De Blasio Administration Announces NYCx Technology Leadership Advisory Council Members

January 11, 2018

The NYCx Technology Leadership Advisory Council will advise City on civic tech program aiming to solve urban challenges, strengthen economy and increase affordability and equity

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chief Technology Officer Miguel Gamiño, Jr. today announced members of the NYCx Technology Leadership Advisory Council, a diverse group of technology and community leaders who will increase engagement and visibility of the NYCx program to the broader tech community.

Launched in October 2017, NYCx is the world's first municipal program to transform urban spaces into hubs for tech collaboration, research, testing and development. New York City’s diverse population, economy and landscape offer a unique opportunity for technology companies to develop tools that improve the world. NYCx is a program in the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer.

By connecting tech companies more closely to real urban needs, the City expects the program will deliver new technologies that help address pressing issues such as climate change and transportation access while increasing jobs and supporting a growing tech economy.

The Council features top leaders in tech, entrepreneurship and venture capital, along with tech organizations representing local communities. Members of the Council will provide subject matter expertise on NYCx with particular focus on helping the City use new technologies to accelerate achievement of goals outlined in the OneNYC plan. Members will also promote partnerships and tech sector engagement with peers in support of outreach and participation in NYCx and other City technology programs.

“Technology is an essential part of our lives and vital to a growing and diversifying economy in New York City,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With NYCx, we are engaging tech community leaders to ensure that new technologies are making New York the fairest city in the world.”

“This diverse group of technology experts and community leaders on the Council will be instrumental in helping us shape technology for the benefit of our communities across New York City, and around the world,” said Miguel Gamiño, Jr., New York City Chief Technology Officer. “The unique collection of voices will make NYC the city to deliver technologies that accelerate opportunity and jobs, benefitting all New Yorkers.”

NYCx Tech Leadership Advisory Council Members:

Allen Blue, Co-Founder, LinkedIn

Andrew Rasiej, CEO of Civic Hall and Chairman of the NY Tech Alliance

Avi Dorfman, Co-Founder, Compass and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, D. E. Shaw Group

Ben Fried, Vice President, Chief Information Officer and New York office Tech Site Lead at Google

Beth Comstock, Former Vice Chair, GE and NYCx Tech Leadership Advisory Council Co-Chair

Brian O’Kelley, CEO, AppNexus

Clayton Banks, CEO, Silicon Harlem

David Belt, CEO & Co-Founder, New Lab

Fred Wilson, Partner, Union Square Ventures

Jukay Hsu, Co-founder and CEO of C4Q

Julie Samuels, Executive Director, Tech:NYC

Karin Klein, Founding Partner, Bloomberg Beta

Keith Krach, Chairman, of the Board, DocuSign

Kevin Ryan, Chairman and CEO, AlleyCorp

Kevin Scott, CTO Microsoft

Kiel Berry, Vice President of Global Emerging Opportunities at Viacom

Kim Polese, Chairman, CrowdSmart

Liliana Gil Valletta, CEO, Cien+ and CulturIntel

Marcy Klevron, Executive Vice President and President, Mobility, Ford Motor Company

Matt Harrigan, Co-founder & Managing Director, Grand Central Tech

Maya Wiley, Senior Vice President for Social Justice & Henry Cohen Professor of Public and Urban Policy at The New School

Michelle Peluso, SVP & CMO, IBM

The Council will convene its first meeting in early 2018.

NYCx has launched two Moonshot challenges and two Co-Labs challenges. Applications are still being accepted through January 15, 2018 for the NYCx Climate Action Challenge that calls on the industry to develop and deliver solutions to scale electric vehicle charging hubs and accelerate the use of electric vehicles citywide.

“New York’s concentration of companies across industries spurs tech innovation in every sector, touching every facet of life. NYCx unites the versatility of the tech community and the public sector to address citizens’ needs,” said Beth Comstock, Former Vice Chair, GE and NYCx Tech Leadership Advisory Council Co-Chair.

"New York is one of the greatest cities in the world and we're constantly looking for more ways to support the growth and innovation of this bustling community," said Ben Fried, VP, CIO, and Google NYC site lead. "NYCx is the perfect catalyst to generate the next great idea and technology breakthrough that could benefit all New Yorkers and support the growth of tech opportunities in NYC."

"True innovation requires both diverse disciplines and perspectives to meet at the nexus of people and products, intelligence and emotion, art and science, design and business. I'm excited to work with NYCx to explore the growing relationship between humanity and technology," said Michelle Peluso, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, IBM.

“Technology has incredible potential to empower people to achieve more,” said Kevin Scott, CTO of Microsoft. “New York City is a vibrant, global, multi-cultural marketplace of ideas driven by entrepreneurial energy which makes it an ideal proving ground for new technologies. We're excited for the opportunity to work with NYCx and the city's community of new and emerging leaders to build a future where technology benefits us all,” said Keith Scott, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft.

“In the venture capital world, we are constantly on the look out for the next great idea. But too often the opportunities that come across my desk don't speak to the real needs of real New Yorkers. We're excited to open up the VC world to more diverse companies and entrepreneurs. I believe our experience building an ecosystem to support entrepreneurs will have great value for the participants in NYCx,” said Fred Wilson, Partner, Union Square Ventures.

"At Ford Motor Company, we believe the future is being created in our cities and it will be cooperation between public and private entities that feed the innovation," said Marcy Klevorn, president of Ford Mobility and NYCx technology leadership advisory council member.

"We are proud to join Mayor de Blasio and our fellow council members in the acceleration of the OneNYC plan," said Marcy Klevron, Executive Vice President and President, Mobility, Ford Motor Company.

“There is no better place to build a tech company than New York City, in a community that cares about creating an inclusive environment for all entrepreneurs. I’m looking forward to being part of the NYCx Tech Leadership Advisory Council to help foster the next generation of tech talent,” said Julie Samuels, Executive Director, Tech:NYC.

“Technology is changing society and it is critical that we ensure its change for the better. NYCx is an exciting vehicle to engage the tech sector in supporting the disruption of inequality with communities.” said Maya Wiley, Senior Vice President for Social Justice & Henry Cohen Professor of Public and Urban Policy at The New School.

As a Harlem business, I'm proud to work with Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch NYCx. At Silicon Harlem, we've been working with our city's youth to develop new skills and job opportunities, while driving deeper broadband access at more affordable prices for local families. Growing tech skills and entrepreneurship can help urban corridors like Harlem transform into innovation hubs, where everyone has access, exposure and opportunity to grow.” said Clayton Banks, Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Harlem.

“I’m grateful for Mayor de Blasio and CTO Gamino’s leadership and honored to participate in this advisory council. Their efforts to accelerate innovation and create a technology workforce that’s reflective of our diverse communities will benefit our economy and all New Yorkers.” said Jukay Hsu, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, C4Q.

Learn more about NYCx Challenges and the NYCx Tech Leadership Advisory Council Members at http://nyc.gov/nycx.

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