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AI TECH & Startup Night — Manhattan, New York

Wed, Nov 4, 11:00 PM

From NOMAD — FOUNDERS & INVESTORS NORTH AMERICA

4.6

**Nomad Global Hub** brings together builders, founders, and tech professionals for a night of curated networking and high-impact startup pitches. **RSVP: [Reserve your spot](https://luma.com/zcwwer0w)** With a track record of **235+ events** across **23 global cities** worldwide, we have welcomed over **5,000 attendees** and featured **1,200+ startup pitches** on our stages. We intentionally keep our meetups intimate because the best partnerships happen in focused, high-quality conversations, not in loud, overcrowded halls. **What to Expect** * **Live Tech Startup Pitches**: Watch selected early-stage founders present AI & Tech projects followed by sharp audience Q&A. * **High-Quality Networking:** Connect with a hand-picked audience of founders, investors, engineers, and tech leaders who value substance over small talk. * **Global Exposure:** Join a community that bridges **23 tech hubs worldwide**, providing you with a network that extends far beyond a single city. **Who Should Join** * Founders & Co-Founders looking for peers, feedback, investors and collaborators. * Tech Professionals & Builders seeking a high-quality community. * Ambitious Individuals ready to dive into the AI & Startup ecosystem. **For Investors** Active investors and VC partners are welcome to join the event and scout for early-stage talent, meet other investors, and see what teams are building. To access the startup database, please fill out the **[Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUkSdbmDb_tchKrZNf2A4c6HjrPLd87Ub3W-5WPfOgsszI9Q/viewform)** and ensure you have purchased a ticket. **For Pitching Startups** Selected startups gain live stage time and visibility within our global network among our database of investors. Purchase a Speaker Ticket to pitch, submit your **[Pitch Deck](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZ1fGVQ-br2hQQnSsq7zz5XCAEvN5FfaYfJ7VSppMkujV8YQ/viewform)** and ensure it is accessible for viewers. **Nomad Global Hub \| 235\+ Events \| 23 Cities** *Note: To support our venue partner, we kindly encourage every guest to purchase at least one drink at the bar during the event.*

2 attendees

I Know A Guy - NYC

Wed, Nov 4, 11:30 PM

From I know A Guy

**I Know A Guy: Finish Strong** November is the last real push before everyone slows down for the holidays. Come with one thing you want to get done before the year ends, a job, a referral, a cofounder, a mentor, and let’s see who in the room knows a guy. **Agenda** * 6:30 PM: Arrive, grab a drink and a name tag * 7:15 PM: Quick welcome from Raj * 7:20 PM: Open stage. Got a startup, a project or an ask? Take the mic for 60 seconds and pitch it to the room * After that: Open networking **What to bring** * One goal you’re working on * One thing you can help others with * A 60-second pitch, if you want the stage * A friend, if you’d like **How to find us** Head to The Folly, 92 W Houston St. Look for the I Know A Guy name tags, or ask for Raj. **Good to know** * Free to attend * Everyone opens their own tab for drinks and food See you there! 👋

7 attendees

Founders Live NYC

Thu, Nov 12, 11:00 PM

From Founders Live NYC

**\*\*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ATTENDEES MUST [REGISTER ON OUR LUMA PAGE](https://luma.com/founderslive-new-york-city-2026-11)\*\*** **Founders Live New York City is Back for November!** Founders Live is NYC’s premier networking event for early-stage startups and part of the [global Founders Live community](https://www.founderslive.com/). Our monthly pitch competition welcomes anyone interested in New York City’s startup ecosystem, including founders, investors, operators, students, and more. The format is simple: ▸ 5 founders ▸ 99-second pitches ▸ 4 minute audience Q&A ▸ Your votes decide the winner Attendees are invited to arrive with friends and coworkers up to an hour before (doors at 6:00) for networking and included refreshments. ## **Presenting Founders** Our October presenters will be announced shortly. ▸Interested in pitching at this or a future event? **[Apply here!](https://www.founderslive.com/pitch)** ▸Know someone who should pitch? **[Open The Door](https://www.founderslive.com/open)** ## **Winners** The winner of the pitch competition will receive the following: ▸ **[Front Row membership](https://www.founderslive.com/frontrow)** with unlimited access to **Backstage Intelligence** and the **Backchannel** community. **▸Founders Live Booster Pack**, featuring over $1,000,000 in cash savings on 100+ essential apps and services for startups. ▸An appearance in the[ ](https://www.founderslive.com/primetime)**[Founders Live Prime Time](https://www.founderslive.com/primetime)** regional qualifiers with a chance to advance to our **Prime Time** global livestream tournament. ## **Our Partners** ▸ **Venue Sponsor:** TBD ▸ **Presenting Sponsor** [Venture Scale](https://venturescale.com) is an omnichannel interest media brand built for the startup ecosystem. Our mission is to connect founders, investors, operators, and advisors more quickly by removing friction that typically blocks growth and accelerating the path to scale. Our platforms, content, and events ensure great startup ideas succeed more often. ▸ **Supporting Sponsor** [Lovable](https://lovable.dev) is the AI app builder letting anyone turn a plain-English idea into a real, working product—frontend, backend, and database included—powering everything from scrappy side projects to apps built by teams at Klarna and Uber. ![](https://images.lumacdn.com/uploads/nq/a9e01566-b31e-469e-bf1c-7d6024be0e7b.png) [Pensato](https://pensato.ai/founders-live/?=utm_source=founderslive&utm_medium=luma&utm_campaign=backstage) is a secure layer for local AI, checking every request going in, tracing every answer coming out, and keeping a person accountable throughout, across any industry, workflow, or team. [Get a free AI Governance Readiness Evaluation](https://pensato.ai/founders-live/?=utm_source=founderslive&utm_medium=luma&utm_campaign=backstage) ![](https://images.lumacdn.com/editor-images/k0/08d26abc-d75c-4fcc-ae5c-261da793f278.png) ## **Enter the Pitch Video Challenge!** This is your chance to **share your story in a 99-second pitch video**. Prizes start at 250 votes. Voting runs Nov 2 - Dec 2 **[Enter - FREE - through Nov 9](https://www.founderslive.com/pitch-video-challenge)** ![](https://images.lumacdn.com/editor-images/fn/0746e779-1d08-4ce5-87d5-69903e3faa2a.jpeg) ## **What do you need help with?** Nick will connect you directly to a partner who can help. **[Get started toward success](https://www.founderslive.com/solve-founder-problems)** ![](https://images.lumacdn.com/editor-images/ts/ac4d8a00-6cf1-4bc0-9162-4378f5fedc5d.jpeg) ## **Do something great for someone else today** Tell them to attend an event, pitch their startup, or even lead a Founders Live city. **[Open The Door](https://www.founderslive.com/open)** ![](https://images.lumacdn.com/editor-images/ss/77b98d21-9745-4af8-a4b6-a431531c4309.jpeg) ## **Front Row membership is here** The operating system and network for global founders. **[Claim your FREE account](https://www.founderslive.com/frontrow)** Keywords: #FoundersLive #Startups #NewYorkCity #PitchCompetition #Entrepreneurship #NYC

5 attendees

Founders, Investors & Talent Networking Mixer NYC

Wed, Nov 11, 11:00 PM

From Startup Networking & Founder Ecosystem | New York

4.2

**Startup networking event in NYC for founders, investors and tech talent**. Meet builders and connect with Ascent Valley community. Join founders, investors and tech talent at this curated startup networking event in NYC Manhattan. Meet ambitious builders, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities in a dynamic community environment. **RSVP:** [Use this link](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-networking-new-york-founders-investors-talent-mixer-tickets-1987708214778?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true) ***Please note that RSVP is managed via Eventbrite to control attendee lists — don’t ignore it to avoid issues with on-site payment.*** **💡 Why This Event Is Different** Most networking events end with exchanged LinkedIn profiles. This one focuses on real conversations and real opportunities. We bring together founders, investors, engineers, operators and talent in a curated environment designed to create meaningful connections. Through interactive networking rounds, open conversations and pitch opportunities, participants can share challenges, exchange insights and build relationships that last beyond the event. 🤝 **What to Expect** **Interactive Networking** Structured networking rounds where participants briefly introduce themselves, share current challenges and explore collaboration opportunities. **Talent Corner** Recruiters and hiring managers can briefly share open positions, while engineers and operators can introduce their skills and interests. **Startup Conversations** Open discussions about fundraising, product development, growth and startup challenges. **👥 Who Should Attend** • Startup founders • Investors and angels • Engineers and builders • Operators and product managers • Recruiters and HR professionals • Sales and business development professionals • Job seekers interested in startups • Newcomers to the NYC Manhattan tech ecosystem **🎤 Want to Pitch?** A limited number of founders will have the opportunity to present their startup. Selected founders will showcase their pitch deck to the audience and attending investors, followed by a short Q&A where participants can ask questions and share feedback. [Apply by sending your pitch](https://ascentvalley.com/pitch) ***Spots are limited and founders will be selected in advance.*** **💼 For Investors** We invite local investors, angels and venture capitalists to join the event. Investor participation is complimentary. After verification, investors receive access to the Ascent Valley ecosystem, including: • curated startup introductions • access to our startup digest • access to our platform and founder community [Interested investors can request verification](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0FOsbIU0WPT79m90Xy4Q8IqDkaZAydjQ1DGpfYDKhJy7cLA/viewform)

2 attendees

Founders Running Club :: New York

Sat, Nov 7, 2:00 PM

From Founders Running Club :: New York

5.0

**Founders Running Club (FRC)** brings founders, investors, tech, and creative people together for weekly easy runs and networking. We keep the pace comfortable and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer. Pets, friends, and family are welcome. 📅 Running + networking + community 🏃‍♀️ Conversational pace (anyone can join) ☕️ Hang out at a coffee shop after the run 🌍 FRC is now in 35+ cities Join the WhatsApp community: [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/frcnewyork/](https://www.instagram.com/frcnewyork/) Website: [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

4 attendees

AI & Tech Networking Event in New York by Ascent Valley

Wed, Nov 11, 11:00 PM

From Startup Networking & Founder Ecosystem | New York

4.2

4 attendees

Startup Pitch Events NYC: 5 Founders on Stage

Wed, Nov 11, 11:00 PM

From Startup Networking & Founder Ecosystem | New York

4.2

Join founders, investors and tech talent at this curated **startup networking event in New York.** Meet ambitious builders, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities in a dynamic community environment. **RSVP: [Use this link](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-pitch-events-nyc-5-founders-on-stage-tickets-1999716562068?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **Please note that RSVP is managed via Eventbrite to control attendee lists — don’t ignore it to avoid issues with on-site payment.** **You've been running the idea past ChatGPT. ChatGPT has never once told you it wouldn't work. Tonight you get a room that will.** Five founders, five minutes each, on a Fifth Avenue rooftop in Manhattan. Wednesday. **Three reasons people come back** * You get a table, not a lap of the room. You pick a topic the room voted on and stay there for the hour, instead of wandering with a drink looking for a gap in somebody else's conversation. * You get a stage short enough to be honest. Five minutes each, no slides read out loud, then the room asks questions. The questions are the good part. * You get the hour after. The stage ends, nobody's performing any more, and the floor stays open. That's the hour people actually remember. **Your ticket is also a login** Most events end when you walk out. This one hands you a link: your profile, who else is coming before you get there, a group chat for this specific Wednesday, and a recap afterwards of who you actually met. Then you land in the New York space and stay there. That's where the second conversation happens, the one you meant to have before the room got loud. Free with your ticket, on the web or in Telegram: [ascentvalley.com/community](https://ascentvalley.com/community "https://ascentvalley.com/community") **Is this your room?** Yes, if you're building something, anywhere from the first line of code to Series A. Or you run a function at a company that's scaling, write the code, do the hiring, or you're still deciding whether to start. Probably not, if what you're picturing is a room full of investors. How that actually works is further down, and it's better than the picture. **Want the stage?** Apply at ascentvalley.com/pitch. Five founders an evening, and we answer everybody, including the people we don't pick. Applying is free, but you do need a ticket, because we check the order number. Never pitched before? Five minutes is short enough that it's over before the nerves have finished arriving. **What we don't promise, and what we do instead** We don't promise an investor will be in the room on any given Wednesday. Angels and people who work at funds come, some Wednesdays several of them, and we won't tell you in advance who's coming, because we don't know. We don't run a judging panel, hand out a prize, or keep a leaderboard. Here's what doesn't depend on who walks in that night. Your application to the stage becomes your profile in our startup directory, and a person reads it, not a scoring script. Once you're verified, that profile sits in front of the funds and angels in our network, and they ask for the introduction themselves when your company matches what they're actually looking for. You choose whether you're in the weekly digest and you can leave it any time. We never sell your details, we don't take equity, we don't take a cut of your round, and we don't give investment advice. Which means the room on Wednesday isn't the whole opportunity. It's the part you can see: [ascentvalley.com/pitch](https://ascentvalley.com/pitch "https://ascentvalley.com/pitch") **Why it's worth a Wednesday** Watching somebody explain their company in five minutes teaches you more about explaining yours than another evening alone with the deck. You'll hear the question you've been quietly avoiding get asked out loud to somebody else, and you get to watch how they handle it. That skill travels. It works on a first date, in a performance review, and at the dinner where somebody asks what you do and you've got twenty seconds before their eyes move on. So bring the friend who keeps saying they have an idea. Five minutes on that stage is the shortest distance between having an idea and finding out what a room full of strangers thinks of it.

5 attendees

AI AFTER: NYC Founders & Entrepreneurs Afterwork Rooftop Hangout #6

Wed, Nov 4, 11:00 PM

From AI CIRCLE for Entrepreneurs

4.8

**6th EDITION!** An informal AFTERWORK meetup for **entrepreneurs, founders, and builders working with AI** — or simply excited about where it’s heading. **LOCATION: 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar** \- the best way to find us is to **join the 📲 [WhatsApp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GitXj1CYsro5zpuw7WFzyW) or ask the host for directions.** ***We'll have a designated area on the rooftop. When you get to the rooftop, turn right and look for the sign: AI AFTER!*** Come meet like-minded people, exchange ideas, talk projects, and make new connections in NYC and the global AI scene. No pitches. No presentations. Just **AI, ideas, drinks & good conversations.** 🚀 \-\-\-\-\-\- **Hosts**: Lyla and Jessica **Jessica leads Street Reach Co**, overseeing business growth, team development, and campaign quality while coaching future leaders and strengthening client relationships. We offer sales and leadership development, helping businesses grow while training individuals to become confident sales professionals and future leaders. **Connect on LinkedIn:** [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-eshaan-mehra-930121185](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-eshaan-mehra-930121185) \-\-\-\-\- **AI CIRCLE:** [an online global community of entrepreneurs](https://www.skool.com/ai-circle/about) exploring, building, and making money with AI. Online & offline, home-based in NYC, Barcelona, London, Dublin, and more 🌍

28 attendees

Prototyping in Public: Where Art and Science Get Tested on the Gallery Floor

Wed, Nov 4, 12:00 AM

From Startup Grind NYC

4.7

What if a museum ran like a lab, with the experiment still in progress? **[Ann Neumann](https://www.museumnext.com/speakers/ann-neumann/)** is Director of Galleries and Exhibitions at the **[MIT Museum](https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/)**. Her question for the evening: can a museum serve as infrastructure for public experimentation, **a place where visitors take part in the work** rather than just walk through it? If you build products, run pilots, or spend your days deciding what's ready to put in front of real people, **this is a look at how one of the best-known science museums handles prototyping in public.** In collaboration with the **[National Arts Club](https://www.nacnyc.org/)** and its **[Art and Technology Committee](https://www.nacnyc.org/arts-and-programs/committees)**, Ann will walk through the interactive projects she's shepherded at the MIT Museum. **Each one works as a prototype for engaging the public with technologies** like CRISPR, machine learning, and sensory neuroscience. Reserve your spot and arrive early. Space is limited. Founded in 1898, the **[National Arts Club](https://www.nacnyc.org/)** is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to stimulate, foster, and promote public interest in the arts and to educate the American people in the fine arts. Annually, the Club offers more than 150 free programs—both in-person and virtually—to the public, including exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, lectures, and readings, attracting an audience of over 30,000 in-person visitors and thousands more online.

9 attendees

AI & Machine Learning Start-Ups, Professionals, Investors Networking NYC

Wed, Nov 11, 12:00 AM

From Startup Pitch & Networking – NYC

4.4

**✨ To join this event, please make sure to book your ticket here 👉 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-ai-tech-startups-investors-innovators-networking-mixer-tickets-2002797116088](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-ai-tech-startups-investors-innovators-networking-mixer-tickets-2002797116088)** **Spaces are limited, and only registered guests with a ticket will be able to attend. Don’t miss out!** Join us for a focused networking evening bringing together **AI and Machine Learning startup founders, engineers, investors, researchers, and industry professionals** building and investing in the next generation of intelligent technologies. This event is designed for people who want **real conversations, practical insights, and meaningful connections** — whether you’re building AI products, scaling ML systems, investing in deep tech, or applying AI across industries. ### Event Highlights * **1-Minute Startup Pitches** – Founders introduce their AI or ML product, problem, or use case in a fast, impactful pitch. * **Open Networking** – Connect with founders, data scientists, ML engineers, product leaders, investors, and operators. * **Match-Style Introductions** – Simple, effective prompts to help you meet relevant people quickly. * **Collaboration Opportunities** – Discuss funding, partnerships, pilots, hiring, research collaboration, and real-world applications. ### ### Who Should Attend * AI & Machine Learning Startup Founders * Entrepreneurs & Innovators in Artificial Intelligence * Investors, VCs, Angels & Accelerators * Data Scientists, ML Engineers & AI Researchers * Product Managers, CTOs & Technical Leads * Business Development, Ops & Growth Professionals * Anyone building, investing in, or applying AI & ML solutions ### Why Attend * **Meet the right people** – investors, co-founders, collaborators, customers, advisors, and talent. * **Showcase your startup** through quick, high-impact pitching. * **Explore real opportunities** – funding, pilots, partnerships, and commercial use cases. * **Exchange insights** on model development, deployment, scaling, regulation, and ethics. * **Grow your network** with people actively working in AI and ML. * **Stay ahead** of trends shaping artificial intelligence across industries. This event is designed to help you build strong connections, gain visibility, and accelerate progress in the AI & Machine Learning ecosystem. **Register now - space is limited to 50 attendees only!** **P.S. Click Follow for future event alerts!**

16 attendees

Tech Networking Event by Startup Valley in NYC Manhattan

Wed, Nov 4, 11:00 PM

From Startups & Tech Events in NY

4.3

📍 **Registration is on Luma — Meetup is not our RSVP platform.** Please register here to secure your spot: https://luma.com/ypoakmy7 🚀 **Join our event in New York!** We design Pitch and Networking nights to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback and to give strong investors access to serious teams. **Our pitch night is complemented by a structured networking session before and after the pitch session.** ▶ **See how our pitch nights look:** https://vimeo.com/877496618 **💡 What to expect:** - **Startups pitch live and receive focused feedback** from angels and VC partners - **Structured networking session** before and after the pitches - Entrepreneurs, startup founders, and operators are joining to network, exchange ideas, and build strong connections - Active investors and venture scouts joining to discover the best startups early **🤝 Who you will meet at the event:** - Founders - Investors, VC partners, Venture Scouts - Marketers, Salespeople, Business Advisors - Industry Disruptors - AI Experts - Entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom **💼 We Welcome New Investors:** We invite investors to our event to expand their network, get acquainted with new startups, evaluate them, share feedback, and participate in discussions with early-stage and serial founders. We offer **complimentary tickets to institutional investors, angels, and venture scouts** with a proven track record. Please [apply via Luma](https://luma.com/ypoakmy7) or send us an email so we can issue the ticket. If you'd like to **access our database of promising startups** or **provide mentorship support to our best startups**, please fill out this short [Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn1s8f5_R3iaqYoJ4aU2q1IxcFXIZIQElD6cEcv8YkRQhaUA/viewform), and our team will contact you. **🎤 Want to Pitch?** A limited number of founders will have the opportunity to pitch their startup or business **to a panel of investors and experts.** 4-6 selected founders will pitch their startup, followed by a short Q&A where participants can ask questions and share feedback. Apply by filling out the [Pitch Application Form](https://forms.gle/CuscVQibyXBbi1Fv7) and sending us your pitch deck. Spots are limited, and we select founders in advance. To maintain high-quality pitches, you are required to present with a pitch deck. We will share our **pitching guide** and, if you'd like, **coach you** so you're fully prepared for pitch night. 🏆 **The best startups will be featured** across our social media and included in our **investor newsletter.** **Requirements for attendees:** - Dress code: smart casual. Bring good energy. **🎟 Join our event and secure your ticket today!** **About us:** [Startup Valley](https://startupvalley.club/) is a global event organizer hosting pitch nights in 25 cities since 2023. Since then, **we have hosted 850 events for 40,000 attendees**. Over these years, we connected countless outstanding early-stage startups to serious investors, and we are not planning to stop. We maintain strategic partnerships with VC funds in the US, Europe, and Asia to support our community. **See every upcoming event in New York, with dates and venues:** [New York startup events](https://startupvalley.club/cities/new-york) Do you have a **question, a partnership proposal, or want to clarify something**? Reach us at hello@startupvalley.club **Agenda** - 18:00–18:30 — **Registration**: Guests register, receive badges, and event programs. This is an opportunity for casual networking, making first connections, and preparing for the event. - 18:30–19:00 — **Event Kickoff & Interactive Networking**: Official welcome from the organizers with a brief overview of the event goals and schedule. Interactive networking session to connect with key contacts. - 19:00–19:50 — **Startup Pitch Session**: Startups present their projects to investors and experts. Each team has 5 minutes to pitch, covering the project’s core idea, business model, and target market. - 19:50–21:00 — **Chill & Networking**: Participants enjoy casual conversations with investors, discuss collaboration opportunities, and exchange ideas over refreshments. **FAQ** **Can I pitch?** Yes! To pitch, please purchase a Pitch Ticket and fill out the Pitch Application Form. We will contact you to discuss and approve your pitch. The pitch duration is 5 minutes. You will also have some time to answer questions from the audience. **How does the pitch go?** Selected founders present on stage to the audience and the investors in the room. You get 5 minutes to pitch your idea, business model, target market, and investment ask, followed by a short Q&A. The best startups are featured across our social media channels and in the investor newsletter. **Who will I meet?** Founders, angel investors, VC partners, venture scouts, AI experts, engineers, operators, marketing and sales experts, and international entrepreneurs from across Europe, Asia, and the US. **Do investors get free tickets?** Yes! Email hello@startupvalley.club or apply via Luma (the link is in the event description), and we will issue a complimentary ticket for you and your team. **Can I request a refund?** Yes. Refunds are available if requested at least 1 day before the event start time. Please submit the refund request on the platform where you purchased your ticket, or email us at hello@startupvalley.club

8 attendees

The AI Briefing by Startup Grind: Who Owns the Data Layer Behind Enterprise AI

Fri, Nov 13, 3:00 PM

From Startup Grind NYC

4.7

**👉 [CLICK HERE](https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-briefing-by-startup-grind-who-owns-the-data-layer-behind-enterprise-ai/) TO RSVP FOR FREE 👈** **The AI Briefing is a recurring AI deep-dive for decision-makers.** Each month, we select one high-signal industry report, circulate it in advance, and meet to cut through the noise. 📜 **This month's source:** [The Formula for Agentic AI Value: Applied AI Index 2026](https://www.bcg.com/press/30september2026-ai-starting-to-pay-off-companies-generate-value) (*Boston Consulting Group – Sep 2026*) **Secondary sources:** * [5 Emerging Trends in Enterprise Data & AI](https://www.themoderndatacompany.com/resources/5-emerging-trends-in-enterprise-data-ai) (*The Modern Data Company – Aug 2026*) * [Agentic context layers](https://venturebeat.com/resources/agentic-context-layers-64-of-enterprises-traced-a-confidently-wrong-ai-agent-answer-to-problems-in-their-own-company-data-in-the-past-six-months) (*VentureBeat Intelligence – Oct 2026*) Most of the money behind enterprise AI no longer runs through IT. BCG surveyed 1,330 CxOs and senior executives. AI spending has more than tripled, to 3.3% of revenue, and 2.8 points of it sit outside the enterprise IT budget. **Business units generate about two-thirds of the value AI creates.** So who owns the data their agents run on? BCG says the gap between leaders and everyone else has moved up the stack, to whether a company's data is current, consistently defined, trustworthy, **and managed with clear ownership.** It tells companies to keep their definitions, business rules and decision logic in a layer they control and could move to another vendor. VentureBeat's August survey points the other way. 98% of companies running retrieval in production use at least one system someone else built, and 2% name building and owning their context layer as their likely direction. **64% have already caught an AI agent giving a confidently wrong answer because of their own company's data.** **👉 [CLICK HERE](https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-briefing-by-startup-grind-who-owns-the-data-layer-behind-enterprise-ai/) TO RSVP FOR FREE 👈** **🏔️ The Mission:** Deciding who owns the definitions, rules and context your AI runs on * This series has spent the year on readiness: how fast enterprises adopted, where leadership's confidence outran results, how governance fell behind agents, and whether the workforce was ready. October's discussion turned to a question none of those sessions answered: **who owns the data layer?** * We'll test BCG's advice against what data teams report from the inside. **61% call a reliable context layer critical for AI agents**, and 16% engineer one on purpose. **📊 The Format:** * **The numbers:** BCG's spending and ownership data, and where a self-reported executive survey stops being evidence. * **Cross-pollinated debate:** Who owns it in your org? IT, the data team, the business unit paying for the agent, or the model vendor whose stack holds the context. * **The semantic layer problem:** In VentureBeat's survey, companies running or building a semantic layer were about twice as likely to report a confidently wrong agent answer (78% vs. 37%). We'll work through why, and what it means for anyone about to fund one. **🤝 Who Should Attend:** * **Enterprise Executives:** See where AI budgets and accountability sit at the 7.5% of companies BCG calls future-built (all of them have clear ownership of the AI agenda), and decide whose name goes on the data layer before a vendor's does. * **Founders & Builders:** Hear what buyers mean when they ask about lock-in. 37% of VentureBeat's respondents plan to keep standalone tools alongside the model, and 22% expect to consolidate onto one model provider's stack. * **Product, Data, and Operations Leads:** Compare notes on the work underneath. 46% of respondents say their teams spend more than a quarter of their time maintaining and integrating tools, and 8.4% say the data feeding their AI is trustworthy enough for production. **📬 The Prep:** This is a working session, not a lecture. Read the report [here](https://www.bcg.com/press/30september2026-ai-starting-to-pay-off-companies-generate-value). Bring one wrong answer your AI gave and where the bad data came from. **👉 [CLICK HERE](https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-new-york-city-presents-the-ai-briefing-by-startup-grind-who-owns-the-data-layer-behind-enterprise-ai/) TO RSVP FOR FREE 👈**

2 attendees

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Rebel Meetups (New York) by Rebellious Co

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New York

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Frequently asked questions

Meetup is a platform for discovering and joining groups based on interests, allowing you to attend events both online and in-person.

Search on Meetup by entering 'Founder Groups New York' to explore various community groups in the area focused on entrepreneurship.

Founders groups often host networking events, workshops, and discussion panels to encourage collaboration among entrepreneurs.

Yes, you can join multiple founder groups to diversify your network and gain different insights from a wide range of entrepreneurs.

While many events are free, some may require a fee to cover costs, which will be clearly mentioned in the event details on Meetup.

Once you've found an event, RSVP to save your spot. Make sure to check any event-specific details or requirements beforehand.

No, even aspiring entrepreneurs or those interested in startups can join to learn more and connect with founders in New York.

Founder groups in New York offer both online and in-person events, making it convenient to participate regardless of your location.

Yes, you can create your own Meetup group or event to gather like-minded entrepreneurs and discuss startup challenges or strategies.

Many events include casual networking opportunities, encouraging attendees to mingle and exchange contacts after the main program.

Meetup provides many options, but availability of the perfect group depends on local offerings and your specific interests.

The frequency varies; exploring different groups can increase options as some are very active with regular weekly events, while others might meet monthly.

On Meetup, create a new group focused on your desired topic or theme, and invite others to join and participate in events you organize.

Yes, some New York founder groups concentrate on particular sectors like tech or social ventures, offering concentrated learning in those areas.

Meetup offers community support and networking, but it doesn’t replace professional business advice. It's a starting point for connections and sharing.

Founder Groups New York