Tech:NYC Digest: February 17

February 17, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Friday, February 17, 2023

We’re back with another “Friday Five” roundup of our top stories in New York tech.

Programming note: the digest will take a short break on Monday for the Presidents' Day holiday. See you Tuesday!

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An investor’s work to help Ukrainian families, and what comes next (Axios)

The one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is already upon us, and Alex Iskold, a NYC venture capitalist who immigrated from Ukraine in the early 1990s, has taken an even-keeled approach to rally the New York tech community and work with the Ukrainian government to direct philanthropic giving from his 1K Project to where it's most immediately needed. The program has been wildly successful, but Iskold warns there will still be plenty to do beyond the point people become fatigued by the news.

Transit tech company Via raises $110 million at $3.5 billion valuation (TechCrunch)

It was by and far the largest New York venture deal of the past week, and it underscores just how much public infrastructure is turning to tech startups to build their services. Via (a Tech:NYC member!) rolled out a student transportation plan for buses in a school district in Queens this past fall, and it’s set to continue throughout the year. It’s a first-of-its-kind project we’re excited to see adopted citywide.

5 Questions for Chainalysis chief strategy officer Jonathan Levin (Politico)

The blockchain intelligence startup is one of those oft-cited anchor tech companies in New York, and Levin notes that “all the governments in the world getting together could not construct universally accessible financial rails.” New York has, of course, been a global hub for fintech due to its proximity to Wall Street, but an entire sector that’s building as an alternative to traditional finance is almost emerging right here in the same ecosystem. Government leaders, in particular, have a huge opportunity to seize those opportunities.

BLADE Completes the First Electric Air Taxi Flight in NYC Area (Bloomberg)

All-electric aircraft are finally skybound! BLADE completed its first test flight in White Plains, with plans to be able to carry up to six passengers for “air taxi” flights from Manhattan to the JFK airport.

NYC Finally Has a Public Realm Czar (Curbed)

It’s very good news City Hall has created the Chief Public Realm Officer role, but trust us: We’ve known Ya-Ting Liu for a long time, and it’s great news she was the person appointed to it.

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