Future Labs

Program Type: In-person
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Equity Taken: None (Equity free)
Program Fee: No cost
Program Duration: 24 weeks
Stage: Pre-seed, Seed
Industry of Focus: This is industry agnostic program with focus on

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Augmented Reality (AR)
• Cloud Computing
• Computer Vision
• Cybersecurity
• Data & Analytics
• Emerging Media
• Hardware / Robotics
• HealthTech
• Impact/Responsible AI
• Machine Learning
• Smart Cities
• Smart Mobility
• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Web3
• Urban Systems

Key Highlights

Program Overview

Catalyst NYC, part of the NYU Tandon Future Labs, is an accelerator program offering six months of structured mentorship to prepare pre-seed and seed companies for institutional funding. Sponsored by NYU Tandon School of Engineering, it provides startups with access to NYU’s extensive resources, including prototyping facilities and a talented student pipeline. The program supports ventures in areas like AI, HealthTech, Smart Cities, and more, fostering growth without taking any equity.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Exclusion

Catalyst NYC supports a diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting participants to influencers, mentors, and collaborative founders in New York City.

Investment Details

The program is equity-free and comes at no cost for participating startups.

Benefits Details and Perks/Credits

• Access to START-UP NY, granting tax-free status during the program.
• Pro bono legal support from Morrison Foerster.
• Up to $100K in credits each for Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud.
• Up to $5K in credits for Twilio.
• Desk space for up to two founders at the Data Future Lab's Brooklyn office.
• Access to NYU Tandon’s 10,000 sq. ft. MakerSpace with student intern support.
• Pitch coaching, financial planning, and in-kind benefits up to $350,000.
• Networking opportunities in NYC's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Preferential entry to the Next Round program based on milestones.
• Discounts on various startup services.

Program Format

Catalyst NYC is an in-person program emphasizing self-constructed learning sessions once a month, coupled with weekly company updates. The schedule and milestones are collaboratively determined.

Location or Relocation Requirements

Participants are required to work from Catalyst's space in Brooklyn and attend monthly sessions.

Cohort Size and Program Frequency

Catalyst NYC accepts six companies per cohort, ensuring personalized attention.

Requirements Related to Users, Revenue, or LOIs:
The program focuses on startups near product launch and preparing for their first funding round (pre-seed/seed).

Post-Program Engagement

Graduates can transition to the Next Round program for continued growth and support, based on mutually agreed milestones.

Company Types Requirements

Startups must operate in verticals aligned with Tandon's Areas of Excellence, such as AI, HealthTech, Urban Systems, among others. They must demonstrate strong product-market fit and commitment.

Founding Team Preferences

The expertise of the founding team related to the startup’s mission is considered for admission. Up to two founders can work from the program’s designated space.

Catalyst NYC

Structured mentorship and support to prepare companies for institutional funding

Eligibility

Pre-seed to seed

Program Length

Six months

Focus Areas

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Augmented Reality (AR)Cloud ComputingComputer VisionCybersecurityData & AnalyticsEmerging MediaHardware / RoboticsHealthTechImpact/Responsible AIMachine LearningSmart CitiesSmart MobilityVirtual Reality (VR)Web3Urban Systems

What Sets Us Apart

Save Your Equity

Save Your Equity

Our program is equity free and no cost. Save your equity for future investors and employees.

Access to Resources at World Renowned NYU
Access to Resources at World Renowned NYU
A globally recognized institution, New York University offers a wealth of resources. NYU Tandon School of Engineering excels in research areas covering smart cities to cybersecurity, and startups aligned with these disciplines can benefit from access to some of the world's brightest minds in these fields as well a considerable talent pipeline.

Exclusive Desk Space

Exclusive Desk Space

Up to two founders per startup are awarded desk space at the Data Future Lab's Downtown Brooklyn office during the six-month program — collaborate in-person for free!

Dedicated Attention

Dedicated Attention

Because Catalyst NYC accepts just six companies per cohort, you'll receive focused attention from our team.

Program Benefits

In-Kind Benefits of Up to $350,000

From pro bono legal support from Morrison Foerster, pitch coaching, financial planning, and resources from partners like Amazon and Google, our startups receive what they need to reach the next stage of business development.

Preferential Entry to Next Round

After the six-month Catalyst accelerator and based on mutually agreed upon milestones, graduates can transition to our Next Round program, which we encourage for continued growth and support.

Open Network

We'll introduce you to influencers and mentors in New York City's entrepreneurial ecosystem, facilitating speaking engagements and other marketing opportunities.

Access to START-UP NY

This state program grants startups tax-free status while they're enrolled in accelerator or incubator programs at approved organizations like the Future Labs.

Prototyping Facilities

Supported by a student intern, our companies can access the 10,000 square-foot MakerSpace at NYU Tandon's Brooklyn campus.

A Community of Driven Entrepreneurs

Unlike non-curated coworking spaces, the Future Labs sports a community of collaborative, passionate founders with a vested interest in each other's success.

FAQs

What is the Future Labs and what is our uniqueness?
The NYU Tandon Future Labs offer the businesses of tomorrow a network of innovation spaces and programs that support early-stage startups in New York City. The first public-private partnership with New York City, the Future Labs’ uniqueness is by creating incubation programs focused on increasing the success rate of new ventures by connecting ventures to NYU resources and research.

What do you look for in companies admitted to Catalyst?
We accept companies across Tandon's Areas of Excellence, such as - Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data & Analytics, HealthTech, Smart Cities, and the intersections between them. We look for a strong product-market fit, a demonstrated commitment to the venture, and the expertise of the founding team as related to the mission. We also ensure our team and resources can be useful to the company.

How do I know that I am a good fit for Catalyst?
If your venture is in the vertical of one of Tandon’s Areas of Excellence and you are getting ready to launch your product and go on the first funding round (Pre-seed/Seed), you will be a good fit for the program. Catalyst is built to make sure our companies will be ready and have the best knowledge to reach their next goal, from fundraising to product launching.

If I was accepted into the Catalyst, am I automatically accepted into Next Round?
Several Catalyst graduates have joined the Next Round program, and we strongly encourage this. However, acceptance into Catalyst does not guarantee admittance to the Next Round.

What is the Catalyst program’s schedule?
While building your venture, we know that you are very busy. For that, we are aiming to keep the program open to self-construction while having a learning session once a month. Our startups will be asked to attend the monthly session and send a weekly company update to Catalyst’s team. We are committed to treating our founders with the respect and maturity that they deserve, so meeting schedules and milestones are determined together. What NYU resources do you offer? The value of NYU’s resources is largely dependent on each company. We connect founders to NYU faculty and staff. The NYU Future Labs also run a for-credit internship program, where companies have the opportunity to recruit NYU Tandon students to work on specific projects in return for academic credit. Through Catalyst, companies have access to NYU Tandon’s MakerSpace facility. Also available is access to data sets, model sets, and other similar resources.

What are other Catalyst benefits?
Catalyst companies are eligible to apply for the START-UP NY program, receive pro bono legal hours with our partner, Morrison Foerster, up to $100K in Amazon Web Services, up to $100K for Google Cloud, up to $5K in credits for use at Twilio, and discounts with a range of services that startups find useful. This is an ever-expanding selection — we work with our founders to identify and offer perks that they need.

I applied to your program and have not heard back from the Catalyst. What’s the status of my application?
Upon closing the application, we will contact all applicants regarding next steps. If in any case, you wish to contact us please email us - [email protected]

Is Catalyst virtual or in-person?
Catalyst is an in-person program and we do ask our companies to attend sessions in our space in Brooklyn (about 1 session per month). Also, we highly recommend all companies to be working from our working space and attend other Future Labs events.

What does ‘no cost’ mean?
We do not take equity or other compensation from selected ventures for participation in Catalyst. We are able to keep this a no-cost program thanks to strong support from NYU Tandon, our founding partner, and our other valuable supporters and sponsors.