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New York City is home to over 7,300 emerging startup ventures. Join 200+ startups already on Foundersbase - including 10 from New York City and discover promising early-stage projects to collaborate with today!

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Explore the startup ecosystem of New York City

Map of New York City

Startup Ecosystem in New York City

Map of New York City

Startup Ecosystem in New York City

Startup Ecosystem in New York City

New York City has crafted a startup ecosystem as diverse as the city itself, drawing strength from its longstanding leadership in finance, media, and culture to create technology companies that transform traditional industries. The city's entrepreneurial landscape reflects its character - varied, resilient, and globally connected. Success stories range from Etsy's creative marketplace to MongoDB's database innovation and Peloton's fitness technology revolution. Rather than specializing narrowly, New York excels across multiple sectors, with particular depth in financial technology, media innovation, consumer brands, and property technology. The funding environment benefits from proximity to Wall Street, with firms like Union Square Ventures and Lerer Hippeau working alongside traditional financial institutions increasingly hungry for digital transformation. Throughout the city, distinct innovation clusters have formed organically: the Flatiron District buzzes with consumer technology, Long Island City advances life sciences, and social impact ventures find purpose in the Bronx. What gives New York startups their edge is access to diverse talent pools, a dense network of potential enterprise customers literally down the street, media channels that amplify success, and a naturally global perspective. The challenges mirror the city itself - substantial operating costs, intense competition, complex regulatory landscapes for regulated industries like finance and healthcare, and funding hurdles when transitioning from early to growth stage. Yet for founders seeking to build companies where technology meets real-world industries, New York offers a unique blend of resources, customers, and creative energy.

New York City has crafted a startup ecosystem as diverse as the city itself, drawing strength from its longstanding leadership in finance, media, and culture to create technology companies that transform traditional industries. The city's entrepreneurial landscape reflects its character - varied, resilient, and globally connected. Success stories range from Etsy's creative marketplace to MongoDB's database innovation and Peloton's fitness technology revolution. Rather than specializing narrowly, New York excels across multiple sectors, with particular depth in financial technology, media innovation, consumer brands, and property technology. The funding environment benefits from proximity to Wall Street, with firms like Union Square Ventures and Lerer Hippeau working alongside traditional financial institutions increasingly hungry for digital transformation. Throughout the city, distinct innovation clusters have formed organically: the Flatiron District buzzes with consumer technology, Long Island City advances life sciences, and social impact ventures find purpose in the Bronx. What gives New York startups their edge is access to diverse talent pools, a dense network of potential enterprise customers literally down the street, media channels that amplify success, and a naturally global perspective. The challenges mirror the city itself - substantial operating costs, intense competition, complex regulatory landscapes for regulated industries like finance and healthcare, and funding hurdles when transitioning from early to growth stage. Yet for founders seeking to build companies where technology meets real-world industries, New York offers a unique blend of resources, customers, and creative energy.

New York City startups in numbers

Startups in New York City on Foundersbase show a range of characteristics across different early development stages. Among the projects in this region, 42% are currently in the concept phase, exploring early validation, while 58% have developed a minimum viable product (MVP) and are open to forming strategic partnerships. Currently, 39% of startups have reached the Prototype phase, one of several indicators of how innovative founding projects in New York City are evolving. A significant share (62%) report open positions, making this a valuable space for entrepreneurial talent looking to join a team early. In terms of funding, 49% of startups are currently seeking investment, while others pursue different approaches to growth. Startups in New York City are active across a wide range of industries, with many focusing on areas such as Legal Services, Hospitality, and Augmented Reality. Alongside sector diversity, projects also address major global challenges. Notable impact innovation topics include Sustainable Mobility, Accessibility Technology, Carbon Footprint Reduction, and Community Development, adding purpose-driven perspectives to the local startup scene. Whether you’re interested in supporting founders, investing in early-stage ventures, or finding opportunities to get involved, the startup activity in New York City offers a great starting point.

Job Offerings

More than (42%) of startups in New York City are actively recruiting talent, while (58%) are focused on building with their current team.

Hiring 42%

Startup Stage

The New York City startup ecosystem spans various development stages from early ideas to profitable businesses, with most ventures (39%) currently at the Prototype stage.

Funding Need

About (62%) of early-stage startups in New York City are seeking external investment to scale their innovations, while (38%) are pursuing a bootstrapped growth approach.

Fundraising 62%

Top innovation sectors

Discover the industries where early-stage startups in New York City are developing innovative solutions and seeking collaboration partners.

SaaS
Legal Services
Hospitality
Augmented Reality
Entertainment
IoT
Real Estate
Logistics

Impact Focus

Startups from New York City on Foundersbase most often focus on Sustainable Mobility, driving innovation in this area.

Sustainable Mobility
Accessibility Technology
Carbon Footprint Reduction
Community Development

Discover the startup ecosystem in New York City

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