Tech:NYC Digest: November 2

Tech:NYC Digest: November 2

November 02, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Bundle up, it looks like the cold is here to stay this time. 🥶 

  • In today’s digest, Queens makes a big EV infrastructure investment, a new ferry for New Jersey commuters, and the non-runner’s guide to NYC marathon weekend. 

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  • Streets across all five boroughs will be filled with 50,000 runners this Sunday racing in the TCS New York Marathon. The first division takes off at 8 a.m. and weather is expected to be ideal for runners. (New York Times)

  • The colder weather reminded us: Landlords are required by law to keep tenants’ homes at a certain temperature through May 31. (CBS News) 

    • During the day, if it’s below 55 degrees outside, the heat should be on. If your landlord isn’t complying, you can file a complaint here.

  • NJ commuters: A new ferry service to Manhattan just launched. Those needing to reach the city from Middlesex County can now travel from South Amboy to Midtown through a new NY Waterway route. (NBC New York)

In other reading:

  • Daylight savings ends this Sunday. For some New Yorkers, it brings literal headaches (Gothamist)

  • 3 more eateries coming to Grand Central this fall (Crain’s New York)

  • New York Comedy festival is back, better than ever with 200+ comics (New York Daily News)

The largest EV charging station in Queens is open for business. The LIC Superhub opened yesterday in Long Island City, which also happens to be one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the nation. 

Brooklyn-based startup Revel built the fast-charging EV station in the accessory garage of the JACX, a 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use development in Queens Plaza. (LIC Post)

  • The charging hub is just one of five that Revel is building across the city in addition to its flagship location in Bed Stuy.  

Revel says in just 10 minutes of charging, its 20 charging outlets at the LIC Superhub can power an EV for 100 miles.

  • The hub is open 24/7, has no parking fees or other paywalls to enter, and is compatible with multiple plug standards.

“As Revel continues expanding our network of public fast charging, we are making it easier for all drivers — especially TLC-licensed drivers — to transition to zero-emission electric vehicles,” said Revel CEO and co-founder Frank Reig.

  • Just two weeks ago, the Taxi & Limousine Commision (TLC) voted in favor of a measure to electrify the city’s rideshare fleet by 2030. Revel’s Queens hub is strategically located near areas where TLC drivers work and live.

Our takeaway: EV adoption can only scale as far as the availability of charging infrastructure allows. Build-outs like those from Revel – especially when coupled with initiatives like its partnership with Dollaride to bring more service to transit deserts – brings us closer to a zero-emissions future that’s actually accessible to more New Yorkers.

In other reading:

  • Next Senate AI forum will focus on elections (Axios)

  • New York adds stiffer requirements for cybersecurity rules (Wall Street Journal)

  • Gen Z workers are changing what it means to network (Fast Company)

  • Agentio, a Brooklyn-based platform for acquiring sponsored creator content, raised $4.3 million in seed funding. Craft Ventures and AlleyCorp co-led the round.

  • Prepared, a NYC-based multimedia and text provider to public safety agencies, raised $16 million in Series A funding. Andreessen Horowitz led the round and was joined by insiders Gradient Ventures and M13.

  • Trips, a NYC-based platform that helps content creators sell stakes in their IP, raised $2.5 million in pre-seed funding. Shima Capital led the round and was joined by Animal Capital, Blackwood Ventures, Serafund, Calligraphy Detail, and the Avalanche Ecosystem Fund.

This week’s featured jobs were all added to the Tech:NYC Jobs Board this morning:

NYC Open Data Week 2024, an annual festival of community-driven events presented by NYC’s Open Data Team, BetaNYC, and Data Through Design, is accepting session proposals. Learn more and apply by Nov. 22 here.Techstars NYC is accepting applications for their spring 2024 cohort. Accepted companies receive an initial investment of up to $120,000, plus office space, accounting and legal support, and access to the global Techstars network. Learn more and apply by November 29 here.The FinTech Innovation Lab is accepting applications for its 2024 cohort. The program is open to both early- and growth stage startups with solutions for financial institutions and insurance companies. Areas of specific interest include generative AI, cybersecurity, payments, and enterprise operations. Learn more an apply by Nov. 30 here.Company Ventures is accepting applications for Boost, a program of the Founder Fellowship. The 4-month program is open to NYC-based, first-time founders preparing to raise a pre-seed or seed round and are seeking a community of investors and other mentors. Learn more and apply by Dec. 5 here.Newlab is accepting applications for its 2024 Founder Fellowship cohort. The program is open to NYC-based founders from underrepresented backgrounds with climate tech solutions. Learn more and apply by Dec. 5 here.The New York Fashion Tech Lab is accepting applications for its 2024 cohort. The program is open to women-led, early to growth-stage emerging tech companies that have developed B2B innovations at the intersection of fashion, retail, and technology. Learn more and apply by Dec. 14 here.

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