Tech:NYC Digest: July 19

Tech:NYC Digest: July 19

July 19, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Monday, July 19, 2021

Happy Monday! In today’s digest, the US grapples with the Delta variant, how cities are reshaping work-life balance, and NYC’s extra-long Restaurant Week begins!

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The Delta variant is sweeping across the country — and NYC is no exception. Experts are saying another summer spike in cases is inevitable, and if we’re not careful, it’ll become a larger summer outbreak. (STAT News)

  • For the first time since January, COVID-19 cases are rising in all 50 states, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (New York Times) In New York, case numbers are up more than 160 percent in the past two weeks.

The increases are pushing some cities to revert back to the pandemic-related restrictions that defined the last year:

  • Beginning today, Los Angeles is ordering people to return to wearing masks indoors (although the Los Angeles County sheriff’s office said it won’t enforce it).

  • Several shows in London’s West End are shutting back down due to the surge there, even as England is moving ahead with lifting most restrictions. (New York Times)

At least one local official is calling for similar moves in NYC. Council Member Mark Levine, who chairs the City Council’s Health Committee, is pushing the Dept. of Health to reinstate mask mandates while indoors, even if you’re fully vaccinated. (New York Post)

  • So far, however, Mayor de Blasio said there were no plans to bring back a mask requirement. (CBS New York) Earlier today, he commented, “Masks have value, but masks are not going to the root of the problem,” saying the city will instead focus efforts on increasing the vaccination rate.

Doubling down on more vaccinations is certainly worthwhile, because the new spread is, as CDC director Rochelle Walensky puts it, a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” And the unvaccinated, despite being the most vulnerable to COVID-19, are the least concerned about the Delta variant, according to a new poll. (POLITICO)

  • Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections and hospitalizations. Of those currently hospitalized for COVID-19, over 97 percent are unvaccinated.  

The big picture: If you’ve been vaccinated, your risk of a severe COVID-19 case is low. But with these increases, health experts are also paying more attention to “breakthrough cases” — fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19. The number of breakthrough cases are expected to rise, but as long as the hospitalization rate doesn’t rise with them, the vaccine is doing its job. Remember: the vaccine provides protection from severe infection; it doesn’t guarantee you won't get infected or feel sick for a few days.

So mandate or not, Council Member Levine’s suggestion is a good one: when you’re out and about, best to have a mask handy.

In related reading:

  • How to stay safe as COVID-19 cases from the Delta variant are on the rise (Washington Post)

  • Can I Go to See This Show? Must I Wear a Mask? It Depends. (New York Times)

  • In this summer of covid freedom, disease experts warn: ‘The world needs a reality check’ (Washington Post)

In post-pandemic cities, employers are having to take a fresh look at work-life balance. A new survey by The Brand Guild surveyed workers in four markets — NYC, DC, Miami, and Washington. The results show the pandemic’s impact in the shifting importance of the three categories polled: life, play, and work. (Axios)

  • As cities reopen, work now ranks last, with 43 percent of those surveyed ranking living first and 31 percent ranking play first.

In New York, work also dropped to last place, but play edged out living in the rankings, at 38 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

  • Urban amenities — retail, restaurants and nightlife, and art and culture offerings — were the largest reason New Yorkers’ attitudes shifted that way, especially as city life begins to return to normal. In DC, by contrast, where office life may have changed less, work still polls higher than in other cities.

The takeaway: With the primacy of Manhattan business districts still uncertain, employers reopening their offices will need to consider these shifts when enforcing return-to-work policies that workers will actually be on board with.

In related reading:

  • Work, reinvented: tech will drive the office revolution (MIT Technology Review)

  • How to maximize your in-office days (BBC)

  • 5 ways to adjust your work style to be productive in a hybrid office (Fast Company)

It’s been over a month since most COVID restrictions in the state were lifted, but in the past two weeks, cases have been on the climb due the highly-infectious Delta variant. The vaccine appears to be effective, but neighborhoods with low vaccination rates, as well as breakthrough cases, are raising more concern. Have you become more cautious due to the Delta variant?  

  • *|SURVEY: I’m vaccinated, and I have not changed my behavior|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’m vaccinated, and I’m being more cautious|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’m unvaccinated, and I have not changed my behavior|*

  • *|SURVEY: I’m unvaccinated, and I’m being more cautious|*

  • *|SURVEY: My behavior has remain unchanged throughout the pandemic regardless of my vaccination status|*

  • Cohley, a New York-based content generation and performance analytics platform, raised $5 million in capital funding. The round was co-led by Right Side Capital and Active Capital, with participation from Bridge Bank. (MarTech)

  • Daloopa, a New York-based provider of data extraction tech for financial institutions, raised $20 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Credit Suisse Asset Management, with participation from Nexus Venture Partners, Uncorrelated Ventures and Hack VC. (TechCrunch)

  • Genvid, a New York City-based maker of livestreaming technologies and services, raised $113 million in Series C funding. Valor Equity Partners and Atreides Management led the round and were joined by Third Point Ventures, Cobalt Capital, LightShed Ventures, XN, and Lux Capital. (VentureBeat)

  • Halla, a New York City-based startup focused on determining and steering shopper behavior in food, raised $4.5 million in Series A1 funding. Food Retail Ventures led the round. (TechCrunch)

  • Jones, a New York-based vendor network for commercial real estate, raised $12.5 million in Series A funding. JLL Spark and Khosla Ventures co-led, and were joined by Camber Creek, Rudin Management, DivcoWest and Sage Realty. (TechCrunch)

  • Quit Genius, a New York-based digital clinic for treating addictions, raised $64 million in Series B funding. Atomico and Kinnevik co-led, and were joined by Octopus Ventures, Triple Point Ventures and Startup Health. (Forbes)

  • SharedSecure, a New York-based company specializing in data privacy and security, raised $2.5 million in pre-Series A funding. EPIC Ventures led, with participation from existing investors Industrifonden and cybersecurity expert Tom Noonan. (FinSMEs)

  • Verifi Media, a New York and London-based media rights data management company, raised $4 million in its latest round. The round was led by FUGA, with additional investors including Fintage House and QVT Family Office Fund LP. (MarTech)

  • July 20: Virtual: How to Scale Yourself While Scaling Your Company, with Mindmaven senior coach Connor Drake. Hosted by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Register here.

  • July 20: Virtual: Signs your Finance Function Isn't Scaling and What You Should Do About It, with Bolster founder and CEO Matt Blumberg and MediaWallah founder and CEO Nancy Marzouk. Hosted by Bolster. Register here.

  • July 22: Virtual: How AI Technology Affects Hiring, with RippleMatch chief of staff Troy LeClaire, Fetcher CEO Andres Banks, and Ordergroove SVP of People Karen Weeks. Hosted by NYCETC and Hot Bread Kitchen. Register here.

  • July 22: Virtual: Protecting New York Summit, with NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Dataminr chief strategy officer Peter Bailey, NYC Cyber Deputy CISO Colin Ahern, and others. Hosted by City & State. Register here.

One reminder: Today marks the start of NYC Restaurant Week! It’s back after last year’s pandemic hiatus, and to make up for lost time, this year’s week is actually five weeks long.

Between today and August 22, more than 530 restaurants are providing special $21 and $39 lunch and dinner deals. With indoor dining back, most are for in-person eating, but a lot of them are providing takeout and delivery options too. 

We’re sorting through all the options to plan Team Tech:NYC’s outing! Let us know if you have recs of your favorites!

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