NYC AI Nexus — Where capital, talent, and policy meet to build responsible AI.
A New York City convening series for the next generation of responsible-AI builders, investors, and civic leaders.
What this is.
NYC AI Nexus is a venture and community platform being built to back applied-AI founders in healthcare, biotech, industrials, robotics, climate, and energy — and to bring Kendall Square talent into Union Square deal-flow. A preview convening was held in October 2025 at Civic Hall in front of 300+ founders, investors, researchers, and partners. The public launch is planned for fall 2026.
What we look for
- AI that solves real problems, with direct customer access from day one.
- Founders who can move across capital, customers, and policy at the same time.
- Earliest-stage talent — before anyone else will back them.
How the Nexus runs.
Founder roundtables
Closed-door tables of 8–12 early-stage founders matched with two to three responsible-AI investors. Monthly, off the record, designed for tactical problem-solving rather than pitching. Topics rotate: enterprise GTM, hiring, governance, regulatory navigation.
Policy salons
Quarterly evening sessions in midtown bringing city and state officials, regulators, and frontline industry leaders into structured conversation with the founders building the technology they're regulating. Chatham House Rule. One published readout per session.
Annual convening
The NYC AI Nexus Launch — a one-day gathering of 300+ founders, investors, researchers, and policymakers, anchored in Manhattan and produced with C10 Labs and NYCEDC. The 2026 edition is in October. The 2027 edition will expand to two days.
The room.
Founders building responsible AI companies, pre-seed through Series B
Investors deploying responsible-AI capital at any stage
Civic and regulatory leaders shaping how the city procures, deploys, and governs AI
Researchers and policy entrepreneurs working on practical deployment
New York ↔ the Nordics.
NYC AI Nexus is also the connective tissue between New York and the Nordics. Nordic founders are introduced to New York capital and customers; New York founders gain access to Nordic public-sector pilots and trust infrastructure. The bridge is run with WE& Capital and connects directly to the Nordic AI Summit each year.
Step into the room.
Common questions.
No. Many founders and investors travel in for roundtables and the annual convening. The Nexus is intentionally a transatlantic program.