January 2021 monthly newsletter

View this email in your browser

It’s been quite a start to 2021. While New York is our home, I know all eyes have been on our nation’s Capitol in the last month. If you’re like us, it was three Wednesdays that felt like an eternity.But just over a week into a new administration, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. One especially encouraging sign was the swift repeal of the “Muslim travel ban” implemented by the Trump Administration in 2017. It was at that time that Tech:NYC published an open letter condemning the order, with signatures from thousands of CEOs, investors, and local tech leaders. It was important to stand up for our Muslim neighbors and colleagues, and to reiterate the importance of immigration to New York’s dynamism. We felt that way then, and we feel that way today. It’s not just the travel ban. As recently as last April, we saw H-1B visa restrictions imposed on foreign workers, which will only make it more difficult for many of the world’s most gifted people to contribute in the US. Just like the Muslim ban, this runs counter to the values of the New York tech ecosystem. America is only made stronger by immigrants. They’ve created some of our most successful companies. They disproportionately staff the frontlines of our healthcare system. And they offer the very diversity that defines the American experience. Diversity isn’t just about ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures. It’s also about ideas and abilities, and our city benefits when it has a wider range of them. We look forward to supporting our elected leaders, here and in Washington, in further advancing these values.Julie

Today’s newsletter is a little different. Instead of just our regular digest on all things COVID and NYC, we’re sending you our end-of-month roundup. We will get to that shortly, but we still want to make sure you have today’s topline updates ahead of the weekend (and if you don’t already get the daily digest, subscribe here):

• The ban on indoor dining in NYC will be lifted beginning Feb. 14. Restaurants can reopen at 25 percent capacity on that date. (Eater NY)

• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires just one dose, is showing to be effective in late-stage trials, particularly against severe COVID cases. (New York Magazine) The drugmaker reported a 72 percent efficacy rate in the US, but of some concern: that rate dropped to 57 percent in South Africa, where a highly contagious variant is now driving most cases. (New York Times) When the vaccine is granted emergency use authorization in the US, about two million doses will be delivered for distribution. (Bloomberg) 

• Mayor de Blasio delivered his final State of the City address last night, announcing an ambitious plan to help NYC recover, including vaccinating five million residents by June. (New York Times) Other highlights: establishing a “Life Science Avenue” from Kips Bay to East Harlem to support biotech innovation as well as two-way dedicated bike lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges.

• And heads up on another snow storm approaching New York this weekend: the tri-state is expecting sub-zero wind chills and as many as six inches of snow beginning Sunday. (Washington Post)

A group of devoted New Yorkers, including our own Julie Samuels, have launched

NY Forever

, an organization to support rebuilding a stronger, more equitable New York. Join us in affirming your commitment to the city we all love by taking the

NY Forever pledge

.

New episodes of

Talk:NYC

, our biweekly podcast on all things New York and the future of urban life, are up on all major streaming platforms! The podcast features chats with a roster of great New Yorkers as diverse as the city. Don’t miss our recent conversations with fashion icon and entrepreneur

Rebecca Minkoff

, New York Times tech writer

Shira Ovide

, and Artsy CEO

Mike Steib

. Plus, revisit our episode with new Senate Majority Leader

Chuck Schumer

! Stay tuned for more.

In this month’s Companies to Watch series, we profiled a few NYC founders building tools to help you move past New Year’s resolutions and make more effective moves for your career, health, social impact goals, and more. To learn more about

Medley

,

Base

, and

Deed

,

read our interviews here

.

NYC Restaurant Week is running this week (and, hot off the press, it's been extended through Feb. 28!). The annual initiative has been reimagined this year to feature 500+ establishments offering lunch and dinner meals, for takeout and delivery, at $20.21 each. It’s a good deal, but, more importantly, it’s a great way to support the restaurants who keep serving through everything. Learn more and search for participating restaurants here.NYC Vaccine List is a new tool created entirely by volunteers to help New Yorkers locate and schedule appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The tool scans vaccination scheduling systems and updates every ten minutes, but the folks at NYC Vaccine List are looking for more volunteers to reach out to pharmacies and other providers to add to the site. Learn more here and sign up to volunteer here.Village Global is opening up applications for its accelerator program to founders regardless of location. Formation stage companies get 12 weeks of intensive support, weekly mentorship from a matched sector expert, and funding. Preview the application questions here. Applications are accepted here on a rolling basis, but the early application deadline is Feb. 3 while the final deadline is March 1.NYCEDC is seeking an organization that will partner with the City to source and provide recommendations for real estate technology startups and solutions that enhance sustainability, increase health and safety, improve operational performance, and address other topline policy priorities related to publicly-owned or managed real estate. Get more details and submit interest by Feb. 5 here.Newlab has launched its 2021 Open Call season, inviting entrepreneurs, engineers, and inventors to submit applications to participate in one of four Newlab Innovation Studios: 5G Studio, Accessible Streets Studio, Prospect Mining Studio, and Mobility Studio. The studios provide access to leading industry experts, but also grant funding and on-site prototyping resources. Application deadlines vary by studio; learn more here.The Black Ambition Prize, a project created by Pharrell Williams, is working to close the opportunity and wealth gaps through entrepreneurship by investing in Black and Latinx founders and HBCU students. Areas of interest include consumer products, design, healthcare, and tech. Check eligibility requirements and apply by Feb. 18 here.Applications are now open for the third cohort of Human in the Wild, Human Ventures’ incubator program. The 100-day, no equity program is open to experienced entrepreneurs in the early stages of building a company in the health and wellness space. Get more details and apply by Feb. 19 here.SAP.iO Foundry, SAP’s corporate accelerator, is accepting applications for its spring 2021 cohort. The program is all-virtual, no-equity, and open to software startups in professional/business services and the future of work. Find more eligibility requirements and apply by Feb. 19 here.women.nyc, an initiative of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, is launching a digital networking hub for NYC-based women to target long standing gaps in networking, career opportunity, and professional development, particularly for women of color. The initiative is seeking partners interested in funding and/or providing a tech solution to build the platform. Proposals are being accepted for custom builds, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf solutions that have the right mix of features. Find more info and submit your interest by Feb. 26 here.

February 1 – 5: Virtual: Diversity Reboot 2021, with Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman Carla Harris, Obama Foundation President Valerie Jarrett, Gotham Gal Founder (and angel investor) Joanne Wilson, and more. Hosted by PowerToFly. (Details)February 2: Virtual: Corporate America’s Climate Report Card, with Microsoft Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa and Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv Shah. Hosted by Axios. (Details) February 5: Virtual: 2020 Virtual Careers Panel: Navigating the Post-Pandemic Tech and Media Jobs Market. Hosted by NYC Media Lab. (Details)February 9: Virtual: Meet the VCs Taking on Climate Change, with Union Square Ventures’ Albert Wegner. Hosted by Betaworks Studios. (Details)February 23: Virtual: First Read Coronavirus Update: Effects on Industry, with Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Jonnel Doris and others. Hosted by City & State. (Details)February 23: Virtual: Bitcoin Brunchwork, with Future\Perfect Ventures Founder and Managing Partner Jalak Jobanputra. Hosted by brunchwork. (Details)March 3: Virtual: How the Big Apple Will Regain its Shine, with Sidewalk Labs Chairman and CEO Dan Doctoroff. Hosted by Crain’s New York. (Details)March 4: Virtual: Wall Street Journal Jobs Summit, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Intuit EVP Laura Fennel, National Employment Law Project Executive Director Rebecca Dixon, and more. Hosted by the Wall Street Journal. (Details)

A warm welcome to our newest members: 

• Cquence: Your entire video creation workflow — simplified.

• Cyborg Inc: End-to-end encrypted search for the cloud.

• Dojo: We help companies design better workplaces.

• Juno Medical: Modern healthcare designed for you and your family.

• My Bodega Online: Groceries in less than 15 minutes.

• RentTango: Accelerate your leasing operation.

• SoftSmile: Innovative orthodontic software solution. 

• Ten by Ten Studio: Big ideas for small screens.

If you’ve been thinking about joining Tech:NYC as a member, now’s the time. Check out our membership page, and let us know if you have any questions.