Tech:NYC Digest: September 27

Tech:NYC Digest: September 27

September 27, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

In today’s digest, the net neutrality comeback, why the Navy Yard is the new center of NYC, and the startups championing New York’s status as a healthtech hub.

  • Also, a quick reminder to regularly check in on the Tech:NYC Jobs Board! 180 new roles at Tech:NYC member companies went live on the board this morning. Explore more.

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  • An unprecedented new policy will allow people who receive rental vouchers from NYC to use those benefits throughout the state, in an effort to respond to the ongoing housing crunch across the five boroughs. (New York Daily News)

  • In a piece of federal news: FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the US government plans to designate internet service as “essential telecommunications,” thereby restoring net neutrality and other broadband rules championed by the Obama administration. (New York Times) 

In other reading:

  • Is North Brooklyn the Future of New York City? (THE CITY)

  • The New York Knicks Are Being Smart About the Future, and It’s Bizarre (New York Magazine)

  • A Bathtub in the Kitchen? Not A Problem for New Yorkers (New York Times)

In yesterday’s newsletter, we touched on the proliferation of women’s and family health benefits at workplaces vying to sustain their talent acquisitions efforts post–pandemic. If VC trends are any indication, they’re dollars well spent.

What’s new: Evvy, a NYC-based startup focused on vaginal health, announced $14 million in new funding from Left Lane Capital and others.   

  • CEO Priyanka Jain founded the company in 2021 as a direct-to-consumer response to research that found vaginal discomfort is a leading reason women seek healthcare advice in the US, with misdiagnosis and recurrence rates higher than 50%. (Axios)

The funding will invest in new clinical studies: "We could get to profitability quickly or we can invest in the research and change the system at scale and really achieve our mission," Jain told Axios.

  • This is a priority Jain took directly to Mayor Eric Adams: Earlier this year, she stood alongside the Mayor and other city officials to launch the city’s first-ever women’s health summit to help craft its policy agenda on chronic disease, birth equity, reproductive health, and more.

Evvy’s round fortifies NYC’s position as a hub for health and wellness startups: With major unicorns like Maven and Kindbody, prolific investors like Able Partners and BBG Ventures, and a network of leading healthcare institutions, NYC remains best-positioned to shape the health landscape — for employers and employees alike.

In other reading:

  • This is how managers may be accidentally sabotaging their workers (Fast Company)

  • They Quit Their Jobs. Their Ex-Employers Sued Them For Training Costs. (New York Times)

  • 10 Questions to Ask Yourself About Data Breaches (Wall Street Journal)

  • Avantis Labs, a NYC-based platform for institutional and retail investors to trade crypto and real-world assets on a decentralized exchange, raised $4 million in seed funding. Pantera Capital led the round and was joined by Founders Fund, Galaxy, Base Ecosystem Fund, and Modular Capital.

  • Evvy, a NYC and London-based vaginal health testing and care provider, raised $14 million in Series A funding. Left Lane Capital led the round and was joined by General Catalyst, Labcorp Venture Fund, RH Capital, Ingeborg Investments, G9 Ventures, Virtue, and Amboy Street Ventures.

  • October 4: In-person: How to Go From $1M ARR to $10M, with Help Scout chief revenue officer Andrea Kayal, Bloomfire head of revenue marketing Deidre Hudson, and Innovatemap principal product marketer and brand strategist Meghan Pfeifer. Hosted by Innovatemap. Register here.

  • October 4 – 5: In-person: Smart City Expo 2023, with Mayor Eric Adams, NYC CTO Matt Fraser, Newlab co-founder David Belt, LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin, and others. Use code TECHNYC50 to receive 50% off tickets by registering here.

  • October 11: In-person: 2023 Tech Summit, featuring Altana AI CEO Evan Smith, Google Head of Trust & Safety David Graff, Esusu Co-CEO Wemimo Abbey, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and others. Hosted by Tech:NYC and Crain’s New York Business. Use code TECHS23 for discounted tickets by registering here.

  • October 12: In-person: Innovation and Collaboration in New York’s Government, with MTA CEO Janno Lieber, NYC Chief Efficiency Officer Denise Clay, LinkNYC Chief Administrative Officer Margaux Knee, and others. Hosted by City & State. Use code TECHNYC23 for 50% off tickets by registering here.

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