Startup ecosystems can be fragmented, competitive, and hidden to newcomers, which is detrimental for local startups and community growth. The Startup Ecosystem Canvas seeks to provide local entrepreneurs with a clear list of resources for every stage of their startup journey, and outline a basic framework for communities to map their ecosystem.

With applications for the New York City Founder Institute coming to a close, we are excited to release the newly updated New York Startup Ecosystem Canvas v3 below! It was developed by the New York City Founder Institute and local leader Kevin Siskar, with special thanks to the NYC Innovation Collective.

More input is needed, so please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document, and it will be considered for the next update.

Are you looking to build a startup in New York? Then apply to the New York Founder Institute today.

Text version included below, for searchability:

Startup Stages

There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.

1. Idea Stage

This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.

A. Inspire

NYC Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)

Inspirational NYC Startup Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events that often focus on ideation. (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)

B. Educate

Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing tech events.

Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development events and bootcamps for entrepreneurs.

C. Validate

Team Formation: Resources for teaming up in New York. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)

Build First Product: Hackathons and product events in NYC. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)

2. Launch Stage

In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.

A. Start

Establish: New York Law firms & banks for startups

New York Workspaces: Co-working and flexible workspaces for startups

B. Develop

Formalize: NYC Accounting, development and HR tools for early-stage startups.

NYC Incubators: Groups that prepare companies for seed investment and provide advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources)

C. Launch

New York Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)

Pitch & Demo Events: Startup events that showcase companies for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)

3. Growth Stage

Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.

A. Recognition

NYC Investor Groups: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)

Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)

B. Funding

New York Angel Investors: Seed-stage investors and micro-VCs

New York Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond

C. Growth

Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

D. NYC Startup Success Stories

Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.

Supporters

To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.

1. New York City Startup Leaders

Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies. (i.e. Local leaders who have taken a leadership position, speak at a lot of startup events, mentor startup programs, etc)

2. Government

Public organizations that facilitate local economic development

3. Talent

Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.

A. Local Universities (with prominent technical or business programs)

B. Local Tech Employers

Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the NYC Canvas on this collaborative Google document, or on Twitter using the hashtag #ecosystemcanvas. This is a perpetual work in progress, and it will be updated frequently, so we want your feedback!

Want to learn more about our friends at NYCIC, the nonprofit alliance that helped to orchestrate this canvas? Visit their site.

Are you looking to build a startup in New York? Then apply to the New York Founder Institute today.

May 31, 2019

The Ultimate List of 700+ Startup Resources in New York City

Startup Stages