NYCEDC and Company Ventures Launch the Second Annual City Fellowship for NYC Impact Entrepreneurs

Historically Underrepresented Founders are Encouraged to Apply to the Second Cohort of the City Fellowship to Access Venture Capital Networks and Resources in Support of Businesses and Nonprofits Impacting Equity and Sustainability in New York City

NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Company Ventures announced that applications are now open for the second annual cohort of the City Fellowship, a six-month program supporting impact entrepreneurs serving New York City and its neighborhoods. The City Fellowship at Company Ventures was founded in 2021 to specifically support historically underrepresented founders of small businesses, nonprofits, and technology startups that are building a more equitable and sustainable future for New York City.

“We are thrilled to continue partnering with Company Ventures on their second annual cohort of the City Fellowship, promoting entrepreneurship, sustainability and equity in New York City communities,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “By providing a diverse community of founders with resources, connections, and tools, we empower them to scale their impact-oriented projects throughout New York City.”

Eligible entrepreneurs leverage their business models for the betterment of New Yorkers’ quality of life. Through the fellowship, entrepreneurs will gain access to a community of like-minded innovators, as well as VC-level connectivity to government, corporate, and technological resources to help them to thrive. The City Fellowship aims to highlight a more inclusive and equitable model of business, one that emphasizes economic equity and climate justice.

Through the City Fellowship, participants gain access to:

• Company Ventures’ North Star program to help leaders identity and codify vision, mission and values, with an emphasis on full stakeholder accountability and environmental sustainability
• Support in navigating government piloting opportunities to introduce innovation and new technology at NYC agencies
• Workforce development partnerships with CUNY to provide paid internships for diverse next-gen talent

“The City Fellowship engages the venture industry in a more holistic approach to NYC tech,” said Lindsay Siegel, Managing Director of The City Fellowship and Head of Impact at Company Ventures. “The program provides a diverse cohort of founders with resources to grow their social impact startups, small businesses, and nonprofits that improve the quality of life for New Yorkers in every borough.”

The first cohort of the City Fellowship was composed of founders from 14 organizations city—from childcare solutions and job training to sustainability efforts for historically marginalized NYC communities. Their achievements in the last year include acceptances into Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund and Black Founders Fund, the Obama Foundation Scholars program at Columbia University, Visible Hands 2022 Flagship Accelerator, and the Basque Culinary Center's “Culinary Action! On the Road,” a prestigious international entrepreneurship program for food tech startups.

For more information and access to the fellowship application visit: companyventures.co/city-fellowship. There will be an info session on November 9th, which you can register to attend here. Applications are now open and due 11/30/2022 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Tech-forward entrepreneurs who are working to provide thoughtful improvements for quality of life in New York City
• Leaders from innovative nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, small businesses or tech startups
• Early stage operators are encouraged to apply—must show preliminary traction through revenue, fundraising, team development or other means
• Preference for those who are doubling down on economic equity and/or climate action for marginalized communities in NYC

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that creates shared prosperity across New York City by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. We work with and for communities to bring emerging industries to New York City; develop spaces and facilities for businesses; empower New Yorkers through training and skill-building; and invest in sustainable and innovative projects that make the city a great place to live and work. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Company Ventures
Company Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in NYC that provides an unparalleled foundation for entrepreneurs building with purpose. The firm invests in pre-seed and seed companies across all industry verticals with particular interest in digital health, financial services, real estate tech, enterprise software, and consumer internet. In addition to its early-stage investment activity, Company Ventures operates the Grand Central Tech Residency, an annual program built specifically to bring together NYC’s premier founding teams. Since inception, this program has supported over 150 companies, who have collectively raised $2.4B from top VCs.