Startup Newsletter April 2024

Earlier this year, we began hinting at big news about our startup community and its events. Two weeks ago today, we made the announcement: After months of speaking to founders and VCs about their goals and tracking the direction of trends in the ecosystem, Tech:NYC has restructured its startup community and launched it as Startup:NYC. Last week, we celebrated that announcement with a gathering of the initiative’s supporters, partners, VC Council, and founders. 

Why now? While it's true that NYC leads in most inclusive innovation metrics, systemic obstacles, bias, and double standards still exist, often impeding the journey of underrepresented founders. We acknowledge that and are committed to contributing to the ongoing efforts in New York City to address these challenges.

So, what is Startup:NYC? It's a curated community designed to provide more tailored resources and foster closer connections to funding networks for underrepresented founders and builders in emerging sectors in NYC. It's important to note that this is not an accelerator or incubator, and there's no required programmatic curriculum for founders to complete. Startup:NYC is purely about creating a community of the newest generation of rockstar VCs, founders, and technologists.  

We believe that New York City offers numerous competitive advantages for founders, from unparalleled access to top-tier talent and esteemed academic institutions to a thriving ecosystem filled with investors and industry leaders. We wholeheartedly believe that New York is the best place to start and grow a tech company, and we hope that Startup:NYC will contribute to this achievement and reputation for years to come.

If you are a founder, we encourage you to apply to join the community. For those who are already members of Tech:NYC, this community is a new initiative and we’re asking that you still apply as well. If you know a founder who might be interested, send them this email so they can reach us. 

– Octavius

🍻Founder Happy Hour

Tech:NYC Founder Happy Hour, our popular monthly happy hour at Pubkey with startup founders and investors to connect in a casual setting, is back with friends. Join Startup:NYC partner Rho and members of the VC council for drinks and bites. Request to join us here.

📣 Pitch Opportunity

Founders, startups, and portfolio companies are invited to apply to pitch their city solutions to leading government officials at the Smart City Expo USA 2024 Smart City Solutions Startup Competition from May 22-23, 2024 at Pier 36 in New York City.

Apply by May 3, 2024

🧑‍💻 APPLY

The Microsoft Philanthropies TEALS Program is seeking volunteers for its next program. TEALS helps build equitable, inclusive computer science programs in high schools by partnering industry professionals with classroom teachers to support CS courses across the country. Visit the TEALS website here for more information and apply for the 2024-25 school year.

Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute will now offer companies worldwide an opportunity to send talented employees to Cornell Tech to work on new business ventures that explore commercial uses for emerging technologies. Visit the Cornell Tech website here for more information.

Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures is accepting applications for their fall cohort. This program is for entrepreneurs designing solutions that generate greater economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans. Apply by May 22 here.

Robin Hood is accepting applications for its AI Poverty Challenge. The challenge awards three $1 million prizes for breakthrough AI solutions in three areas: education, workforce development, and financial empowerment. Learn more and apply by May 30 here.

🗽 ATTEND

• May 3: Founder and Investor Breakfast Mixer at a private rooftop venue in the heart of NYC. Hosted by Rho and Andrew Yeung. Register here.
  

• May 7: Showcase of startups’ climate technology solutions in physical form. Hosted by Newlab. Register here.
  

• May 9: From 0 to Series C, Unicorn, and Beyond - Fireside Chat and Mixer. Hosted by Thoropass, Capchase, and Supermomos. Register here.
  

• May 10: The 10th annual TechDay Expo has connected tens of thousands of founders, co-founders, and their teams to hundreds of thousands of investors, corporates, tech talent, and new customers. Register here.
  

• May 23: NYC Founder Breakfast aims at helping founders get investor feedback, build new connections, and generate leads. Hosted by M13, Rho, Niural, and Kruze Consulting. Register here.