Friday, March 13, 2026
Welcome to another Friday edition of the Tech:NYC Digest, featuring our favorite five highlights in New York and tech this week.
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NYers could soon skip gridlock to take ‘air taxis’ to the airport as feds OK Big Apple test program (NY Post)
Your next JFK run could involve a skyport instead of the BQE. ✈️ New York has been picked as a test zone for short-hop “air taxis,” with electric aircrafts potentially shuttling travelers from Manhattan to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark in as little as five to 15 minutes.
Companies including Archer, BETA, and (Tech:NYC member!) Joby will work with the Port Authority during a three-year test to evaluate safety, noise, and whether the flights improve regional travel.
Has NY state's official Instagram account lost its mind? (Gothamist)
New York State’s official social handles have become a destination for nonsensical memes. And it’s deliberate.
Account admins are using a “Sesame Street” approach, wherein they attempt to make learning practical information — storm warnings, Ferry route changes, etc. – fun.
More like meme-nicipality, amiright? (Ok, we’ll stay in our lane.)
Tech traveler’s guide to Dumbo: Where to stay, eat, and recharge (WIRED)
Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood has become one of New York’s fastest-growing tech hubs. 🧑💻
The neighborhood is part of the broader “Brooklyn Tech Triangle” that also includes the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Downtown Brooklyn.
As tech jobs continue to move to New York, Dumbo has developed a dense mix of startups, waterfront offices, coffee shops, and restaurants that cater to remote work and meetings.
At a lobster-themed event for AI enthusiasts, exuberance with a side of cocktail sauce (NBC News)
Hundreds of AI enthusiasts packed into a Manhattan apartment-turned-ballroom for “ClawCon,” a high-energy meetup centered on a new generation of personal AI assistants. 🦞
The event focused on OpenClaw, software that lets users build AI agents that can carry out tasks like summarizing podcasts, sending emails, negotiating purchases, or ordering groceries.
Attendees got both a taste of personal AI systems that can help manage everyday digital tasks all on their own, and a taste of some lobster to wash it all down.
Is the Half Marathon the tougher race? (New York Times)
Some runners say the New York City Half Marathon (going down this Sunday!) can feel more difficult than the full marathon despite being half the distance. 🏃
The course includes challenging stretches such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the FDR Drive, which runners say require careful pacing.
About 30,000 runners will take part this year, starting near Prospect Park in Brooklyn and finishing in Times Square.
New York 🤝 fintech, consumer, and healthtech sectors:
Have a fin-techstic weekend, New York! 💰
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