestrating end-to-end application and document workflows. Headed by Vamshi Vaddiraja, mavQ in 2024 opened its first office in downtown Schenectady. Last year, the startup expanded its presence to more than 15 states and three countries, with a primary focus on the state and local government sector. In 2026, mavQ plans to scale this expertise into mission-critical applications across the financial services and transportation verticals.

Fleetworthy is a Colonie-based fleet management solutions firm that provides services relating to compliance, toll management, weigh station bypass, and more. In 2025, Fleetworthy advanced its use of AI to support safer, more compliant commercial transportation, focusing on improving data accessibility, automation, and decision support across its platform. Last June, Fleetworthy acquired Haul, a Cupertino, California-based provider of AI-powered compliance and safety automation technology. These efforts helped streamline workflows and enhance how fleets and transportation agencies interact with safety and compliance insights.

Looking ahead to 2026, Fleetworthy plans to further evolve its AI capabilities with an emphasis on scalability, integration, and usability, applying lessons learned to better support customers as their needs grow and change.

In 2025, EndoSoft in Schenectady achieved a significant milestone by securing U.S. and international patents for two AI tools: Argus MedGPT, which saves clinicians time by summarizing patient files and providing documentation assistance; and EndoSpeech, a real-time medical dictation platform with multilingual support. These tools are integrated into electronic health record systems to reduce administrative burdens on clinicians and enhance medical information capture and utilization. These innovations are developed and supported in the Capital Region, contributing to high-skill jobs in software engineering, data science, and healthcare IT while reinforcing the region’s growing reputation as a hub for applied AI in healthcare.

In 2026, EndoSoft plans to extend the capabilities of its Argus AI Ecosystem to mobile platforms, offering secure point-of-care access to AI-driven tools.

deFacto Global in Troy is an enterprise software company that helps customers optimized their business performance. Its customers include AT&T, Disney, FILA, Warburg Pincus, PBS, Goodwill, and many others.

In 2025, deFacto Global developed a wide range of AI applications. For example, Last July, deFacto and Collectiv in Chicago announced a partnership that combines the latter’s data lake accelerator for Netsuite with the former’s integrated planning platform. That combination resulted in a solution that leverages live Netsuite data and provides real-time planning and forecasting. In 2026, deFacto Global’s goals include automating integration with data sources, adding intelligent data analysis, adding the ability for natural language (voice) interaction with our product, and more.

EnterpriseWeb in Glens Falls is pioneering real-time enterprise-grade contextual automation. It holds 23 U.S. patents and has done award winning work with AWS, Intel, Dell, Red Hat and Microsoft. In 2025, the startup, headed by Dave Duggal, collaborated with the data platform leader Snowflake to demonstrate how  EnterpriseWeb’s  platform enables Natural Language conversations and Agentic AI over SQL data warehouses.

Deep Detection in Troy uses AI to predict, tract and defend against cybercrime, financial fraud, medical fraud, and other similar criminal acts. Headed by Alexander Bringsjord, an RPI doctoral student, Deep Detention in 2025 expanded its R&D efforts, including multiple patent applications, several live demos, and the design of a new prototype. 

Plans for 2026 include additional patent applications, more demos, and a working prototype for automated planning in emergency response domains. Deep Detection recently began soliciting partnerships to license IP and associated technologies.  Springer this year will publish a book co-authored by Bringsjord, Only Logic Can Save Us From Powerful-and-Autonomous Machines. The book makes central use of an AI platform developed by another startup headed by Bringsjord,  Motalen.

ITrakNeuro in Albany is redefining medical imaging diagnostics for brain neuropathologies through innovative, high-accuracy, low-energy AI deep learning solutions. Headed by University at Albany Associate Professor of Nanobioscience Janet Paluh, ITrakNeuro in 2025 presented comparative data on its SIENNA technology at multiple events statewide.

In 2026, ITrakNeuro expects to achieve several milestones relating to FDA registration, technology publications and funding. In addition, it has two National Institutes of Health (NIH) Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) applications pending from 2025, and either one would help lay the foundation to apply for Phase II at the end of 2026. For these proposed research projects, ITrakNeuro will continue to work with University of Arizona/Banner Healthcare clinicians to deliver AI innovations for rapid, efficient diagnostics.

ReWire Group, a UAlbany Innovation Center incubator company, is a Saratoga Springs clean energy advisory, consulting, and digital technology firm. In 2025, Rewire made significant progress on the development of its emerging energy management platform, the Zero Energy Operating System – Automated Intelligence (ZEOS-AI).

In 2026, Rewire will start a formal ZEOS-AI pilot program by the end of the first quarter in strategic engagement to support their customers based in New York City, New York State, New Jersey, and California. Through this initiative, ReWire will initially support customers’ incentive management programs and then transition to full automation on the ZEOS-AI platform by the second quarter.

CEG INITIATIVES

The Center for Economic Growth is working to spur and support startup activity, especially in the semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy, and software development industries. In 2025, with critical financial support from Empire State Development and National Grid, CEG launched the Venture Readiness Program. The program matches entrepreneurs with mentors to provide expert guidance on business model development, financial planning, market validation, and investor pitch preparation. The Venture Readiness Program provides Capital Region startups with access to seed funding from Launch NY.

CEG also offers Business & Tech Acceleration through its Manufacturing Solutions unit, the Capital Region’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center. CEG is also launching a Semiconductor Growth Access (SGAP) Program that aims to broaden the Capital Region’s semiconductor supply chain by providing targeted businesses with funding for legal, financial, business planning, and accounting technical assistance.

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