January Newsletter: Ringing in a new decade of New York tech
This is the January 2020 edition of the Tech:NYC newsletter. If you're not already getting this in your inbox, sign up now.
In case you somehow missed all our tweets last week, Tech:NYC rang in the new year — literally — at the New York Stock Exchange! It was such a thrill to ring the Opening Bell, and it represents just the latest example of the tech industry’s growth in NYC.
We were at the NYSE to celebrate the city’s dynamic startup ecosystem, and we brought with us the founders of several member companies — startups building all kinds of products and services, across all kinds of industries, solving for all kinds of problems. And they’re doing it all with the best teams right here in NYC.
When we started Tech:NYC, we did it with the understanding that as our ecosystem grows in New York, tech will become part of our city and not the other way around. Rarely has that felt more true than when standing at the podium of a New York institution like the NYSE. But no matter which way you slice it, tech’s explosive growth will have a significant impact on the city we all love. We know that will come with challenges, and we intend to work closely with city and state stakeholders to get it right.
We’ve said it before, but representing and celebrating this community is the most rewarding job we’ve ever had. And we’re excited to continue that work.
Julie
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
Here’s a photo at the Opening Bell, plus a short post of reflections of our time at the NYSE. Another round of thanks to our startup CEOs for joining us up there!
We brought together our leaders at Squarespace HQ to chat with New York Times columnist and Squawk Box co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin on the state of the tech ecosystem here in NYC and beyond.
We kicked off the 2020 season of our Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series, featuring Via co-founder and CEO Daniel Ramot. We hope to see you at the next one on February 25!
GET INVOLVED
The Transit Innovation Partnership is accepting applications for their Signaling Challenge. The challenge is seeking technology solutions that help implement a more efficient, reliable subway signaling system. For a chance to pilot and contract with the MTA, apply by February 3 here.
New Lab launched an open call inviting startups to apply to Circular City, a program run in partnership with NYCEDC to test and pilot solutions designed to help make New York City more sustainable and energy efficient. Selected startups will work with New Lab to design and implement pilot projects to deploy their technologies across locations in NYC in 2020. Apply by February 14 here.
Heritage Equity Partners is seeking mission-driven partners to execute the Bushwick Generator Project, a workforce and economic development program expanding access to mobile careers in tech and tech-adjacent industries. For more info and to apply, contact Emerick Patterson here.
Tech:NYC, together with Microsoft’s TEALS Program, and CSNYC, brings back its annual Computer Science Opportunity Fair to the Washington Heights Armory on March 31. The CS Fair is an opportunity to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in tech by giving them unparalleled access to leading tech companies, universities, and extra-curricular programs. Check out a video summary of last year’s CS Fair here. If you’re a technology company that wants to get involved and host a booth this year or would like to volunteer at the event, get in touch with us here.
NYC TECH COMMUNITY EVENTS
February 4: Join Advancing Women in Product (AWIP) for a breakfast discussion with executives from Northwestern Mutual and Ellevest on the state of the global fintech market and how to design product strategy for it. Use code AWIP_TECHNYC for half off tickets here.
February 5: Join Digital Natives Group — along with Tech:NYC, Pursuit, Long Island City Partnership, and others — for the next Queens Tech Night meetup, featuring a keynote from NYC Chief Technology Officer John Paul Farmer. Register here.
February 6: Join Betaworks Studios for the next installment of their AMA Live series, featuring Cheddar founder and former Buzzfeed president Jon Steinberg. Register here.
February 12: Join Products that Count at Etsy HQ for a conversation with Andrew MacGill, SVP of Product at Pager, on how to effectively work with product-minded bosses and founders. Get tickets here.
February 13: Join Friends of the BQX for a workshop on the Brooklyn Queens Connector transit project, reviewing the streetcar’s route and soliciting community feedback on how the project can be improved. Additional workshops are also planned for future dates. Register to attend any of them here.
February 20: Join Stacklist to hear from a panel of Y Combintator alumni — including founders from ReverCare, CodeStream, and others — for an inside look into the accelerator and what startups can get out of the three-month program. Get tickets here.
February 25: Join Tech:NYC, along with Cornell Tech and Bloomberg, for the next installment of our monthly speaker series, featuring Flatiron Health co-founder and president Zach Weinberg. Registration is required here.
March 19: Join City & State for its 2020 Digital New York Summit, featuring NYC CIO Jessica Tisch, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and other government and industry leaders to examine the technological landscape in New York, the need for (high) speed across digital sectors, the current state of data security, and more. Use code TECHNYC for 25% off tickets by registering here.
WELCOME TO TECH:NYC
A warm welcome to our newest members:
Brightest: Smarter software for social impact, community building, people engagement, and events where good things happen.
Facilio: Real-time facilities optimization platform.
Jam: A recommendation engine for coworker connections.
Mobilo Card: A business card that allows you to share your contact details by tapping your card on a phone.
Passbase: A full-stack identity engine backed by verified government documents.
PowerSetter: Educates businesses and residents about their energy options and enables them to compare rates.
Showcase: A video-first marketplace for sales jobseekers.
Twine.nyc: Platform that helps you find your people and spark conversations worth having.
Ubersmith: Subscription management for the cloud and beyond.
Within Health: Democratizing healthcare through on-demand imaging.
JOIN US
Tech:NYC is looking for a Communications and Marketing Director and for a Policy and Communications Associate to join our team. Apply now or share the listings with someone you know!
We want your company to be a member of Tech:NYC! Sign up at our membership page, and let us know if you have any questions.
Red white and blue by Barbara Kalbfleisch/Shutterstock