New York Robotics has formally launched as a non-profit organisation, citing rapid growth in robotics startups, investment activity, and talent across New York City and the wider Tri-State region.
The group said its ecosystem now includes more than 160 robotics startups across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with nearly 100 based in New York City alone. The figures underline the region’s growing role in robotics and embodied AI as the technology moves from research into commercial deployment.
New York Robotics said the scale of activity positions the region alongside established global robotics hubs such as Boston, Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh, Munich, Zurich, and Denmark.
The launch coincided with New York Robotics sponsoring AlleyCorp’s inaugural Deep Tech NY conference, reflecting what the organisation describes as increasing convergence between robotics innovation, venture capital, and enterprise adoption in the city.
According to New York Robotics, it has spent the past two years building a broad network that includes more than 450 robotics startups globally, alongside more than 80 corporations, 20 academic institutions, over 40 robotics and embodied AI research labs, more than 300 venture capital firms, 45 government organisations, and more than 150 service providers and ecosystem partners.
The organisation was formed in January 2024 to address what it describes as a long-standing fragmentation in New York’s robotics community, despite the city’s concentration of capital, customers, and technical talent.
Its stated aim is to unify that landscape and establish New York and the surrounding region as a global centre for robotics innovation and investment.
Jacob Hennessey-Rubin, founding board member and executive director of New York Robotics, says: “Our vision is to leverage New York’s centrality on the global technology stage to become a leading hub for robotics innovation.
“This is a place where researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors can collaborate to shape the future of robotics. By rapidly expanding the ecosystem and elevating robotics as a serious investment class on Wall Street, we’re positioning New York for long-term leadership in this transformative sector.”
Randy Howie, a founding board member of New York Robotics, describes the organisation as an exchange for the sector.
“We see New York Robotics as a kind of exchange,” says Howie. “It’s a platform where startups, enterprises, investors, academia, and government can connect efficiently, align incentives, and ensure that growth in robotics translates into broad economic impact.”
Several organisations have been named as founding members, including J.P. Morgan, New York University, AlleyCorp, EisnerAmper and Cybernetix Ventures, alongside more than a dozen other partners.
Aneeka Sajid, applied technology market executive for JPMorgan’s Innovation Economy business, says: “JPMorgan is thrilled to support the rise of New York’s robotics industry.
“New York Robotics is building the foundation for a vibrant ecosystem that will spark innovation, connection and opportunity for the city’s founders and builders.”
New York Robotics has also released a private beta of what it calls the NYR Index, an ecosystem intelligence platform designed to provide partners with data and mapping across startups, investors, research labs, and enterprise participants.
The organisation said it has hosted or co-hosted more than 20 events over the past two years, including the first dedicated robotics programming during NY TechWeek, aimed at raising the sector’s profile within the city’s broader technology ecosystem.
Partnerships have also been formed to support applied robotics and AI development, including collaboration with C10 Labs, one of the operators selected by NYCEDC for the NYC AI Nexus.
C10 Labs is focused on building applied AI ventures in robotics and advanced manufacturing, as well as healthcare, biotechnology, sustainability, and energy.
Fady Saad, founder and managing partner of Cybernetix Ventures and a New York Robotics board member, says: “Robotics is essential to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. New York has the key ingredients to fuel robotics innovation from inception to billion-dollar exits.”
Industry participants echo that view.
Evan Beard, founder and CEO of Standard Bots, says: “The New York metro area offers everything you need to build a robotics company. The city’s energy and opportunities attract top engineers from around the world, while areas like Long Island provide the industrial infrastructure necessary to scale.”
Abe Murray, general partner at AlleyCorp, says: “We see New York as essential to the global robotics community, and the work New York Robotics is doing to strengthen that network is hugely impactful to the future growth and success of so many startups here in the city.”
New York Robotics said its founding, annual, and strategic partners include organisations spanning finance, academia, manufacturing, and venture capital, as it seeks to formalise New York’s position as a major centre for robotics development and deployment.
