New initiative expands founder support beyond early-stage programs, with a focus on alumni success, founder wellness, and inclusive innovation
New York, NY — [March 31, 2026] — NYCEDC, Visible Hands, and Main Street Assembly today announced the launch of the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network, a new initiative developed to provide ongoing support, community, and resources for founders who have participated in NYCEDC-funded entrepreneurship programs.
By extending support beyond initial fellowships and accelerators, The Visionaries NYC Alumni Network is designed to help founders continue building, scaling, and contributing to New York City’s innovation economy.
"The Visionaries NYC Alumni Network gives founders something the broader ecosystem rarely offers: a place to return to,” said Justin Kang, General Partner at Visible Hands. “Through curated programming, peer community, and real access to capital and partnerships, we're giving alumni the tools to hit their next milestone, and then we’ll be here for the one after that and after that. This isn't a one-time program. It's an ongoing investment in the people building New York City's future."
The program brings together a network of founders from across NYCEDC-supported initiatives, including the Founder Fellowship, City Fellowship, Pilots at BAT, Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, among several others. Through ongoing programming, community engagement, and access to strategic resources, alumni are supported at key inflection points in their growth.
As the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network reflects a broader shift toward long-term founder support, recognizing that building a company requires sustained access to capital, connections, and community.
"In order to build on the success of NYCEDC’s wide-ranging entrepreneurship initiatives, it is critical that we continue to support founders beyond the program as they embark on their next stage of growth,” said NYCEDC Senior Vice President of Innovation Industries Daria Siegel. “We are grateful to our partners at Visible Hands and Main Street Assembly for helping us bring this program to life, driving continued investment in our city’s diverse founders and supporting long-term economic prosperity across the five boroughs and beyond.”
In addition to supporting venture growth, the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network is grounded in a holistic view of founder success — one that includes well-being, sustainability, and equitable access to opportunity.
The network will incorporate programming and content focused on:
-Access to talent, capital, customers, and ecosystem connectivity
-Founder wellness and sustainable company building
-Inclusive innovation and access within NYC’s startup ecosystem
-Practical resources for navigating fundraising, partnerships, and scaling
“Too often, the conversation about founder success stops at the term sheet,” said Hannah Griffin, Director of Platform at Visible Hands. “But building a company is a long game and it takes a toll on the founders, mentally and even physically. What we're creating with the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network is a space where founders can be in community with each other not just to grow their businesses, but to sustain themselves through the journey. When founders are well, their companies thrive, and the entire ecosystem benefits.”
A core component of the network is amplifying the achievements of NYCEDC Program Alumni and increasing their visibility across the ecosystem. Visible Hands and NYCEDC will spotlight alumni milestones such as fundraising, product launches, partnerships, and industry recognition.
By elevating these stories, the program aims to not only support individual founders, but also highlight the collective impact of NYC’s entrepreneurial talent.
The launch of the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network reinforces NYCEDC’s, Visible Hands’, and Main Street Assembly’s broader commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient innovation economy. By connecting founders across programs and stages, the initiative creates new pathways for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and long-term success.
“Main Street Assembly was built on the belief that the next generation of great companies will come from founders who've been left out of the room,” said Zahra Amanpour, Founder of Main Street Assembly. “The Visionaries NYC Alumni Network is how we keep the door open by connecting founders to each other and to the resources they need to keep going. This is what ecosystem-building looks like in practice."
The program also serves as a model for how cities can support founders beyond early-stage programming — ensuring that entrepreneurs have the tools and community needed to succeed over time.
Through the Founder Alumni Program, participants will gain access to:
-A curated network of founders across NYCEDC-supported programs
-Ongoing events, workshops, and ecosystem convenings
-Resources and connections to support fundraising, partnerships, and growth
-Opportunities for visibility through media, storytelling, and ecosystem engagement
The Founder Alumni Program will officially kick off with upcoming programming and events in Spring 2026, including collaborations tied to key moments in New York City’s innovation and cultural calendar.
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Visible Hands is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in and supporting overlooked founders building the future. Through capital, community, and programming, Visible Hands helps founders access the resources they need to grow and succeed.
Main Street Assembly partners with economic-development organizations, accelerators, government agencies, and community institutions to deliver scalable programs, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, and equip small business owners—especially underrepresented founders—with the tools, training, and technology needed to grow and compete in today’s economy.
Kerry Ingram
Director of Brand & Marketing at Visible Hands
