Wednesday, August 6, 2025

August 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 

In today’s digest, a ranked-choice voting analysis, Robert De Niro ♥️ NY, and charting the future of AI in NY.

Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

  • An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City has killed three people and sickened 70 since it was first detected in late July. Here’s what to know about the disease, including what it is, how it spreads, and what you can do to reduce the risk of the disease. (NBC New York)

  • NYC has opened its first shelter for transgender and gender-nonconforming people who are homeless. It’s the only city-funded shelter of its kind in the country and will help 150 transgender New Yorkers. 💗 (Gothamist)

  • The New York Times analyzed the ranked-choice voting data pulled from each voter’s ballot to show exactly how the Democratic mayoral field went from 11 to two, as each last place candidate was eliminated and their votes were redistributed after each round of vote counting. Check out the breakdown. 🗳️ (New York Times)


In other reading:

  • Where are Canada's wildfires? See wildfire, smoke, and air quality trackers for NYC area (Journal News)

  • Inside the lavish new Dior spa, the first to open in the US (Bloomberg)

  • Robert De Niro only wants to shoot in New York (New York Times)

What happens when Capitol Hill comes to SoHo? A refreshingly real conversation about the future of AI and the policies that could make or break NYC’s startup ecosystem.

Yesterday, Tech:NYC, M13, and Engine hosted Congressman Joe Morelle for a fireside chat and founder panel at M13’s offices in Manhattan. The message: regulation is coming, and if we want it to work for innovation, startups need a seat at the table.

Here’s what we heard:

💬 Rep. Morelle gets it: From deepfakes to data misuse, the Congressman stressed the urgency of AI regulation, while making it clear that Congress can’t do it alone. “We have to consult with people,” he said. “Because I don’t think most members of Congress are steeped in AI technology development well enough to make those judgments.”

⚖️ Balance is key: Rep. Morelle made the case for regulation that protects the public and gives founders the room to build. He also backed civil and criminal penalties for AI-generated harm.

🗣️ Startups sound off: Founders from Maple, Polimorphic, and Sitch recommended lawmakers avoid one-size-fits-all rules. 

  • A calendar plugin for dentists isn’t an autonomous vehicle, and treating it like one could stifle early-stage innovation. 

  • They also emphasized the vital role of access to foundation models like GPT and Gemini.

🗽 The NYC angle: With 2,000+ AI startups and over 40,000 AI pros, New York is poised to lead the AI era. But legislation like the RAISE Act could chill innovation here and give other cities a competitive edge.

🔮 What’s next: Rep. Morelle’s ask? More structured input from startups, especially those without lobbyists. If yesterday’s event is any indication, NYC’s AI community is ready to show up.

“When we talk about AI in New York, we're really talking about the applications of AI, who's actually using it, how people are using it, who's paying for it,” said Julie Samuels, Tech:NYC President and CEO. “It's not so theoretical here, but it is really practical here. And that's the New York way.”

Check out coverage of the event from POLITICO here.

In other reading:

  • AI is listening to your meetings. Watch what you say (Wall Street Journal)

  • The right way to prepare for a high-stakes conversation (HBR)

  • Big Tech may be breaking the bank for AI, but investors love it (Reuters)

  • August, an NYC-based AI platform designed for midsize law firms, raised $7 million in funding. NEA and Pear VC led the round and were joined by Afore Capital and others.

  • Rillet, an NYC-based AI-powered enterprise resource planning company, raised $70 million in Series B funding. A16z and ICONIQ led the round and were joined by Sequoia, Oak HC/FT, and others.

  • The Bridge at Cornell Tech, a new workspace on the Cornell Tech campus, is officially open. Sign up for tour invites, events, and updates here.

  • The third annual Environmental Tech Lab, an accelerated innovation program ensuring that New Yorkers can continue to enjoy safe drinking water and a clean environment as the climate continues to change in unpredictable ways. Apply by August 8 here.

  • Fierce Foundry is hosting a five-week Investment Readiness Bootcamp designed to help early-stage female founders prepare for their first institutional raise in the next 6-18 months. Work closely with fundraising experts, financial strategists, brand builders, and active investors to sharpen your pitch, financials, and growth plan. Apply by August 22 here.

  • Precursor Ventures’ How to Raise a Pre-Seed Bootcamp, for founders new to raising venture capital looking to learn the tools and strategies to navigate a pre-seed fundraising journey. Apply by August 22 here.

  • EY’s Entrepreneurs Access Network, which helps businesses bridge gaps in coaching, connections, curriculum, and capital, empowering them to achieve greater growth through tailored support in these areas. Apply by August 29 here.

  • Yale’s Computer Science Fair on September 19, featuring hundreds of students and tech companies. Companies can apply to attend by August 30 here.

  • See NYC is gathering 150 New Yorkers for a three-day summer camp-style experience to share ideas to build a better New York City. Apply here.

  • Company Ventures is hosting AI Review events, a year-long conversation series on the current and future state of AI. Submit your AI-related event for consideration here.

  • Union Square Ventures’ “usvwork” — a casual coworking day once a month for founders and builders in NYC. Apply here.

  • Forum Ventures is accepting pitches to its Forum for Founders program. The firm is investing in 30+ companies over the next three months, offering $100K and admission to its pre-seed accelerator to provide personalized GTM and sales support. Apply here.

Daily Digest Rewards 🎁 

Treat yourself: Send subscribers our way, and we’ll send swag your way.

1 Referral: Shoutout in the Digest
5 Referrals: Obviously NYC Hat
10 Referrals: Obviously NYC Tote Bag
25 Referrals: Obviously NYC Sweatshirt

You currently have 0 referrals, only 1 away from receiving a Shoutout in the Tech:NYC Digest.

Or share your personal link with others: https://technycdigest.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Any feedback or suggestions of things to add? Get in touch here.
Was this digest forwarded to you? Sign up to receive it directly here.