May Newsletter: Investing in the next generation of New York tech leaders
This is the May 2019 edition of the Tech:NYC newsletter. If you're not already getting this in your inbox, sign up now.
The technology sector in New York City is thriving. But it will not reach its full potential until its workforce’s diversity mirrors that of the city it calls home. And on that count, we still have a way to go. But we are starting to see real progress.
A couple of weeks ago, more than 6,000 NYC students took the AP Computer Science exam — up from 610 students in 2010 — and last year, 42% of those were girls and the number of Black and Hispanic test-takers increased by 55% and 46%, respectively.
These test takers represent the future of our industry and our city. But to ensure our city retains these talented New Yorkers and continues attracting the best and brightest, we have to make the kind of investments in infrastructure that will keep NYC attractive and liveable. For example, the tech sector is booming in Brooklyn and Queens — the corridor from Sunset Park to Astoria is already home to more than 500 tech companies — yet there’s no reliable public transportation system serving that area. Supporting outer-borough growth is a no-brainer, and advancing the creation of the Brooklyn-Queens Connector is one way city leaders can do just that.
Building a strong and diverse tech ecosystem requires committed leaders, quality education programs, and robust infrastructure — and we’re confident that New York will lead the way.
Julie
P.S. Happy (almost) Pride!
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
Last week, our leaders met with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. to discuss his initiatives to support economic growth in the borough. We look forward to ensuring the tech community is supporting his efforts.
For Blockchain Week this year, we teamed up with the new NYC Blockchain Center for a conversation on the state of the crypto regulatory landscape. A special thanks to Assembly Member Clyde Vanel for joining us!
And ICYMI: we also marked the week by profiling five New York blockchain companies to watch. Read more about them here.
Our own Julie Samuels joined NYC Economic Development Corporation CEO James Patchett at Smart Cities New York for a keynote on all things tech and NYC. Read more about their conversation here.
We co-hosted the latest installment of Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series with former Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson and Google Vice President Bradley Horowitz. Stay tuned for a recap of the conversation, and revisit our previous chats with SoulCycle CEO Melanie Whelan and New Lab CEO Shaun Stewart.
GET INVOLVED
New York State has launched a new workforce development initiative, investing $175 million to support regional efforts in emerging fields, including those in clean energy, life sciences, computer science, and advanced technologies. Funds will also support efforts to improve the economic security of women, young workers, and other populations that face significant barriers to career advancement. Find more details and the application portal here.
43North operates an annual startup competition and accelerator program in Buffalo, NY. In addition to funding, they provide winners with mentorship; access to 43North's network (investors, customers, vendors); marketing and recruiting support and workspace in their incubator. Winning companies must locate their CEO and 50% of their staff to Buffalo for 2020). Find more details here and here, and apply by July 8 here.
Applications are open for the 2019/2020 Metaprop Accelerator @ Columbia University, a 22-week program and financing up to $250,000 for early stage PropTech startups. For more information and to apply, click here.
A select group of innovators will be chosen to present in front of an audience of VCs and investors at the 2019 New York Venture Summit. For more information and to apply for a presentation slot, click here. If you are a seed stage company seeking angel funding of less than $1M (and have raised less than $300,000), click here to apply for the Seed Pitchfest track.
TEALS, a computer science (CS) education program that recruits and trains technology professionals to serve in local high school classrooms, is seeking volunteers for the 2019-20 cycle. If you possess a strong background in computer science, enjoy working with students, and are passionate about inclusion and diversity in the tech industry, find more details about the program and apply here.
NYC TECH COMMUNITY EVENTS
June 11: In their latest edition of Existential Medicine, New Lab will take a look at the world of AI and machine learning-powered medicine at the research, clinical and ethical levels. The conversation will be moderated by Katie Link, AI Resident at X, the moonshot factory. Enter code “NewLab2019” to unlock a ticket here.
June 12: Join Out In Tech at HUGE for a Pride event celebrating the QTPOC tech community. Find more details and register here.
June 13: Join the 3rd annual TECH+ Forum and Expo, bringing together leaders to share the newest technologies in architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate. Use code “TNYC19” to register for discounted tickets here.
June 13: Join Tech:NYC, along with Cornell Tech and Bloomberg, for the latest edition of the Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series, featuring Moda Operandi CEO Ganesh Srivats. Registration required here.
June 13: Join Betaworks Studios for Ask Me Anything Live with the dtx company CEO and Tech:NYC co-chair Tim Armstrong. Register here.
June 14: Join the New York Building Congress for ASCEND 2019: NYC's Building Innovation Conference. Featuring Sidewalk Labs’s Rohit Agarwala, WeWork’s Nigel Marcussen, and others, ASCEND will explore ways to build smarter, faster and stronger in today's construction environment. Tech:NYC members are eligible for tickets at the member rate here.
June 24: Join Company for a latest edition of their AMA series, featuring leading internet entrepreneur and Tech:NYC board member Kevin Ryan. Get tickets here.
June 24: Join Stacklist for their event, Careers at Startups: What You Need to Know featuring representatives from Plated, General Assembly, Ro, and Hoppin. Get tickets here.
July 9-10: Join youngStartup Ventures for the 2019 New York Venture Summit, a conference for showcasing and interacting with hundreds of VCs, angel investors, investment bankers, and founders of venture-backed emerging companies. Get more details here, and use discount code “TECHNYCVIP” to get $100 off tickets here.
WELCOME TO TECH:NYC
A warm welcome to our newest members:
Billie, Inc.: Female-first shave and body brand delivering everyday TLC from top to toe.
Blank Tech: Making edtech accessible.
Bokksu: The premier subscription box for authentic Japanese snacks and storytelling.
Clyde: An insurance technology service provider focused on product protection solutions.
EXP: Leveraging technology to improve facility operations and build next-gen brand experiences.
GoBambino: A stress-free, commitment-free way for families to discover and book activities and classes for their kids.
Oso: Making backend infrastructure security not terrible for developers and ops.
VRVideo: Creating 360° video and livestream VR for events
JOIN US
Tech:NYC is looking for a Communications and Marketing Director to join our team. Apply now or share the listing with someone you know!
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