Wednesday May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 

In today’s digest, prove you’re the ultimate New Yorker, beaches open for the season, and New Yorkers ♥️ tech by the numbers.

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  • Rent-stabilized apartment dwellers got a win yesterday when the New York City Rent Guidelines Board re-voted to pare back proposed rent hikes. 💰 (CBS News)

    • Rent increases for one-year leases remained unchanged (at a yearly increase of 1.75% to 4.75%), but rents for two-year leases can be raised 3.75% to 7.75%, down from previously voted range of 4.75% to 7.75%.

    • The final vote on the exact increases is scheduled for June 27, with public hearings being held leading up to the vote.

  • Beaches officially opened this past Saturday, and there are new safety measures in place to help keep visitors safe. More lifeguards have been added after a staffing shortage last year, and the city is expanding drone usage to drop emergency flotation devices when needed and to surveil the shoreline for sharks. 🦈 (ABC New York)

    • More than 7.4 million people last year visited the city's beaches, which will remain open through Sept. 7.

  • Are you the “Ultimate New Yorker?” Now’s your chance to prove it, and win some cash too. Nathan’s Famous has launched a contest to find the ultimate New Yorker — “the street performers, the cab drivers, the screaming walkers, the neighborhood ballers, the Coney Island goers, the subway riders, the chess challengers, the bodega owners, the foodie connoisseurs and the Nathan’s Famous eaters.” (PIX 11)

    • The wiener winner will get $1,000 and a year’s worth of hot dogs. 🌭

    • More deets on the contest here.


In other reading:

  • Cronuts and ‘Pizza Rat’: New York, as told through its dining scene (New York Times)

  • Manhattan bird lovers plan to turn Broadway malls into avian oases (Gothamist)

  • New Mets VetDog Buddy training to become a service dog (amNY)

A new citywide survey confirms what many in the industry have long understood: New Yorkers are bullish on tech driving the future of our city and deeply understand the need to build new infrastructure and programs to meet that need. 📊 

  • In a just-released report from LinkNYC and Tech:NYC, conducted by HarrisX, New Yorkers placed technology near the top of the list when asked which industries matter most for the city’s long-term economic success. 

  • The survey also looked at tech infrastructure in the city, and found that more than 3-in-4 New Yorkers support having a Link5G smart pole installed in their neighborhood.

 🔢 It’s hard to argue with the numbers:

  • 75% of New Yorkers say tech companies have positively impacted their lives.

  • 78% believe tech’s impact on the city overall is beneficial.

  • 76% back policies to attract more tech companies to NYC.

  • A majority of respondents are in favor of expanding tech education and growth. 

    • New Yorkers believe the city should offer more tech training opportunities (77%) and work to attract more tech companies (76%).

Let’s dig a little deeper:

AI 🤝 New York: New Yorkers see AI as a great tool for the workforce and social impact, with a strong interest in AI training opportunities.

  • Almost two-thirds of New Yorkers (68%) think AI will benefit the workforce and enhance job-related skills. 🤖 

  • 64% of New Yorkers believe AI will have a positive impact on the city. 

  • A majority of New Yorkers (60%) recognize AI’s potential as a tool for social impact, with strong agreement (66%) that it can help nonprofits scale their services and better serve New Yorkers.

Count us in: At Decoded Futures the Tech:NYC Foundation, we’re bridging the gap between AI and the social sector, empowering the social sector in New York City by providing the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to integrate AI into nonprofit operations​.

“This survey’s findings illustrate how the growth of digital technology creates jobs, drives economic activity, and provides services for New Yorkers in every borough,” said Tech:NYC President and CEO Julie Samuels. “We all understand the increasing role technology plays in our society, and that's why we must focus on modernizing our city's digital services.”

In other reading:

  • NYC Tech Transit Lab names 12 startups for 2025 cohort (State Scoop)

  • The world of work is much more pleasant than we expected (Financial Times)

  • AI is here — can we finally rethink our tired beliefs about work? (Fast Company)

  • Brooklyn Health, an NYC-based mental health measurement company, raised $6.5 million in seed funding. HealthX led the round and was joined by Metrodora Ventures, Story Ventures, RiverPark Ventures, and others.

  • Infinity Constellation, an NYC-based AI-native holding company, raised $17 million in funding. Freestyle led the round and was joined by Backed VC, Deepwater, BY Venture Partners, and angel investors.

  • Techstars Economic Mobility, for entrepreneurs designing innovative solutions that generate greater economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans. Apply by June 11 here.

  • Tech:NYC has partnered with Company Ventures, Blackstone LaunchPad, NYCEDC, and the Zahn Innovation Center to run the NYC Startup Internship Program, connecting high-potential CUNY students, primarily first-generation and low-income, with NYC startups. Apply to be a mentor by June 13 here.

  • The Factor Fellowship, an 18-week, part-time program for working professionals from diverse backgrounds looking to break into in-demand roles at NYC’s fastest-growing startups. Apply by June 15 here.

  • AcceleratorCON introduces Draft Combine, an opportunity for startups to be scouted by top accelerators and investors. Apply here.

  • Each month, Union Square Ventures hosts usvwork — a casual coworking day for founders and builders in NYC. Apply here.

  • Company Ventures’ Grand Central Tech Residency, for pre-seed/seed stage teams building venture-scale companies, or individuals launching a venture within six months. 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.

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