Tech:NYC Digest: October 26

Tech:NYC Digest: October 26

October 26, 2022 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

In today’s digest, COVID concerns are mounting for winter, an ode to the New York subway, and what to know about the tech issues on the ballot for the midterms.

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  • A New York judge ordered the city to reinstate municipal workers fired for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine after finding the mandate to be unlawful. (Bloomberg)

  • Beginning in January, the MTA will open two bathrooms in eight subway stations in an effort to expand access to public bathrooms in the city. (New York Times)

  • Public health officials are worried about low vaccine booster rates, warning that the pandemic has become “background noise” and will lead to a surge in wintertime surge. (Axios) Daily US case counts remain at some of the lowest points since last spring, but new strains better suited to evade immunity are making up a growing proportion.

  • NYC has unveiled the final proposals for the new Center for Climate Solutions, a new climate research hub being established on Governors Island. Learn more (and see renderings!) about each here.

  • Lastly, we’re now less than two weeks out from New York’s general election. What’s your voting plan? One helpful resource: Lyft is offering 50% off rideshare, bikeshare, and scooter rides to get to the polls on Nov. 8 using code VOTE22. Learn more here.

In other reading:

  • An Ode to the New York Subway (New York Times)

  • Can you use an expired COVID home test? Sometimes. Here’s how to know when it’s OK. (Gothamist)

  • These self-driving, electric shuttles many soon replace buses at JFK (Time Out NY)

We’re in the final stretch of campaign season for the general election on Nov. 8, and all eyes — for good reason — on the governor’s race. But in New York, tech is also on the ballot.

What to expect: Four ballot questions are up for a vote, including Proposal 1, a measure that will allow the state to borrow $4.2 billion to fund climate initiatives — a significant opportunity for climate tech startups.

  • Protocol outlined Proposal 1, as well tech measures being voted on in several other states here.

  • The proposal includes funding for everything from climate mitigation and renewable energy projects to zero-emissions school buses and stormwater systems improvements. 

New York tech is all in on climate solutions: Even amid broader venture capital uncertainty, climate technology has remained a stable area for investment deals.

  • According to CB Insights, startups in the energy and environment sectors received a sizable portion of venture capital funding in the third quarter. Five of the ten large deals completed in the third quarter, including the top two positions, were closed by climate tech companies.

  • NYC-based startup Carbon Direct, a carbon management software used by some of the world’s biggest tech companies, just hired former NASA climate scientist Christian Braneon as its first head of climate justice.

  • NYC and industry partners are also launching the International ClimateTech Center to bring a climate-conscious lens to fintech, transit tech, and several other sectors.

In other reading:

  • Bilt Rewards, a NYC-based loyalty platform and credit card company for property renters, raised $150 million in funding. Left Lane Capital led the round and was joined by Smash Capital, Wells Fargo, Greystar, Invitation Homes, Camber Creek, Fifth Wall, and Prosus Ventures. (TechCrunch)

  • Bookkeep, a NYC-based accounting automation platform, raised $6.6 million in seed extension funding. Fin Capital led the round and was joined by TTV Capital, Argonautic Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Haymaker Ventures, and others. (Newswire)

  • Hey Jane, a NYC-based abortion telemedicine startup, raised $6.1 million in new funding. Ulu Ventures led the round and was joined by The Helm, Amboy Street Ventures, Portfolia, G9, Social Starts and Yard Ventures. (Insider)

  • Lowercarbon Capital, a NYC-based venture capital firm focused on technology reducing CO2 emissions, raised $250 million for a new fund focused on nuclear fusion startups. (TechCrunch)

  • Mintify, a NYC-based digital collectibles analytics startup, raised $1.6 million in seed funding. Arca led the round and was joined by Alchemy Ventures, Psalion, as well as GSR and Fasanara. (Blockworks)

  • October 27: Virtual: It’s not privacy vs. security anymore, with GitHub deputy chief security officer Jacob DePriest, Rocket Companies CISO Chris Burrows. Hosted by Protocol. Register here.

  • October 27: Virtual: Innovation is Everywhere: Tokyo and New York, with NYCEDC vice president Daria Siegel, Startup Genome CEO FJ Gauthier, NTT DOCOMO Ventures investment director Yuichi Kimura, and others. Hosted by NYCEDC and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Register here.

  • October 27: In-person: AWS Startup Crowds NYC with Vetty CTO Bejoy John, Branch Insurance CTO Joe Emison, Michael Guarino Plural founder, Teleskope CEO Lizzy Nammour, Inspired Capital investor Claire Pan, and more. Hosted by AWS Startups. Register here.

  • November 2: Virtual: Crypto Fundraising Crash Course for Nonprofits, with givepact co-founders Alicia Maule and Steven Aguiar. Register here.

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