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View the full press release here.
On, Thursday, November 17, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council were joined by business, government and community leaders to celebrate the opening of the Queens Tech Incubator in the Rockaways. The Rockaways location and the Queens Tech Incubator at the Greater Nexus in Jamaica are the first two spaces to open as part of this initiative, with plans to open additional locations in Flushing, Long Island City and Forest Hills.
“Supporting a strong tech ecosystem requires more than just attracting the world’s most prominent tech companies to Queens, we also need to be doing everything we can to help homegrown startups succeed. There is no better way to do that than through tech incubators,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “We are delighted to be here with our partners in government to celebrate the launch of the Queens Tech Incubator in the Rockaways. Along with our location at the Greater Nexus in Jamaica, we are providing free office space, mentoring and valuable resources to seven startups to help grow the tech industry in Queens from the ground up.”
The 3D App, DevJee, Inc., and Mind Lightning Studio have taken space at the Queens Tech Incubator in the Rockaways. B’ZT, FLVSH, Nourish, and Project Recess, Inc. have moved into the location in Jamaica.
Nicholas Conway, Director of Operations for Alma Realty, which owns the Rockaway building where the Incubator is located, said, “Alma Realty welcomes the Queens Tech Incubator to the Surfside Complex. This center will be a critical resource for small businesses on the Rockaway Peninsula, fostering greater levels of entrepreneurism and propelling business growth in our local community. Alma Realty is so proud to work alongside Chamber leadership and play a proactive role in the launch of this project.”
The Queens Tech Incubator is a key initiative of the Queens Tech Council, which launched in February 2021. Council members include representatives from Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pursuit, LIC Partnership, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Crown Castle, JetBlue Ventures, Cornell Tech, and The Business Incubator Association of New York State. The Queens Tech Council focuses on building an economy that embraces innovation and promotes tech adoption. This includes supporting tech companies from existing giants in established industries to startups working doing cutting edge work.
Applications to the Queens Tech Incubator were reviewed and selected by members of the Queens Tech Council. Companies chosen will have access to complimentary office space, mentorship opportunities from existing Tech Council members as well as resources provided by the Small Business Resource Network (SBRN).
“Support for our local tech entrepreneurs and business owners is at the core of Mayor Adams’ vision for a robust and equitable economic recovery for our City,” said Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services. “We commend our close partners at the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Queens Tech Council for the launch of this initial location and look forward to working with them to support tech startups all over Queens.”
“The Queens Chamber of Commerce is a longtime partner in economic and workforce development for the city of New York, and I look forward to seeing what comes out of this tech incubator,” said Jose Ortiz, Jr., Senior Advisor to the New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development. “On behalf of Mayor Adams, we congratulate the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council on the launch of this great space.”
“As the Rockaways recover from the effects of Sandy and now the effects of the Pandemic, few places could use a business incubator better than we can,” said New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. “We congratulate the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council, as well as their local partners, for dedicating this space to the future enrichment of the Rockaways as a whole and New York in general.”
“One of the most important actions we can take as elected officials is to help create job opportunities for our constituents, and this new Queens Tech Incubator space will provide local startup companies the resources to grow,” said New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. “Technology is already at the core of many things that we do as a society, so in order to continue to be at the forefront of this ever-changing and growing industry I am happy to have Queens Tech Incubator right here in the Rockaways. I want to thank my colleagues in government, community leaders and the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Queens Tech Council for helping to bring this instrumental space to our community. I wish Queens Tech Incubator the best of luck and look forward to seeing the great things that come from this space.”
“The Queens Chamber of Commerce has really immersed itself into Rockaway’s business districts, and this incubator is yet another way they’re helping to improve the peninsula’s economy,” said New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola. “With this location, we are laying the foundations for future investments in the area, and we will hopefully attract more innovators and entrepreneurs to establish businesses here as well. The future here in Rockaway is bright, and with resources such as this one it only seems to be getting brighter.”
The following companies are participating in the Queens Tech Incubator in the Rockaways and Jamaica:
The 3D App is a platform for creating, managing, and viewing 3D tours of real estate properties for rental and purchase. https://www.the3dapp.com
B’ZT (Beacon Zone Technology) is a proprietary smart apparel solution and network platform, utilizing smart devices, sensors, locator tags, and the UndrCovr application, which allows users to pair locator tags with mobile phones for personal safety and gateway hubs for institutional safety. https://smartbzt.com
DevJee, Inc. is a tech start-up focused on creating AI and ML solutions for the property management and healthcare industry. https://www.devjee.com
FLVSH is a messaging application that utilizes low-latency Bluetooth to create a mesh network to enable mobile communication without needing to rely upon cell towers.
Mind Lightning Studio is a content, gaming, and production company.
Nourish is the first global booking platform for customized in-flight meals, which are distributed mid-air by the in-flight crews during meal services.
Project Recess is an ed tech consultancy that partners with K-12 schools to provide meaningful professional development opportunities. https://projectrecess.org
About the Queens Chamber of Commerce:
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and largest business association in Queens, representing more than 1,400 businesses and more than 150,000 Queens-based employees. Its mission is to foster connections, educate for success, develop/implement programs and advocate for members’ interests. www.queenschamber.org
About the Queens Tech Council:
The Queens Tech Council focuses on building an economy that embraces innovation and promotes tech adoption, from existing giants in established industries to startups working on cutting edge applications. This means ensuring Queens is producing the talent that companies look for, that Queens-based tech companies are able to get the resources and capital they need, and that businesses in traditional industries are able to adapt to the changing economy, successfully integrate new technologies, and upskill their workforces to remain competitive and thrive in the years to come. https://www.queenstechcouncil.com/
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