New York Robotics has formally launched amid a surge in robotics investment, startup formation, and talent concentration across the New York Tri-State region. The announcement marks a turning point for New York’s robotics sector, which now counts more than 160 robotics startups across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with nearly 100 based in New York City alone.
“Our vision is to leverage New York’s central role in the global economy to build a leading robotics hub,” said Jacob Hennessey-Rubin, founding board member and executive director of New York Robotics. “This is a place where founders, researchers, enterprises, and investors can collaborate to shape the future of robotics, while positioning the sector as a serious investment category on Wall Street.”
The milestone signals New York’s emergence as a serious global contender in robotics and embodied AI, joining established hubs such as Boston, Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh, Munich, and Zurich. Long viewed as strong in finance, media, and enterprise software, New York is increasingly becoming a center for robotics commercialization as the technology moves from research into real-world deployment.
A Dense and Expanding Robotics Network
New York Robotics was formed to address a long-standing gap in the region’s innovation landscape. While the city has deep pools of capital, customers, and technical talent, robotics activity historically developed in silos. NYR’s mission is to unify startups, investors, enterprises, researchers, and government organizations into a coordinated ecosystem capable of supporting companies from early research through large-scale deployment.
Over the past two years, New York Robotics has quietly assembled one of the most comprehensive robotics networks in the United States. The organization now engages more than 450 robotics startups worldwide, including over 160 in the Tri-State region, alongside more than 80 corporations, 20 academic institutions, 40 research labs, 300 venture capital firms, and dozens of domestic and international government organizations.
Founding members include organizations such as J.P. Morgan, New York University, AlleyCorp, EisnerAmper, and Cybernetix Ventures. The group has also hosted or co-hosted more than 20 ecosystem events, including the first dedicated robotics programming at NY TechWeek, helping elevate robotics as a visible and strategic sector within the city’s broader technology economy.
NYR’s official launch coincided with its sponsorship of AlleyCorp’s inaugural Deep Tech NY conference, underscoring the growing convergence of robotics, capital, and enterprise demand in the region.
Capital, Talent, and Commercial Pull
Unlike many robotics hubs driven primarily by academic research, New York’s ecosystem is shaped by proximity to enterprise customers in finance, healthcare, logistics, construction, and real estate. This commercial pull is attracting startups focused on deploying robots in real operating environments rather than remaining confined to labs.
“We see New York Robotics as a kind of exchange,” said Randy Howie, founding board member and managing partner of New York Robotics. “It’s a platform where startups, enterprises, investors, academia, and government can connect efficiently and translate robotics innovation into broad economic impact.”
Industry leaders echo that view. Founders point to New York’s ability to attract global engineering talent while offering access to industrial infrastructure in surrounding areas such as Long Island and New Jersey, where robotics companies can scale manufacturing and testing.
Mapping the Ecosystem
As part of its platform, New York Robotics recently released a private beta of the NYR Index, an ecosystem intelligence tool designed to map startups, investors, labs, and enterprise participants. The tool is intended to give partners visibility into deal flow, talent movement, and sector trends as robotics investment accelerates.
NYR has also partnered with organizations such as C10 Labs, an operator selected by NYCEDC for the NYC AI Nexus, to support applied AI ventures across robotics, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and sustainability.
With robotics increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for addressing labor shortages, productivity challenges, and demographic shifts, New York Robotics’ formal launch reflects a broader reality: New York is no longer just a consumer of robotics technology. It is becoming a place where the next generation of robots is built, funded, and deployed.