Tech:NYC Digest: March 20

Tech:NYC Digest: March 20

March 20, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Monday, March 20, 2023

In today’s digest, why WE ❤️ NYC, the flywheel effect in New York tech, and the local leaders building New York's status as the national leader on cybersecurity.

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In case it wasn’t obvious, WE ❤️ NYC. Today we joined Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and dozens of business and community partners to launch a new campaign inspired by the iconic I ❤️ NY logo that reminds New Yorkers exactly why we love NYC. Explore ways you can join the campaign here.

In other news:

  • New York Community Bancorp agreed to acquire Signature Bank, assuming both the failed bank's deposits and loan portfolios. Beginning today, Signature's 40 branches will begin operating under the Flagstar Bank. (Axios)

  • New York will end its daily reporting on the state’s COVID-19 metrics; instead, updates will be scaled back to weekly releases on Fridays as federal emergency rules are set to expire in May. (Spectrum News) Ongoing data reporting will still be available on the state’s Dept. of Health website here. 

  • The campaigns to select the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention are in the final stages, and NYC is a leading contender. Mayor Eric Adams and other leaders are highlighting the city’s diversity, as well as its abundance of hotels, restaurants, and conference venues, to position the city as the most attractive choice. (NY1)

In other reading:

We’re in a period in which tech companies, as well as businesses across other industries, are tightening spending, except for one critical area: security.

Today a group of Tech:NYC member companies gathered to provide feedback on Sen. Kristen Gillibrand’s plan to increase funding for cybersecurity education and to offer support for the expansion of a federal service scholarship for the next generation of security leaders: 

  • Research Tech:NYC regularly conducts in partnership with Accenture consistently finds that most companies — across all industries — continue increasing tech hiring compared to the year before, with the most demand (64%) focusing on cybersecurity roles.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that New York has quickly become the global hub for security innovation:

  • Yeshiva University just launched a new security operations center, led by Sivan Tehila, CEO of the NYC-based cyber startup Onyxia, to build on its Master’s degree in cybersecurity that gives students hands-on experience to respond to business threats in real time. (Crain’s New York Business)

Our take: New York has a real opportunity to emerge as a national leader on cybersecurity. Sen. Gillibrand’s vision to open up pathways for cybersecurity education — from right here in New York — will not only be a boon for local cyber talent, but will advance solutions to a core technology need in the public sector as well.

Get involved: The recently launched Cyber NYC Internship Program is part of NYC’s efforts to accelerate the growth of the cybersecurity industry and build a pipeline of diverse talent into this important and growing sector. It recruits applicants interested in internships in the cybersecurity industry and pre-screens candidates, making it easy to find great interns. Companies interested in hosting interns can learn more and submit to participate here.

In other reading:

  • AI isn’t yet going to take your job — but you may have to work with it (Washington Post)

  • Where Did All Your Zoom Friends Go? (New York Times)

  • What would your four-day workweek look like? Use this calculator (Washington Post)

A SPECIAL INVITE FROM GIRLS WHO CODE

CodeFair is an immersive, 3-day, tech forward experience for the Girls Who Code community, the broader tech community, and the general public. At CodeFair, Girls Who Code presents eight activations at the intersection of art and tech, including a women-led NFT art studio, gaming lounge, and dance party in the metaverse with Doja Cat.

Tech:NYC community members are specially invited to join the After Dark celebrations!

  • After Dark on Friday, March 24th: Come to our Girls Who Code Tech Talk on the future of cybersecurity featuring special guest Meridangela Gutierrez Jhong from Accenture. Jhong will discuss the evolving landscape, what’s trending, and how you can stay ahead of the curve in the cyber security space. Stay after the talk for a drink while you network and explore the activations.

  • After Dark on Saturday, March 25th: Come to our Fireside Chat (6:00 pm) with Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett, and Nishita Henry, Chief Innovation Officer of Deloitte, about the challenges and opportunities in the tech industry right now. Stay after the chat for a drink while you network and explore the activations.

to claim your free ticket using code “TechNYC” while supplies last, and check out the

for more information!

  • Bullish, a NYC-based VC fund focused on early-stage US consumer startups, raised $50 million for its Fund II.

  • Parker, a provider of corporate credit cards to e-commerce businesses, raised $37 million in Series A funding led by Valar Ventures and $70 million in debt financing from Triple Point Capital.

  • March 21: In-person: Building a Healthtech Startup: Advice for Early-Stage Founders, with Teamwork Healthcare CEO Anirudh Sathya, Care+Wear CEO Chaitenya Razdan, and ZiphyCare CEO Rada Sumavera. Hosted by Stacklist. Register here.

  • March 23: In-person: Fundraising as a FirstGen Founder: Challenges, Mindsets and Cultural Differences to Overcome, with Sika Health CEO Ami Kumordzie, Lawtrades CEO Raad Ahmed, Partsimony CEO Rich Mokuolu, and Laconia Capital Group partner Geri Kirilova. Register here.

  • March 24: In-person and virtual: How I Raised My Seed, with Diem CEO Emma Bates, Dandi CEO Jeff Fernandez, and WeStock CEO Cameron McCarthy. Hosted by Brooklyn Bridge Ventures. Register here.

  • March 29: Virtual: Exchange: A New Kind of Investor Conference, with A Starting Point co-founder Chris Evans, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, NYU Stern School of Business professor Scott Galloway, and others. Hosted by Public. Register here.

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