Tech:NYC Digest: December 1

Tech:NYC Digest: December 1

December 01, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

❄️ Happy December (how is it already December?)! In today’s digest, Omicron detected in California, international travel may see tougher COVID rules, and the Great Resignation becomes the Great Reconsideration.

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By the numbers:

  • New positive cases statewide: 6,593

    • New positive cases, NYC: 1,021

  • NYC Positivity Rate: 1.9 percent (+0.1 percent)

  • Statewide Vaccine Progress:

    • Percentage of adults (18+) with at least one dose: 90.9 percent  

    • Percentage of total population with at least one dose: 78.2 percent

Today’s latest:

  • We were warned it was only a matter of time: The first case of the Omicron variant in the US has been detected in California, found in a fully vaccinated traveler returning from South Africa who is self-quarantining with mild symptoms. (CNN)

    • Omicron has now been detected in more than 25 countries, almost all of which were cases confirmed in travelers. See a map tracking the spread here.

    • There remain no confirmed cases in NYC or New York state.

  • The CDC plans to require fliers to the US, including returning Americans, provide a negative result from a test taken within 24 hours before boarding a flight. (Washington Post)

    • The requirements will apply regardless of vaccination status or country of departure.

    • US officials are also debating whether or not to require all travelers get retested and self-quarantine for seven days upon arrival, regardless of test results.

    • It’s unclear when the new policy would take effect, but given the urgency around Omicron, one official said it could be before Christmas.

  • A federal advisory committee voted to recommend authorization of an antiviral pill from Merck as a treatment to alleviate the more severe effects of COVID-19. (New York Times) If the FDA follows the recommendation, it could be available within weeks.

  • After last year’s tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center was closed to the public, it’s back tonight with an audience and special guests. In-person space is first-come, first-serve, or learn how to stream it here.

In other reading:

  • Omicron Is Coming. Should You Still Dine Indoors? (New York Magazine)

  • New York City May Be at Start of Winter Surge of Covid-19 (Bloomberg)

  • How booster shots today could fight Omicron tomorrow (Vox)

More Americans are quitting their jobs than ever before. But they’re not just opting out; they’re looking for new workplaces that better meet the new priorities they found during the pandemic.

Think of it not as a “Great Resignation,” but a “Great Reconsideration,” writes WIRED.

  • A poll from Citrix in September echoed a common finding that at least 35 percent of tech workers cited burnout as the reason for leaving a job.

  • But 40 percent reported the move was less about an old job and more about the prospect of more flexibility in a new one, and 41 percent made the jump to gain more benefits beyond financial wellbeing — a decreased workload, less pressure to be available during nights and weekends, etc.

The demand for flexibility has been especially strong in a segment of the industry that, in a meta way (as in self-referential, not as in Facebook), makes remote work work. 

  • Tech companies that make remote work products, video and streaming tools, or delivery services have all faced higher demand — and more expectations from customers — in terms of how well their tech works.

  • That pressure has engineers at these companies questioning whether the stress of their jobs is worth it, and turnover among that employee base may be getting worse compared to other industries.

Our takeaway: Tech hiring is on a tear, and it was already wildly competitive to find top engineering talent. Tech workers are using those trends to their advantage, and while companies still have some time to update their workplace policies, employers should too.

In other reading: 

  • ‘Should I Give My Boss a Holiday Gift?’ (The Cut)

  • Please Don’t Invite Me to Another Pointless Work Meeting (Medium)

  • Do you want to go on a VR retreat? (Protocol)

  • Anchor, a New York-based B2B autonomous billing startup, raised $15 million in seed funding. Rapyd Ventures and Entrée Capital co-led the round and were joined by Riskified and Tal Ventures. (TechCrunch)

  • Outfit, a Brooklyn-based content creator platform, raised $2.1 million in seed funding. Participation included LAUNCH Syndicate, KM Capital, and Patina Brands. (MarTech)

Company Ventures, in partnership with the NYC Economic Development Corporation, is seeking applications for the inaugural City Fellowship. The fellowship offers a nine-month program to support community-oriented entrepreneurs with access to the government and venture communities and business development opportunities. Learn more and apply by Dec. 19 here.The Financial Solutions Lab is accepting applications for its 2022 Accelerator Challenge. The 2022 program is seeking participation from fintech companies with ideas to strengthen financial resilience and improve safety nets for low-to-moderate income, Black, and Latinx communities. Awardees receive $100,000, as well as product, mentorship, and marketing support. Learn more and apply by Dec. 20 here.The David Prize is accepting open call submissions for its 2021-2022 cycle. The prize awards a no-strings-attached $200,000 grant to five New Yorkers with ideas, projects, products, and passions that are making (or will make) New York City a better place for more of us. Nominations or self-nominations are being accepted through Dec. 21 here.The New York Fashion Tech Lab is accepting applications for its 2022 program. The Lab is seeking women-led, B2B, fashion and retail-focused technology companies with ideas for advancing the industry. Learn more and apply by Dec. 30 here.

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