Driving Access, Equity, and Inclusion in the NY Tech Community
Executive Director’s Message
As we put 2020 behind us, a year of so much disruption to our everyday lives I find myself reflecting upon a world where decades seem to span only weeks and life’s pace is both sped up and slowed down simultaneously; of how I can feel connected in one moment and completely disconnected the next.
I know these feelings are not uncommon and as we continue to guide ourselves and our friends and families through these unprecedented times, we all must look for our true North. What is it that pushes us forward in the work we do, and how can we continue to create opportunities for success? In a time of increased isolation and widening divides, how do we, as a community and as a city, work to bridge these gaps?
Thankfully, I sit at the center of one of the most vibrant and resilient cities in the world, full of the most innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs, many of whom will soon find their voices. For this reason, in a city of immigrants and a city where over 600 languages are spoken, we understand the extreme importance of — Driving Access, Equity, and Inclusion in the Tech Ecosystem.
These are the words and ideas that drive the NY Tech Alliance forward in our mission to connect and educate this unique ecosystem. Since 2016, when the NY Tech Alliance was created from the merger of two legacy organizations, our board of directors, staff, and members continue to build upon the work rooted in our organizational ethos — Building a strong and sustainable tech ecosystem for all New Yorkers.
In our daily work, we connect the many communities that make up this brilliant ecosystem and provide a platform for both early-stage and experienced technologists and founders to find, navigate, build, and connect with the greatest available opportunities. Whether immigrants, LGBTQ+, women, and BIPOC, we know that everyone deserves to have access to the richness they provide. Only through surmounting institutional inequities and bridging these communities together can we truly move toward a completely inclusive ecosystem.
For the coming year, we will continue providing programs like our Women’s Demo Night, Immigrant Founders Night, Developing Pride, Founder Spotlights, and NY Tech Latinas, doing so with every New Yorker in mind.
Thank you to everyone that has connected, reconnected, and stayed connected with us, and for making this past year’s programs and events a great success during such a difficult year.
The road ahead is long and challenging but drives us to create a tech ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity of the city we all call home. With your continued support, we will forge this path, together.
Looking forward to a bright 2021!
With deepest appreciation,
Eustacio (Andy) Saldaña
Executive Director
This interview is part of our “Getting to Know You” series, featuring brilliant entrepreneurs from the NY Tech community.
Shaun Johnson is an experienced entrepreneur who has worked across the fields of technology acceleration, early-stage investment, and ecosystem development. He lives in New York City and teaches entrepreneurship at Fordham University & Parsons School of Design. Shaun is also a Board Member of the NY Tech Alliance. He agreed to speak with us about his career journey, the lessons learned along the way, his take on diversity in tech, and what makes a successful entrepreneur.
“One piece of advice I’ve been given and still sticks with me in a perplexing way would be to say that perception equals reality. Even though this isn’t always a universal truth, I often wonder if it’s true, untrue, or sometimes true — as there are times one can influence the other, and other times, not at all.”
Tell us about yourself
I like to describe myself as a helper of people, and that has taken a lot of different shapes and forms. I actually started my career in the federal government, then as a management consultant, and finally transitioned into the world startups as an early employee at Techstars, where I ended up spinning out a company called Startup Institute — a career accelerator aiming to equip people with the network skills and mindset to be immediately impactful in the startups that they join.
You teach entrepreneurship ー according to you, what are the skills one must develop to become a successful entrepreneur?
In teaching entrepreneurship, there are a lot of things that are important, especially at the university level because there’s always this tension between “can entrepreneurship be taught?” or “should you just go out and do it?”
The mentality of doing and learning through action is definitely a skill worth acquiring, whether in the field or the classroom.
There will always be a lot of little failures along the way, and that’s actually a good thing, but it can be counterintuitive for folks who aren’t used to accepting failure on their way to success. Grit is also another important factor. And then the last one, just because I want to leave it at three, is empathy. To have a deep understanding of your customer, the mission that you have, and the people that you’re building around helps you to build exceptional teams, exceptional products, and ultimately, address your market in an exceptional way.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching entrepreneurship?
The people. Students are always so different. People come from multiple backgrounds, different parts of the world, different industries, and with different perspectives. Even if you are teaching one specific course on entrepreneurship, it’ll never look the same because it’s always dependent on the people who are there. Everyone brings their unique personality, and the diversity and plurality come together to create a unique experience.
My desire and appreciation for plurality reflect my sentiments about New York City itself. The city is made of 8 million people coming from different backgrounds and places, who all have unique personalities, desires, hopes, and dreams.
We all have to interact with each other and try to build a better future. Whether it’s through entrepreneurship or just our own coexistence, I think that there’s something productive and meaningful about that.
How do you think the tech industry can become more diverse?
I think one of the challenges is that we tend to take one shade or one arc of diversity, drill in on that and assume that we’ve done our job. For example, one aspect of diversity can be ensuring your company hires people of color, or getting women into the tech ecosystem and make sure that there’s equal pay and that gender rights are respected.
But can you actually look at this kaleidoscope and not just say, ‘Hey today we want to focus on, like, LGBTQ rights?’ Or ‘today we want to focus on Black people or women.’ But instead, the dialogue has to answer the question of: “How can we actually approach inclusion and value creation that is accessible to all?”
Rather than trying to identify a specific group on its own, let’s actually think about how we can lift everyone up together while also valuing their uniqueness.
Is this part of the reason or the reason why you wanted to become involved with the NY Tech Alliance?
I’ve been a huge fan of the NY Tech Alliance since my career in startups has begun. Before I was living in New York City, I would take a bus from out of state to attend NY Tech Meetups, to see that the energy in the room with so many different people there.
It just felt like a panorama of what the startup ecosystem has to offer. It was a great entry point for me. And the NYTA still serves in that capacity for others and provides a jumping-off point, an entry point, and a point of connection, learning and motivation for people.
When given the opportunity to serve on the board, it was something that I couldn’t pass up.
Which trends do you think will emerge in the tech industry in the near future?
You know, I never pretended to be a fortune teller, but I think the year we just survived showed us that despite quarantine and isolation, we still need to connect with each other and be productive. It has been great for Zoom but so many people are zoomed out and looking for different ways of connecting with people that may not just be from the shoulders up.
You’re also seeing some trends around climate tech. The conversation is now rightly shifted from climate change to the climate crisis, and it is attracting a lot of bright minds and big dollars. And I think that’s great because it’s imperative for our survival as human beings.
How has a past failure set you up for success?
I mean, I guess I’m always failing at something. If you’re not failing, you’re probably not trying hard enough. I think the little failures along the way are indicative of trying to do something audacious or something that you’re unsure of. I couldn’t point to one specific failure because there’s just a butterfly effect of one thing leading to the next thing. But overall, the lesson in failure is really to process it and move on to the next thing, ideally in an upward fashion.
As New Yorkers, there may not always be the time or space to do that. You know, we move so fast. We break things, we execute, and there’s so much going on that we can forget to stop and reflect for a minute, look objectively at failure and ask “What could I have done better? What did I learn here? What would I do next?”
It’s important to reflect in a way that builds off of that failure rather than just repetitively coming right back at the same scenario, which is likely to lead to the same outcome.
What was the biggest challenge that you faced in your career?
Walking away from something that just wasn’t for me at the time. With an early career as a management consultant, a lot of things about that job were great: the prestige, the nice fancy suits, the travel.
But then you start to just understand what your calling is, what motivates you or what nourishes you. Changing your career to pursue your calling can be risky, but it ultimately is good for the soul. At the time, I didn’t know exactly what my calling was going to be. And it took courage and conviction to just say “Ok, all these things are good and everyone else loves them for me. But I just don’t love them as much, and I’m willing to look out into the abyss and seek out something that actually is more aligned with who I am and who I want to be.”
It was really scary and that’s one of the biggest moves I’ve made. That’s the advice I give to my students. Do what you love. Life’s too short!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given?
One piece of advice I’ve been given and still sticks with me in a perplexing way would be to say that perception equals reality. Even though this isn’t always a universal truth, I often wonder if it’s true, untrue, or sometimes true — as there are times one can influence the other, and other times, not at all.
I apply that saying as a prompt for a lot of different things, from looking at analytics and wondering what’s going on with your company, checking in with your mental health and wondering if all of this anxiety or depression is actually real or if your perception influences what you’re feeling. And it’s also a way to keep yourself grounded.
Any final words?
Yeah. If Alicia (interviewer) says or types anything that makes me sound stupid, that was her edit. Everything that I said was brilliant (laugh). And she’ll make sure that it comes across!
To connect with Shaun on LinkedIn, click here.
To learn more valuable lessons from Founders, watch our NYTA Founder Spotlight series on YouTube.
The art of DOING, with serial entrepreneur Georgie-Ann Getton-McKoy
Learn about getting started as an entrepreneur, hosting a successful crowdfunding campaign, and believing in your dreams with Georgie-Ann Getton-McKoy, Founder of GSD Solutions.
Georgie is an execution strategist, award-winning serial entrepreneur, community builder, speaker, author, podcast host, and Diversity in Tech Enthusiast. Georgie founded multiple ventures including GSD Solutions and GSD With Georgie to help businesses produce their own online events. She also launched the very first Black Podcasting Awards after a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2020, and wrote a book called The Art of Getting Sh*t Done, where she shares her experience and secrets on productivity and entrepreneurship. We’re proud to count Georgie as a member of the NY Tech Alliance Community — she’s been a dedicated member and brilliantly hosted our virtual Celebration of Black Women Founders.
What’s your daily routine?
I usually get up around 7am. First thing is to get myself situated, shower, brush my teeth. Then if the weather allows it, I will take a morning walk, and if it’s not the best weather outside I just read and meditate at home. After that, I make breakfast and wake up the kids to get ready for school and the day. After breakfast, I start my day with my first call at 9am a daily stand-up. Then I create the task list for the day and start to tackle that list while taking breaks to do homeschooling and interact with the kids.
Combining parenthood and entrepreneurship can be challenging. How do you manage your family and your company?
Having a clear schedule is the best way to handle all things family and kids because at any moment there is so much going on. With a clear schedule, I can then build the flexibility I need, swap out things when needed and just make sure any fires that pop up personal or professional I have the mental space to tackle. I also have many standard operating processes in both my house and my company so if t I am not available, someone else is and can hop in.
“I have many standard operating processes in both my house and my company.”
What’s the advice you would give to an aspiring entrepreneur?
Stay persistent. Life is all about curveballs. The sooner you accept that “the game is rigged and fair” doesn’t exist, the sooner you gain the mental freedom to just DO, without worrying about if you’re doing it wrong or right.
What’s your biggest failure as an entrepreneur?
My biggest failure was being fearful of my finances. This was a huge failure for me because my personal financial insecurities trickled into my business and because of that some business ventures I have had failed. I was afraid to charge my worth or even charge at all. Once I started tackling this fear I because more successful overall.
I was afraid to charge my worth or even charge at all.
And your biggest win?
I would say one of my biggest wins was getting into the CUNY startups accelerator when I was in college. It gave me a huge sense of confidence in my work as an entrepreneur. Then when I made it to the Top 4 it was clear that I had all this untapped potential inside me that I needed to embrace.
A word on your book “The Art of Getting Sh*t Done”— How do you go from being a dreamer to a doer?
You go from being a dreamer to being a doer by starting. Life is a journey and so is everything in life including entrepreneurship. You will feel overwhelmed at times, and think you don’t have everything you want to start or continue that journey. This could be true, but you will always have everything that you need within you!
Just start, here, today, now with what you have and EVERYTHING else will fall into you path.
You raised more than $9,000 to fund the Black Podcasting Awards. What was your strategy and in other words, the key to success for someone wanting to start a crowdfunding campaign?
The key to the success of that campaign was tapping into my network and sharing what I was doing. I did a lot of cold tweeting, random live streams, texting, emailing, and posting on social media. When we were less than 48 hours from the deadline and below half of our goal I told myself that we would not only meet, but exceed our goal. Then I pulled out every card I had and made it happen. Tap into your network! Share your work! Be your biggest champion.
When we were less than 48 hours from the deadline and below half of our goal I told myself that we would not only meet, but exceed our goal.
You’ve been a wedding officiant for 5 years. Tell us more about that!
Well, I am a nerd! I love learning and doing new things. When I became a wedding officiant I was on a major “Side Hustle” journey. I loved the flexibility that being an entrepreneur offered but I was also aware that I had bills and a child to take care of so I needed to make money. I got certified so it could be an income stream and also so that I could go to more weddings. At the time of getting certified I had only been to one or two weddings in my entire life. What’s the best way to get invited to a wedding? By being a vendor! Being a wedding officiant satisfied a professional and personal need all at once. Since getting certified I have helped four couples say “I Do”.
“I loved the flexibility that being an entrepreneur offered but I was also aware that I had bills and a child to take care of.”
What’s your number one rule for a successful online event?
Start from the goal and work your way backward! The golden rule to community engagement around your brand? Be yourself. When I try to get all fancy with the content people don’t really resonate with it. I get the most engagement when I remain my crazy, doing-the-most self.
Tell me about your thoughts on diversity in tech.
Diversity in tech is essential. At least as a concept. When it is put into action, often time companies miss the mark on what needs to be done to achieve this goal. The systematic issues that come from the government, constitution, and institutions built many years ago consistently leave diversity initiatives gasping for air. The only time true diversity will be achieved is when companies and their leaders look at it as a staple in business success from day one, not as an afterthought to not get attacked by the public.
The systematic issues that come from the government, constitution, and institutions built many years ago consistently leave diversity initiatives gasping for air.
What steps can tech companies take to be more diverse and inclusive?
They can start by taking a look within, “Do we have unconscious biases?”. Then from there, they can begin to look at their team and goals and see if the picture that they see reflects their short and long-term goals as a company. There are many, many, many diverse team members and founders out there. Diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, geographic location, education level, age, and the list goes on and on. But before a company can embrace that diversity and become inclusive they have to take a look at their own flaws as to why have they never seen this before? Why did they not think of this before? Then and only then will companies become diverse and inclusive in an authentic way.
Connect with Georgie-Ann on LinkedIn, and head to our website to browse our upcoming events and meet more empowering founders.
Mariella Paulino, founder of Project Hearing, hosted the NYTM on Assistive Technology for Hearing Disability Inclusion + Allyship. She agreed to share insights about her work, her opinion on inclusivity and technology with us!
About Mariella
In 2014, Mariella was pulled over by a police officer. Because of her hearing loss, her inability to follow commands was understood as noncompliance and created a situation that could easily have escalated. The experience left her so shaken she went on to do her Master’s degree in communications to explore how people with disabilities interact and communicate with the world around them. The thesis then turned into a social venture project, Project Hearing, which among many other things, created bumper stickers that say “Deaf Driver” in an effort to create better interactions between deaf people and police officers. She has worked in tech as a software developer, designer, and now as a project manager by day and assistive tech advocate nonprofit manager by night. If you want to get in touch with her, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media @projectHearing. And if you like her work go ahead and support her Patreon here.
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1) What can companies and individuals do to make the world more inclusive for people with disabilities?
Companies and individuals can make the world more inclusive for people with disabilities by advancing economic opportunities, supporting product design led by people with disabilities, and elevating and supporting the voices of these subject matter experts.
Equity for people with disabilities is inextricably linked to economic opportunity. The unemployment rate for disabled people is double that for the able-bodied and since the pandemic began in March, 1 in 5 workers with disabilities in the United States lost their employment. Planning to recruit and hire more people with disabilities within your organizations and auditing hiring, retention, and promotion practices for accessibility would be an excellent place to start. Organizations like the Job Accommodation Network provide resources for creating an exemplary organizational accommodation infrastructure thereby helping to ensure a disability-inclusive workplace.
Supporting product design led by people with disabilities is critical as this population has long been integral to design processes, though frequently viewed as “inspiration” rather than active participants or creators. Often, designers that create products neglect diversity and inclusion principles until the end of their processes. The assumption is, if you create a strong product first and then make adjustments to accommodate for diversity, you’ll tick all boxes on effective design. Designing for inclusion, however, begins with recognizing exclusion and while diversity and inclusion are topics on many executive agendas, people with disabilities are rarely asked by brands to collaborate on product design. Including people with disabilities in the design process isn’t just “the right thing to do,” it’s also great for business. According to a recent study of 140 U.S. companies by Accenture–alongside the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN–those that offered the most inclusive working environment for disabled employees achieved an average of 28% higher revenue, 30% greater economic profit margins, and twice the net income of their industry peers between 2015 and 2018!
Finally, elevating and supporting the voices of people with disabilities who are advocating, educating, and putting together events is one of the most powerful ways that we can all make the world more inclusive. Continuously learning, sharing, and engaging with advocates active in this space give us all access to the tools, connections, and proactive solutions to take our commitment and turn it into actionable steps that make a difference in our world.
People with disabilities are disabled not just because of their bodies but also by the inaccessibility of the design of the world in which they exist. Taking part in the basic activities of daily life, such as going to work, school, or university, gathering with friends or relatives, buying groceries, or attending cultural events can be extremely difficult or even impossible because of barriers. These barriers can be physical, such as the absence of a ramp or elevator to an apartment, in communication such as the absence of tools for inclusion like captioning during conference calls, or even systemic such as discrimination by employers during a job interview where an employer discriminates against someone who needs an accommodation. We all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive world and we all have a responsibility in trying to ensure every body is included.
2) What does your day to day job look like?
Over the past three years, I have been honored to work for the City University of New York, the largest urban university in the United States, as a project manager for one of the last federal grants signed by President Barack Obama. The grant aims to upskill New Yorkers through no-cost tech-based initiatives and allows me to intertwine my interest in technology, corporate strategy, and design thinking. My day is far from over at 6pm, however, and in my after-work work and weekends, I’ve launched and managed an assistive technology volunteer-based non-profit called Project Hearing that has gotten sponsored by the likes of Google and the Flatiron school. At Project Hearing I work to elevate the voices of countless advocates with disabilities and allies in the form of workshops, interviews, partnerships, and social media content.
3) What’s your relationship with technology?
From the moment I open my eyes to the vibrating alarm clock I have on my bedside table to the moment I set up my visual fire alarm before going back to sleep. My reality as a person with a disability is strongly dependent on technology and I depend on technology in every aspect of my life to ensure my inclusion.
4) Do you think the tech and principles of Project Hearing can be adapted to other types of disabilities?
Tech and the principles that I am using to build Project Hearing are universal and can be adapted to other types of disability. The ethos of the organization is “do something where you are with the tools you have right now.” I believe we all have the power to advance the careers, ideas, and voices of people with disabilities and by focusing on immediate actionable steps we can all make a difference.
5) Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I was the first person with a cochlear implant to visit the continent of Antarctica!
6) Do you have any good books or movies to recommend?
Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner: I am so inspired by Heumann and her accessibility work and am constantly aspiring for that level of impact in the present digital landscape.
Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind by Regine Gilbert: Regine is a professor of assistive technology at New York University and has been an incredible mentor in helping me think through my work as a disability activist.
“30 Tools in 30 Days: Tools for People with Hearing Disabilities to be More Independent & for Allies to Not be Assh*les” is a book I am finishing up on my favorite accessibility tools. The book is set to be published at the end of this year and curious aspiring readers can stay tuned on its development by subscribing to my newsletter at www.projecthearing.com.
Head to our website to discover more amazing tech founders!
It’s certainly been a mild winter, but NYC’s tech ecosystem continues to heat up with spring on the horizon, and we have some great announcements and tech events for you to check out!
****VC UPDATE 2020: MARKET OUTLOOK & STRATEGIES FOR GETTING TO A TERM SHEET – FEBRUARY 27****
Join us for our first event of our Foundations of Entrepreneurship series of 2020! We will be presenting our 2020 update on the venture capital financing market for early-stage companies. The panel will feature representatives from some of the top funds and organizations, both large and small. Together, they will be addressing the outlook for early-stage VC financing for the coming year, as well as providing attendees with practical advice on identifying and connecting with VCs.
GET YOUR TICKETS AT: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vc-update-2020-market-outlook-strategies-for-getting-to-a-term-sheet-tickets-91339634305?discount=NYTECH2020
****MARCH 2020 NY TECH MEETUP - MARCH 3****
Join us for NYC's most famous and longest running monthly tech event! You'll see a fantastic lineup of New York tech companies presenting live demos of their products, followed by an afterparty where you can network with the community and meet our demoers and sponsors.
GET YOUR TICKETS AT: http://bit.ly/mar2020nytm
****NY TECH MEETUP: CLEANTECH DEMO NIGHT EVENT – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS****
On Tuesday April 7, NY Tech Meetup will be partnering with NYSERDA to spotlight tech companies who are focused on creating new sustainable technologies in the clean energy sector. Applications are now open, with the submission deadline being Friday, February 28. Applicants will be notified on whether they have been selected by Monday, March 9. Good luck, and we hope to see you at the event to show your support for sustainability and a greener future!
Apply today at https://forms.gle/1zoaE9WFqxygkXpR9
****NY TECH ALLIANCE CEO ROUNDTABLE - CALL FOR APPLICATIONS****
CALLING ALL CEOs! NY Tech Alliance is currently accepting applications for a limited number of spaces for our CEO Roundtable Program. This small group of committed CEOs from growing technology companies meets monthly to discuss issues each is facing in their day-to-day. Conversations are kept confidential and participating CEOs are selected to ensure non-competitive participation.
Meets Monthly on Monday Evenings
Midtown Manhattan Location
6:00-9:00 pm
Apply today at https://goo.gl/forms/FdtmC3OqNC40ejiw2, or email [email protected] with any questions.
****STAY CONNECTED WITH NY TECH ALLIANCE*****
To better help our members stay connected before, during, and following our events, we have incorporated Hio into our ecosystem.
DOWNLOAD Hio
During our events, use Hio and connect with other attendees by checking-in and sharing contact info across all social media platforms!
Download Hio today at https://hiosocial.app.link/2vqxMnML71 and sign into the NY Tech Meetup events with the passcode: nytech.
UPCOMING PARTNER EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
****Black Women Talk Tech: 2020 Roadmap to Billions Conference – February 27-29****
Roadmap to Billions is for self-identified black women founders with scalable businesses and technology companies, investors, tech evangelists and their allies. The immersive three-day tech conference, designed by black women founders for black women founders, includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking, and more!
Use the code RTB-DXE3EP3M for a 25% registration discount!
For more info and to register: https://www.blackwomentalktech.com/
****LYLAS Labs: Open Data Hack on Pay Parity - March 1****
Submitted by: Margaret Smiley
LYLAS Labs is uniting with 50+ New Yorkers across industries on Sunday, March 1 to develop open data solutions to advance pay parity.
The day-long hackathon will engage interdisciplinary teams to propose creative technical solutions to the gender pay gap as part of NYC's annual Open Data Week.
LYLAS Labs hackathons are open to all participants, regardless of technical experience or subject matter expertise.
Use the code lylaspartner for a 20% registration discount!
To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lylas-labs-open-data-hack-on-pay-parity-tickets-91444550111
****SportTechie's State of the Industry - March 26-27****
Submitted by: Dan Kaufman
SportTechie's State of the Industry is the world's premier conference on how technology is changing the way we play, consume, produce and train for sports. We will focus on the following tracks, which include keynote conversations, TED-talk style presentations, and panels, all at Barclays Center in Brooklyn:
- Athlete Performance Tech
- Sports Venue Tech
- Sports Media Tech
- Sports Sponsorship Tech
Use the code SOTI_NYTECH for a 10% registration discount!
For more info and to register: https://events.sporttechie.com/SOTI
****The Emotion AI Conference - March 30****
Submitted by: Seth Grimes
The Emotion AI Conference offers an industry perspective on affective technologies, taking place March 30 in New York. Research speakers from tech firms, industry, and academia will speak on use of natural language processing, voice tech, facial coding, and neuro methods to detect and apply emotion in and via social and online media, in-vehicle and in-lab, and conversational interfaces.
Use the code NYTECH for a 20% registration discount!
http://emotionai20.com
****Veritonic Job Opportunities****
Veritonic is looking to hire for both a Director of Business Development, and a Sales Development Representative. Please use the following links to apply!
Director of Business Development
Sales Development Representative
Veritonic is the audio intelligence platform, empowering marketers to understand and quantify the most effective way to use sound. We help platforms like Pandora and brands like Visa win the audio renaissance.
We are in June, and that means we are officially in Pride Month! June is a time to celebrate the vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and its continued fight for equality and inclusion. 2019 is a landmark year, as it is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, considered one of the most monumental events of LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. In commemoration and celebration, New York City is proud to host WorldPride and welcomes citizens from around the world to participate in a month long series of events. This special edition of our newsletter is a listing dedicated to the many of the conferences, talks, tours, exhibits and social activities happening in celebration.
Happy Pride and remember to be kind to all! ️💖
Be sure to read on for information on networking, professional, and tech events taking place this month, as well as for a list of exciting events in celebration of Pride!
Tech/Networking/Professional Events. 🌈
**LGBTQ+ Impact Entrepreneurship Forum
Tuesday June 4th
Join StartOut New York for an evening panel led by LGBTQ+ impact entrepreneurs and representatives from the UN and New York Economic Development Corporation, with the focus on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
**Celebrate Stonewall’s 50th with LGBTQ+ Professionals on a Rooftop
Wednesday June 5th
Out Professionals invites you to a special evening Pride networking event at Midtown’s High Bar New York.
**Out in Tech NY: QTPOC Pride Celebration
Wednesday June 12th
Join Out in Tech NY in Brooklyn for a special WorldPride event, celebrating the vibrant QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) community.
**Point Source Youth Conference
Monday June 17th – Wednesday 19th
A three-day symposium presented by the National Symposium on Solutions to End Youth Homelessness brings together over 700 national leaders from different sectors to find solutions to end youth homelessness.
**LGBTQ Week
Monday June 17th - Friday June 28th
A two-week long series of LGBTQ-focused conferences, symposia, workshops, seminars, and events.
**World Pride: Being Seen in the Workplace
Tuesday June 18th
A Women’s Breakfast event held by Lower Manhattan HQ, where industry leaders will lead a discussion on workplace diversity, inclusion, visibility and identity from the LGBTQ+ perspective.
**Pride Luminaries Brunch
Sunday June 23rd
The Pride Luminaries Brunch is an event honoring business leaders who have made a positive impact on LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace.
Color Your World at These Other Events. 🌈
Pride Walking Tour by Pride Tours NYC
Entire Month of June
A comprehensive walking tour that tells the detailed story of the Stonewall Uprising.
Stonewall 50 at New York Historical Society
Entire Month of June
The New York Historical Society will be opening two exhibitions and a special installion throughout the month of June in honor of Stonewall’s 50th anniversary: Letting Loose and Fighting Back: LGBTQ Nightlife Before and After Stonewall; By the Force of Our Presence: Highlights from the Lesbian Herstory Archives; and Say It Loud, Out, and Proud: Fifty Years of Pride.
Love & Resistance: Stonewall 50
Entire Month of June
The New York Public Library commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots through a new exhibition, a series of programs, book recommendations, and more.
First Fridays: Black LGBTQ WorldPride Edition
Friday June 7th
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture presents its 5th annual First Fridays: LGBT Edition, which celebrates and recognizes materials for and by black LGBTQ individuals throughout history.
Brooklyn Pride 2019
Saturday June 8th
A day of Pride celebrations in the heart of Brooklyn with an entire day of events, including the 5K Pride Run, Multicultural Festival, and the Twilight Parade, New York City’s only nighttime Pride parade!
Yonkers Pride 2019
Saturday June 8th
The City of Yonkers invites you to join its citizens for the 2nd Annual LGBTQ+ PRIDE Celebration, with the PRIDE Festival right in the Downtown area!
Tour & Toast in Celebration of Stonewall 50
Thursday June 6th / Monday June 24th / Thursday June 27th
Join the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project on a 1.5-hour walking tour of Greenwich Village, and learn about the origins of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Pride Changemakers Rooftop: Cocktail Party | Access Labs
Thursday, June 13
Show your pride and celebrate diversity in tech, better access to tech education, and an inclusive community on a rooftop with sunset views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Ascend with Pride: An Afternoon with Friends & Family at FDR Four Freedoms State Park
Saturday June 15th
A free WorldPride celebration for all ages that serves as the unveiling of New York City’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride flag, including a special picnic on the lawn.
Public Forum: Queer & Now
Monday June 17th
The Public Theater’s Public Forum invites you to an evening celebration of music, prose, poetry, and theatre with LGBTQ+ artists, activists, and organizers.
OutCinema
Monday June 17th – Wednesday 19th
A three-day event presented by NewFest celebrating the diversity of voices, perspectives, and commitment within the LGBTQ+ community and its contributions to film.
Free Rooftop LGBTQ+ Pride Party for Up & Coming Professionals
Wednesday June 19th
Out Professionals invites you to a free evening WorldPride networking event in the Lower East Side, on the rooftop of The DL.
Quilt: A Musical Celebration
Friday June 21st – Sunday June 23rd
A musical based on stories from the NAMES PROJECT AIDS memorial quilt, celebrating and remembering both those who died from AIDS and those who have survived.
Pride on the Beach: Long Island Pride 2019
Friday June 21st – Sunday June 23rd
A weekend long Pride celebration in Long Beach with events including the Pride 5K, Beach Party, and the 29th Annual Pride Parade.
WorldPride 2019 Black Queer Migrants Networking Event
Sunday June 23rd
The Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project and AfroNYC invite you to an evening cocktail event where stories of black LGBTQ+ migrants will be showcased, allowing attendees to network and gain insight on the growing global LGBTQ+ migration crisis.
March for Bronx Pride 2019
Sunday June 23rd
Kick off the 1 Bronx WorldPride Festival with the March for Bronx Pride 2019!
1 Bronx WorldPride Festival
Sunday June 23rd
A Pride celebration and event that focuses on the rich diversity and community of the Bronx borough, with local organizations and companies promoting their missions on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
Human Rights Conference
Monday June 24th - Tuesday June 25th
A two-day conference where activists, artists, educators, journalists, policymakers, students, and more come together to engage in a global dialogue on LGBTQ+ human rights.
GameChangers
Tuesday June 25th
Join GLAAD at the SVA Theatre for an evening of discussion, celebrating leaders in the LGBTQ+ community and how they have impacted the entertainment industry.
Levity and Justice for All
Tuesday June 25th
An evening benefit consisting of standup performances, celebrating LGBTQ women and comedy and supporting Project LPAC.
Trans Equality Rooftop Reception
Thursday June 27th
Join the National Center for Transgender Equality and NCTE Action Fund for an evening of networking and action regarding the present and future of transgender rights and equality.
Rally: Stonewall 50 Commemoration
Friday June 28th
Join community activists, organizers, politicians, and more for a Pride rally celebrating the Stonewall Uprising.
Two-Spirits & HIV Conference 2019
Saturday June 29th
The Two Spirit Indigenous People’s Association invites you to join it for its 2nd Annual Conference, focused on the TSLGBTQ+ Native American population living with HIV.
Aces & Aros Conference 2019
Saturday June 29th
Aces NYC invites you to a WorldPride conference celebrating both the asexual and aromantic spectrum communities.
YouthPride
Saturday June 29th
Register today for a Pride celebration in Central Park aimed at LGBTQ+ teens, young adults, families and their allies.
Harlem Pride 2019
Saturday June 29th
Join a daytime WorldPride celebration in Harlem, which also happens to mark the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance and the 10th anniversary of Harlem Pride!
NYC Pride March
Sunday June 30th
Celebrate WorldPride and the continued fight for civil rights and equality with one of the largest LGBTQ+ Pride marches in the world, alongside over 550 unique marching contingents and over 100 floats.
NYC PrideFest
Sunday June 30th
Join NYC’s free annual LGBTQ+ street fair that combines exhibitors, entertainers, activities, and vendors for a day of fun and celebration.
Queer Liberation March and Rally
Sunday June 30th
An alternative grassroots Pride rally and march with no corporate floats and no police presence, with the goal of mobilizing the LGBTQ+ community to address social and political concerns.
This month, we are going farm to table with a great lineup of Food/ Agriculture/ Restaurant tech! Stay tuned for the full list of companies.
Want to get $5 off your ticket? Join the NY Tech Meetup Community on GoldenWheel at https://goldenwheel.io/wheel/nytechbeta where a discounted ticket link can be found under "Highlights" section!
This Month's Fantastic Lineup:
Accenture Liquid Studios (Blockchain Hub)
https://www.accenture.com/us-en/capability-rapid-application-development-studio
Veena Venkat, Blockchain SME
High Performance, Delivered.
Farmshelf
@farmshelf
Farmshelf.com
Andrew Shearer, Founder + CEO
Suma Redy, Co-Founder + COO
Farmshelf has designed indoor hydroponic systems for the hospitality industry, giving restaurants and hotels the chance to sustainably grow their own produce with the automated assistance of an internet-connected device.
Industrial/Organic
www.industrialorganic.com
Amanda Weeks, CEO & Co-Founder
Industrial/Organic derives organic chemicals and ingredients from food waste, while providing the infrastructure demanded by cities for their waste management needs. I/O has raised over $4M in venture capital funding, bringing our solution out of the lab, with a demo facility in Newark diverting food waste from landfills for major corporate clients such as Google.
Ingest.AI
http://www.ingest.ai/
Kenneth Kuo, CEO
Ingest machine learns operational efficiencies for restaurants, hospitality, and commercial real estate groups.
Urban Leaf
https://geturbanleaf.com
Nate Littlewood, Co-Founder + CEO
Rob Elliott, Co-Founder + Chief Product Officer
Urban Leaf provides simple and affordable paths for people to engage in indoor gardening, with the goal of building a healthier and more sustainable food system around the world.
We Are the New Farmers
www.new-farmers.com
Jonas Guenther, Co-Founder
Daniel Bernstein, Co-Founder
We Are the New Farmers have taken on the mission of growing produce in a healthier and more sustainable manner. Spirulina is the main focus as an algae that grows naturally in fresh water lakes, packed with protein, minerals, and antioxidants.
THANKS TO OUR MONTHLY SPONSOR:
Ulster County Economic Development Alliance
www.ulsterforbusiness.com
https://www.facebook.com/UlsterCountyOED/
The Ulster County Office of Economic Development provides valuable business counseling and can connect you with the best sites, the right partners for funding and the right programs for businesses development.
Join us for one of NYC's most famous and longest running monthly tech event! You'll see a fantastic lineup of New York tech companies presenting live demos of their products, followed by an afterparty where you can network with the community and meet our demoers and sponsors.
Want to get $5 off your ticket? Join the NY Tech Meetup Community on GoldenWheel at https://goldenwheel.io/wheel/nytechbeta where a discounted ticket link can be found in the Announcements section!
This Month's Amazing Lineup...
**InSpirAVE — The Internet of Savings® **@InSpirAVE www.inspirave.com Om Kundu, Founder + CEO
InSpirAVE's social savings+commerce platform inspires "Saving More,Faster",to place big purchase-goals within reach without debt, in ways that equally enable retail+brands partnering with InSpirAVE expand their reach to serve customers they wouldn't have had otherwise.
**Shutterstock **@shutterstock www.Shutterstock.com JD Singh, Director of Strategy and AI Partnerships
Shutterstock is a leading global technology company offering a creative platform for high-quality content, tools and services
**Upsider **@upsider www.upsider.ai Josh McBride, Co-founder & CEO
Upsider turns the candidate sourcing process into science
**White House Presidential Innovation Fellows **@innovfellows https://presidentialinnovationfellows.gov/
The Presidential Innovation Fellows is a highly selective government technology fellowship program started by the White House in 2012 and focused on delivering better technology products and services to the American public.
About the Fellows: Nina Bianchi is a Presidential Innovation Fellow with the IT Modernization Centers of Excellence where she leads the future of our federal workforce by design.
Georgeta Dragoiu is a Presidential Innovation Fellow with All of Us, a research program at NIH, ushering in a new era of precision medicine.
Davey Gibian is a Presidential Innovation Fellow with the Defense Innovation Unit at the US Department of Defense where he leads efforts to accelerate commercial technology and innovation into the DoD.
Joshua Di Frances is the Executive Director of the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program.
