Why did New York City, particularly Manhattan, experience such explosive growth in tech start-ups at the outset of a major economic downturn?
At the turn of the new century, relatively few tech start-ups were located in New York City. Silicon Valley, New England, LA/Orange County, San Diego and even upstate New York far outstripped the New York metropolitan area in the number of tech start-ups. From 2007 to 2011, however, tech start-ups in NYC grew by 32%, during a severe economic recession when other regions experienced sharp declines.
This rapid growth of tech start-ups in NYC cannot be explained by overall economic growth alone, especially given that the NYC financial industry was the epicenter of the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. So why did New York City, particularly Manhattan, experience such explosive growth in tech start-ups at the outset of a major economic downturn?
Our interdisciplinary approach—including teams of sociologists and economists—focuses analytic attention on institutions in the making of a knowledge-based regional economy. In explaining the rise of regional centers of knowledge-based economic development, our approach explores the institutional drivers of successful entrepreneurial activity. We plan to conduct basic research on knowledge-based economic development near to the timing of emergence, with a focus on the social mechanisms and institutional processes enabling and promoting this new wave of entrepreneurship.
We have launched a follow-up survey of the tech entrepreneurs who participated in the initial stage of this ground breaking study. Our research thus far has shown that social networks and expectations have a great deal to do with the success of NYC’s Tech economy. Our research today is focused on exploring further the different ways and means that social networks and inter-firm cooperation function, how they assist entrepreneurs and strengthen the NYC tech community. We hope to uncover potential solutions and strategies that facilitate a transition to a knowledge-based regional economy.
We invite you to watch the video below to understand some of what we have learned.
From 2007 to 2011 high tech start-ups in NYC grew by 32% during a severe economic recession when other regions experienced sharp declines.
We are grateful to the organizations and leaders who have taken part in our ongoing field research in the New York City metropolitan area. Below is a list of organizations that support our research and have taken part in the first round interviews.
Our project brings together an international team of researchers that includes sociologists, economists, network analysts, and statisticians.
Since the start of 2009, investors have poured over $8 billion into New York-based start ups across 1205 deals. At its current run rate, 2013 will set a five year-high in venture capital deal and funding levels.
The NYC Tech Ecosystem
Of the seven leading technology regions in the United States, New York City was the only one to see an increase in the number of VC deals between 2007 and 2011.
Our research team is currently conducting field research in the New York City metropolitan area, and would like to share notes and early empirical findings from the field as well as provide information about the vibrant and quickly growing NYC Tech Community.
New York, the Silicon City By MICHAEL MANDELJAN. 6, 2014 FOR
April 1 2014 NYTM Join fellow technologists for an evening
Report on the NYC Tech Ecosystem Unveiled April 2, 2014
New York City’s share of the nation’s private sector employment has reached its highest level in 20 years because of the growth of the tech/information sector.
Would you like to participate in our project?