10 Startups Worth Watching in NYC in 2025

New York City stands as a historic global metropolis that has long been recognized as an epicenter for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement. Renowned nowadays for its bustling startup ecosystem, the city boasts a vibrant hub teeming with cutting-edge companies and a ceaseless drive for progress. Its ability to foster a thriving entrepreneurial spirit can be attributed to many factors that attract top-tier talent and foster an environment that encourages bold investments across various industries, solidifying its status as a beacon of innovation.

Why are there so many startups in New York?

Throughout its history, New York City has stood as a global economic powerhouse and a vibrant hub for finance and commerce. The presence of institutions like Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange wield significant influence and serve as the epicenter of global economic activity.

The symbiotic relationship between the financial sector and entrepreneurship fuels a dynamic startup ecosystem that thrives on innovative ideas, risk-taking, and capital investment.

Supported by a robust network of investment banks, private equity firms, and venture capitalists, New York City's financial district actively fosters and propels emerging ventures, providing them with the necessary resources and expertise to thrive in a highly competitive landscape, solidifying its status as a world-class entrepreneurial destination.

Startups in New York City

We've put together a list of some of the most promising and hottest startups in NYC.

1. Opentrons
2. Graphite
3. Clay
4. Captions
5. Camber
6. Hebbia
7. Slingshot AI
8. Basis
9. Nagish
10. Beehiiv

1. Opentrons

Opentrons builds low-cost lab robots that automate repetitive tasks like mixing liquids or running tests. Their mission is to make advanced lab equipment more accessible to scientists and schools. Instead of spending hours doing things by hand, researchers can run more experiments, faster and cheaper. It's like giving labs a robotic assistant that works 24/7, no PhD required.

• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series C – $200M (September 2021)
• Total Raised Funds: $241M
• Industries: Biotechnology, Laboratory Automation, Life Sciences
• Founders: Will Canine, Nicholas Wagner, and Chiu Chau

2. Graphite

Graphite helps software teams write and review code faster. Their platform speeds up the feedback loop so engineers don’t wait hours or days for reviews. It also uses AI to catch bugs early and suggest improvements. Think of it as a smarter, faster GitHub with supercharged tools for growing dev teams. Less time in pull requests, more time building features.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series B – $52M (March 2025)
• Total Raised Funds: Approximately $81M
• Industries: AI, Software Development, Code Review Tools
• Founders: Merrill Lutsky, Greg Foster, and Tomas Reimers

3. Clay

Clay gives sales and marketing teams a powerful way to find and contact leads. It pulls info from dozens of sources—LinkedIn, news sites, databases—and builds rich profiles you can act on. Then, it helps you reach out automatically with emails that sound human. If you’ve ever dreaded manual outreach, Clay feels like a supercharged assistant who knows exactly who to pitch—and when.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series B – $40M (January 2025)
• Total Raised Funds: $102M
• Industries: Sales & Marketing Automation, Data Enrichment, AI SaaS
• Founders: Kareem Amin and Nicolae Rusan

4. Captions

Captions makes video editing ridiculously simple. Their AI tools let creators record, subtitle, cut, and even translate videos—all from their phone. It's like having a full editing studio in your pocket, without needing to learn complex software. Perfect for creators, educators, or brands that need to turn content around fast without sacrificing quality.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series C – $60M (July 2024)
• Total Raised Funds: $100M
• Industries: AI Video Editing, Creative Tools, Generative Media
• Founders: Gaurav Misra and Dwight Churchill

5. Camber

Camber makes healthcare billing way less painful. Their software automates insurance claims, helping clinics get paid faster with fewer errors. It also gives families clear insights into what’s covered, avoiding surprise bills. Basically, it cuts through the red tape so providers can focus on care—not paperwork. A real win for both patients and doctors.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series B – $30M (February 2025)
• Total Raised Funds: $50M
• Industries: Healthcare Fintech, Insurance Reimbursement, HealthTech
• Founders: Nathan Lee, Celina Qi, and Christophe Rimann

6. Hebbia

Hebbia builds AI tools that can read and understand complex documents—like contracts, financial reports, or legal files. You can ask it questions, and it finds answers instantly, across hundreds of pages. It’s like having a super-researcher on your team who never gets tired or misses a detail. Ideal for analysts, lawyers, or anyone buried in paperwork.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series B – $130M (July 2024)
• Total Raised Funds: $161.1M
• Industries: AI Knowledge Work, Financial Services, LegalTech
• Founder: George Sivulka

7. Slingshot AI 

Slingshot is rethinking mental health support using AI. Their tools offer conversational therapy, guided journaling, and mental wellness tracking—all designed to make therapy feel more personal and accessible. It’s not trying to replace human therapists, but it’s a big help for people who need support on their own terms, especially in between appointments.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series A – $40M (January 2025)
• Total Raised Funds: $70M
• Industries: Mental Health, AI Chatbots, Digital Therapeutics
• Founders: Daniel Cahn and Neil Parikh

8. Basis

Basis creates AI assistants for accountants and finance teams. These bots handle routine tasks like reconciling statements or organizing receipts. It saves hours of manual work and integrates with your existing tools. You don’t need to be a techie—just let the AI do the boring stuff so your team can focus on higher-level strategy or client work.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series A – $34M (December 2024)
• Total Raised Funds: $37.6M
• Industries: Accounting Automation, AI Agents, Fintech
• Founders: Zenna Tavares, Eli Bingham, and Emily Mackevicius

9. Nagish

Nagish helps deaf and hard-of-hearing people communicate via phone calls. It turns speech into text and text into speech in real time, so both sides of the call understand each other. It works on any phone, without needing a third-party operator. For millions who rely on captions or sign language, it’s a huge step toward equal access and independence.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series A – $17M (2024)
• Total Raised Funds: $17M
• Industries: Accessibility Technology, Communication Tools, Assistive Tech
• Founder: Tomer Aharoni
  

10. Beehiiv 

Beehiiv gives newsletter creators everything they need to grow and monetize. You get tools to write, design, segment your audience, and even sell ads or subscriptions. It’s like Substack meets Mailchimp—but built with creators in mind. Whether you're a solo writer or running a media brand, Beehiiv helps you stay focused on content, not code or clunky systems.

• Location: New York, NY
• Latest Funding Round: Series B – $33M (April 2024)
• Total Raised Funds: $49.7M
• Industries: Media & Information Services (B2B), Newsletter Publishing
• Founders: Tyler Denk, Benjamin Hargett, and Jake Hurd

Should I start my startup in NYC?

New York City is one of the top places in the U.S. to launch a startup. On the East Coast, only Boston comes close. But while NYC has a lot going for it, it also comes with real challenges.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the good and the not-so-good.

Pros of Starting a Startup in New York City

Access to Top Talent

NYC attracts people from every background — finance, tech, design, media, fashion, and more. That means you’ll have access to a huge, diverse pool of professionals when it’s time to build your team.

Strong Investor Network

New York is a major financial hub. Venture capital firms, angel investors, and private equity funds are everywhere. If you're looking to raise money, you’ll find no shortage of potential investors.

Large and Global Market

Whether you're selling to consumers or businesses, NYC is a great place to test and grow. It gives you access to a wide range of customers — locals, tourists, and global companies alike.

A Vibrant Startup Community

From networking events and pitch nights to founder meetups and incubators, the city has an active and supportive startup ecosystem. You’ll meet mentors, collaborators, and future hires just by showing up.

Cons of Starting a Startup in NYC

High Cost of Living and Operating

Office space, salaries, and day-to-day expenses are high — sometimes very high. If you’re bootstrapping or working with limited capital, this can stretch your budget fast.

Intense Competition

There are thousands of startups in NYC, and everyone’s fighting for attention — from press, investors, and customers. Standing out takes real effort.

Bureaucracy and Regulation

Running a business here means dealing with permits, licenses, and local laws. It’s not impossible, but it does add time and complexity.

Fast-Paced and Stressful

The hustle is real. While the energy can be motivating, it can also lead to burnout. NYC demands resilience, especially in the early stages of building a company.

Is NYC the Right Place for Your Startup?

If you’re building in fintech, fashion, health, media, or anything consumer-focused — NYC can be a perfect fit. You’ll have access to capital, talent, and a giant market. But it’s not cheap, and it’s not slow.

Startups that thrive here are the ones that can move fast, adapt quickly, and stand out in a crowd.

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