Please Meet: The SEEN 50
New York is leading the way when it comes to diversity in tech:
Fifty percent of CUNY’s enrolled STEM students are Black and/or Hispanic, and approximately 71% come from households earning less than $40,000 per year
Black and Hispanic workers make up ~20% of NYC's tech workforce, double the level in San Francisco and Boston combined.
But, as we continue to say, there’s more work to be done:
According to NYCEDC, in 2023, female-founded companies in New York City received just 19% of VC funding, while Black and Latinx-founded companies in the city each received just 2.9%.
That’s why Tech:NYC and Visible Hands are thrilled to announce the inaugural SEEN 50 cohort of New York City-based underrepresented founders leading trailblazing startups.
These startups range from companies focused on the health and wellness sector, to ones working to improve the real estate industry to others boosting the supply chain.
Founders will be honored at the SEEN Summit on November 20 in Manhattan, a half-day of workshops and networking that will focus on empowering and equipping founders with the tools and access to address one critical pain-point overlooked founders face: funding.
Founders will have the opportunity to meet with leading venture capital firms, and network with other tech startup leaders.
Also part of the festivities: The Summit will celebrate the one-year anniversary of NYCEDC’s Venture Access Alliance, the coalition of investors committed to building a more inclusive startup ecosystem.
“Ensuring that all entrepreneurs have equal access to capital is absolutely essential to building the most vibrant tech ecosystem in the world,” said Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC. “We’re proud to announce the inaugural SEEN 50 list and continue connecting the next generation of underrepresented founders with funders. As SEEN expands, we are excited to see how these startups grow with the initiative and the city we call home.”
“At Visible Hands, we are committed to uplifting underrepresented founders to build a future where talent and tenacity, rather than access to resources, are key predictors of success,” said Justin Kang, Co-Founder and General Partner of Visible Hands. “We are excited to work with Tech:NYC to bring SEEN to New York entrepreneurs, and continue connecting funders with leading startups.”
SEEN is sponsored by EY and Rho, and NYCEDC joins the initiative as a partner.
Quotable:
“This inaugural SEEN 50 cohort represents the future of New York City’s startup ecosystem and we are eager to help these founders thrive and reach their fundraising goals,” said Octavius Moore, Director of Platform at Tech:NYC. “The SEEN 50 is the next step in our mission to support a dynamic and diverse tech sector in New York City. We look forward to expanding this program to reach even more founders in the years ahead.”
“We’re proud to partner with Tech:NYC and Visible Hands on the inaugural SEEN Summit and SEEN 50 list to spotlight the transformative impact that diverse founders and investors have across New York City's innovation economy,” said Jon Schulhof, Executive Vice President for Innovation Industries at NYCEDC. “As we mark the anniversary of the Venture Access Alliance, which has grown to more than 100 venture capital firms since launching last October, we remain committed to building stronger connections among founders, investors, and tech leaders, and creating a more inclusive future for New York’s tech and venture ecosystem."
“New York is the best place in the world to build a company,” said Everett Cook, Co-Founder and CEO of Rho. We’re proud to support organizations like Tech:NYC that are committed to empowering the diverse group of founders that make the NYC startup community special.”