NYCEDC Launches Founder Alumni Program to Support Entrepreneurship Graduates

New York City Economic Development Corporation ( NYCEDC ) plays a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, which are key drivers of good-paying jobs and economic growth in New York City ( NYC ). In 2023 alone, 24,600 new businesses were launched in New York City representing one in eight businesses in the city which contributed to 164,000 new jobs.

Since 2019, NYCEDC-funded entrepreneurship programs have supported more than 500 entrepreneurs in accessing critical networks, mentorship, business development, and capital opportunities to build scalable startups and novel products and services across NYC.

As these programs have evolved, so too has the need for NYCEDC to maintain stronger connections with graduates of these programs ( Program Alumni ) to continue supporting and tracking their growth and impact over time. The Founder Alumni Program (or the Project ) is designed to address this need by building an active, long-term network of Program Alumni from NYCEDC s entrepreneurship programs.

The Project will offer ongoing support, track Program Alumni and company progress, and foster deeper connections between Program Alumni, NYCEDC, and the broader NYC ecosystem.

With this request for proposals ( RFP ), NYCEDC seeks experienced program operators ( Operators ) to design and implement the Founder Alumni Program, ensuring sustained engagement with Program Alumni across NYC s innovation industries and providing them with additional support to help their businesses grow.

NYCEDC plans to select a consultant on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: alignment with timeline and milestones, respondent qualifications and experience, program feasibility and operational capacity, proposed budget and resource allocation, data collection, impact tracing, and reporting capacity, and M/WBE participation.

It is the policy of NYCEDC to comply with all federal, state and City laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status and other protected category and to take affirmative action in working with contracting parties to ensure certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) share in the economic opportunities generated by NYCEDC s projects and initiatives.

Please refer to the Equal Employment and Affirmative Compliance for Non-Construction Contracts Addendum in Exhibit F of the RFP. This project has Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise ( M/WBE ) participation goals, and all respondents will be required to submit an M/WBE Participation Proposal with their response. To learn more about NYCEDC s M/WBE program, visit http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe.

For the list of companies who have been certified with the New York City Department of Small Business Services as M/WBE, please go to the https://sbsconnect.nyc.gov/certification-directory-search/. NYCEDC established the Contract Financing Loan Fund programs for Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/W/DBE) interested in working on public construction projects.

Contract Financing Loan Fund facilitates financing for short-term mobilization needs such as insurance, labor, supplies and equipment. Bidders/subcontractors are strongly encouraged to visit the NYCEDC website at http://edc.nyc/opportunity-mwdbe to learn more about the program. An optional virtual informational session will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 9:00 A.M.

Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to FounderAlumniRFP@edc.nyc on or before Monday, July 7, 2025 at 5:00 P.M. Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from NYCEDC no later than 5 P.M. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to FounderAlumniRFP@edc.nyc.

Answers to all questions will be posted by Tuesday, July 22, 2025, to https://edc.nyc/rfps. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP will not be accepted after 5 P.M. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, however, technical questions pertaining to downloading and submitting proposals to this RFP may be directed to RFPREQUEST@edc.nyc on or before Monday, August 4, 2025.

Detailed submission guidelines and requirements are outlined in the RFP, available as of Monday, June 9, 2025. To download a copy of the solicitation documents please visit https://edc.nyc/rfps. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4 P.M. on Monday, August 4, 2025.

Please click the link in the Deadlines section of this project s web page (which can be found on https://edc.nyc/rfps) to electronically upload a proposal for this solicitation. Please upload your response as a .zip file with your company name and the title of this project. Agency: Economic Development Corporation Status: Solicitation