NYCEDC Celebrates Successful Closing of 2025 NYC Startup and Venture Capital Internship Programs
Summer 2025 Programming Placed Over 110 NYC-Based Students at 80+ Startups and Venture Capitals Throughout City
Internship Programs Advance the Adams’ Administration Efforts to Build a More Equitable and Inclusive Tech Sector in New York City
Workforce Development Effort Develops Impactful and Efficient Talent Pipelines in NYC’s Tech Sector by Providing Students with the Resources, Professional Development, and Training Needed for Career Success
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Company Ventures, Supermomos, along with a coalition of more than 12 additional partners, celebrated the successful closing of the 2025 NYC Startup and Venture Capital Internship Programs – two cutting-edge initiatives that support tech-enabled startups and VC firms in New York City with capacity to host interns, grow their teams, and strengthen their businesses, while developing robust and equitable talent pipelines in New York City’s tech sector. These groundbreaking programs placed over 110 NYC-based students at over 80 startups and venture capital firms across the five boroughs. The 2025 programs have resulted in numerous students continuing their internships beyond the summer or receiving full-time offers, such as with early-stage NYC startups like GreenPortfolio, QMed Insights, and Theramotive, and VC firms like Newlab, Thomson Reuters Ventures, and Antler.
These programs build on NYCEDC's ongoing efforts through New York City’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advantage report and the Green Economy Action Plan, underscoring New York City's position as a global hub for emerging innovation industries and advancing the next phase of equitable, large-scale economic growth. This announcement also builds on NYCEDC’s Academia Report and is a reflection of the City’s commitment to deepening its partnerships with academia to strengthen the city’s talent pipeline, research capacity, innovation, and growth. Within the 2025 internship programs, 97 percent of placements were CUNY students.
“New York City’s tech sector and ecosystem is among the best in the world, and it is critical that this industry is open to the generation of New Yorkers by ensuring that NYC-based students have the resources and skills to be a part of this growth,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The NYC Startup and VC Internship Programs are a true blueprint to building a strong equitable talent pipeline, and the outstanding success of the 2025 cohorts really underscores the important role that the city's academic institutions can play in driving economic development.”
“The NYC Startup Internship Program gives NYC students the chance to do real work at early-stage startups and contribute in ways that matter,” said Company Ventures CEO and Managing Partner Matt Harrigan. “Programs like this not only prepare students for their careers but also strengthen the city’s innovation ecosystem by connecting local talent with the companies that need them most.”
“At Supermomos, our mission has always been to bring people together in real life, fostering meaningful connections while empowering underrepresented groups to participate. We're excited to champion this mission in the venture capital industry together with NYCEDC and our partners. Our inaugural cohort of students are pioneers and proof that New York City's innovation landscape can be as diverse and dynamic as the city itself,” said Supermomos Co-Founder & CEO Edwina Yeo.
“CUNY is proud to continue our partnership with NYCEDC to place CUNY students in paid internships with startups across the city,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “Paid internships are a proven path to successful tech careers. With the launch of the new Venture Capital Internship Program, we’re creating more opportunities for CUNY students to learn, network and be mentored by the best in the industry and ensure that the future of tech is driven by homegrown talent.”
“Investing in both our local talent pipeline and the city’s growing tech and VC sectors must be a top priority, so I’m grateful to NYCEDC and the internship partners for creating these valuable opportunities for New York students this summer. These internship programs open the door to high-earning careers for young New Yorkers and are vital to building more equitable industries,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
“If Queens is to become the global leader in the tech and innovation spaces that we believe it can be, connecting our young people, especially young people of color, to those jobs of tomorrow needs to be our top priority,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “That's what makes the NYC Startup and Venture Capital Internship Programs so vital, and I'm thrilled that this year represented another successful example of exactly that. Thank you to NYC EDC and all our partners for their outstanding work delivering on that mission.”
“As Borough President, I am proud to support initiatives that create direct pathways from the classroom to future careers. Programs such as the NYC Startup and Venture Capital Internship initiative are not only opening doors for our scholars, they’re helping to build a more inclusive and equitable economy right here in New York City,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “By connecting over 110 students with real-world experience at startups and venture capital firms, we are ensuring that our young talent, particularly those from underrepresented communities, can see themselves as future founders, investors, and industry leaders. I commend NYCEDC, Company Ventures, Supermomos, and all the partners involved for investing in our students and shaping the future of tech in our city.”
“We are supportive of efforts that help young people get established in lifelong and potentially enriching careers. The tech industry can be a valuable source of experience for people looking for an internship and to build skills,” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. “We thank NYCEDC for their work expanding opportunities for young people looking to get their foot in the door.”
The NYC Startup and VC Internship Programs bolster New York City’s innovation industries, including technology, AI, and the climate and green economy. Among the 2025 participating startup hosts, 76 percent are AI and/or green economy startup companies. Both the Startup and VC Internship Programs provided dedicated training days for both AI and the green economy, as well as professional development events, and AI literacy programming over the course of summer.
NYC Startup Internship Program
The NYC Startup Internship Program is a multi-year initiative, with programming supported by NYCEDC, Company Ventures, Tech:NYC and Blackstone LaunchPad, as well as partnership from the Zahn Innovation Center at City College, Justworks, OpenAI and Basta. In addition to securing paid summer internships at exciting NYC-based startups, participants have access to professional development training, industry networking sessions, and mentorship. The goal of the program is to cultivate the next generation of tech talent while supporting the growth of New York City's startup ecosystem. This year, the program placed over 90 NYC-based college students from various CUNY campuses into paid internships across 68 New York City tech-enabled startups.
This year’s initiative built on NYCEDC's previous Startup Internship Pilot Program, a workforce development program originated by Blackstone Launchpad that collectively provided 166 CUNY students with paid internships at 84 NYC-based startups during the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
NYC Venture Capital Internship Program
The NYC Venture Capital Internship Program supports talented undergraduate students from across New York City with exposure to the venture capital industry, and it helps participants build valuable transferable skills through hands-on experiences that prepare them for future careers in New York City’s venture capital and startup ecosystems. This initiative was made possible through support and partnership from partnership from NYCEDC, Supermomos, Everywhere Ventures, CUNY IAR, Kauffman Fellows, Carta, and Morrison Foerster.
In its inaugural year, the NYC Venture Captial Internship Program placed 21 students into paid internships at 19 venture capital firms based in NYC. Additionally, 25 percent of this year’s interns received return offers or extensions.
“At Tech:NYC, we're committed to building a tech workforce that reflects the incredible diversity of New York City. NYC Startup Internship, which helps develop the next generation of tech talent, is a critical step in that direction,” said Tech:NYC President & CEO Julie Samuels. “Through the support of our partners, we're able to offer CUNY students not just paid internships and mentorship, but a clear career path into New York's dynamic tech sector, particularly in high-growth areas like AI and climate tech.”
“We launched this internship program with Company Ventures in 2022 to create more opportunities for CUNY students to access paid internships while strengthening the NYC startup ecosystem,” said Blackstone Charitable Trust Foundation Executive Director Maura Pally. “We're grateful to NYCEDC and Tech NYC for not only scaling the program's reach but also enriching it with additional skill-building initiatives that empower students to thrive.”
“Venture capital primarily operates as a closed-door industry where most jobs and opportunities are never made public,” said Everywhere VC Co-Founder & Managing Partner Jenny Fielding. “This program in partnership with EDC, CUNY and Supermomos exposes students to the VC industry and gives them a foot in the door. It's been incredible to get to know the students over the course of the summer and see how they’ve been able to leave a positive mark on the industry.”
"Our intern made an impact from the very first day. They were remarkably job-ready, quickly picking up our stack and contributing to projects that directly touched our customers and partner brands,” said Float Co-Founder & CEO Anthony Rangel. "What stood out most was their initiative; they didn’t just wait for tasks, they identified opportunities, dug into documentation, and drove improvements that mattered to our business. As a small team where every hire counts, the NYCEDC program was invaluable in connecting us with such strong talent. Our intern's contributions didn’t just support our growth, they accelerated it, which is why we’ve been thrilled to keep them on beyond the summer.”
“The program has been extremely valuable in identifying local talent that can support our investing operations and with a passion for impact,” said Blue Ridge Labs @ Robin Hood Managing Director Sergio Marrero. “We even asked two of the interns to come back to continue their work passed the summer! We are appreciative of NYCEDC and Supermomos for their leadership and support in connecting talented CUNY students with us for the summer!”
“The VC Internship Program run by Supermomos has been an incredible experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. The bootcamp sessions gave me practical tools to understand venture capital, while networking opportunities connected me with inspiring investors and founders across New York’s startup ecosystem. The mentorship and guidance throughout the program stood out the most. I came away with deeper industry knowledge, stronger analytical skills, and lasting relationships that I know will shape my career in finance and venture capital,” said AIN Ventures Intern Arham Hossain.
“I enjoyed being able to work on so many different tasks and wear different hats,” said WeSuap Intern Ludwin Tenezaca. “It was extremely educational, and my manager and tech lead were always supportive and understanding, even when times were difficult. This program was very helpful in teaching me about networking, professional development, and building technical skills.”
New York City is the world’s second-largest tech and startup ecosystem, with more than 25,000 tech-enabled startups, over 360,000 jobs, a startup ecosystem valued at $694 billion, and more than 1,200 active venture capital and other investment firms. Given the rapid and continued growth across tech and venture businesses, employment, and wages, NYC’s tech sector remains one of the best opportunities for New Yorkers seeking middle- and high-wage jobs.
This announcement is also a reflection of the City’s commitment to deepening its partnerships with academia to strengthen the city’s talent pipeline, research capacity, innovation, and growth. Some key targeted investments in facilities, research centers, and career pipelines, include Cornell Tech, the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, BATWorks, Gotham Foundry, Fordham’s Bronx Green Jobs Center, Mount Sinai’s Surgical Innovation Center, and internship programs in life sciences and tech. The city’s academic institutions generate $35 billion in annual economic impact and serve as a cornerstone of innovation, talent development, and economic mobility—helping attract and retain young talent and translate research into new businesses and solutions. The city's young, educated talent base boasts a population of nearly 1 million students and recent graduates.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
