NYCEDC and Newlab Launch Resilient Energy Studio to Advance a Sustainable, Equitable Future for New York City
BROOKLYN, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Newlab announced the launch of the Resilient Energy Studio, the latest phase in their Urbantech NYC partnership to support the City’s vision for a sustainable, equitable future. The Resilient Energy Studio will leverage Newlab’s Innovation Studio methodology to advance energy storage capacity across New York City through entrepreneur-led pilot projects and partnerships with environmental justice communities, while addressing key sustainability, equity, and resilience issues critical to achieving NYC’s climate goals. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Climate Week 2021, during which New York City brought together entrepreneurs, local leaders, industry experts, and policymakers to address the complex, urgent challenges of climate change.
Over the next two years, the Resilient Energy Studio will produce generative research, align around areas of opportunity with local leaders, and recruit and support a cohort of emerging technology companies to design and deploy pilots that create community benefit and yield valuable insights for scaling energy storage solutions. The Studio will pilot technologies across New York City to advance new storage concepts, designs, and features that can increase energy resilience and security, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in disproportionately impacted communities.
Diversifying New York City’s Urban Tech Ecosystem through Founder Fellowship
In addition, NYCEDC and Newlab launched Founder Fellowship, a program that aims to help diversify New York City’s tech ecosystem by supporting traditionally underrepresented founders working in urban tech. Founder Fellowship aims to improve diverse founders’ access to capital, tech industry mentors, and peers. The program is in partnership with NYCEDC’s forthcoming Venture Access initiative, which aims to build a more inclusive tech startup ecosystem in New York City by bringing together investors, founders, and industry leaders. Founder Fellowship will offer eight startups 12-month Newlab memberships, as well as investor connections, pitch prep, and networking opportunities to equip them with the resources they need to build and scale their companies in New York.
Newlab membership features include access to Newlab’s 84,000 square-foot space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, curated programming, introductions to strategic partners, collaborators, investors, office hours with subject matter experts, dedicated pitch feedback sessions, and mentorship opportunities. The program will run two annual cycles, with recruitment for the first cohort taking place in 2021 and a second cohort kickoff planned for early 2022.
Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Through the HE³AT Program
In an effort to ensure the next generation has the tools and resources to meaningfully tackle climate change and take part in the new energy future, NYCEDC is collaborating with Newlab and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) to expand the HE³AT program, an experiential entrepreneurship, design-thinking, and STEAM curriculum for public high school students. Over the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, HE³AT will engage students on topics in emerging technologies such as renewable and alternative energies and related career fields by providing a collaborative, project-based learning environment at Newlab. The expansion of the program, initially launched in 2019, will create opportunities for public high school students from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities to become part of the technology, innovation, and sustainability ecosystem in New York through entrepreneurship, mentorship, and project-based learning.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Newlab and launch the Resilient Energy Studio and Founder Fellowship, and expand the HE³AT program,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “Initiatives like these strengthen New York City’s urban tech ecosystem by empowering a truly diverse community of innovators, founders, and entrepreneurs to think big and bold about what it means to protect New York City from climate change. Extending these programs to the next generation of innovators through education and mentorship will help secure the future of our city in this field.”
“We are thrilled to build upon our yearslong partnership with NYCEDC to advance the city’s critical sustainability priorities by launching the Resilient Energy Studio, while investing in underrepresented founders through Founder Fellowship and continuing to support the next generation of entrepreneurs through HE³AT,” said Shaun Stewart, CEO of Newlab. “Through our collaborative efforts with NYCEDC, we’ll continue to build on our years of urban tech initiatives that are focused on helping entrepreneurs to meaningfully contribute to advancing climate, energy and sustainability priorities while building a diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem in New York.”
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that creates shared prosperity across New York City by strengthening neighborhoods and growing good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and invests in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more about our work and initiatives, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
About Newlab
Newlab is a community of experts and innovators applying transformative technology to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Newlab membership and studios bring together entrepreneurs, engineers, inventors and industry leaders to create sustainable solutions and enterprises. Newlab employs technologies including robotics, AI and material science to transform what matters most—health, environment, media, cities, and infrastructure.
