New York City isn’t just a tech town — it’s much more than that. The range of diverse people, skills and industries that NYC has to offer are all major selling points for any company looking to establish an international base or set up a U.S.-based HQ.
Built In NYC talked to four local tech companies about what led them to set down roots in the Big Apple, and how they predict the city will evolve in the years to come. Because what is NYC if not constant change?
The expert strategists and consultants at Solstice help businesses in a range of industries solve difficult technical challenges and evolve to remain technologically competitive. Managing Director Mark Wallace explained why any company looking to remain on the cutting-edge of tech needs to make an NYC presence a priority.
What was the process of selecting your headquarters location like? Why did you ultimately choose NYC?
Our HQ is in Chicago but NYC is the flagship for our expanded global services. We develop digital experiences to serve every kind of human being. Creativity and diversity are pillars of our mission and business. NYC is arguably the center of the world, for both. We knew we needed a significant presence here.
How does NYC continue to influence your company culture, as well as your product?
We thrive on different and new. The experiences from our respective neighborhoods give us fresh material every day. And laughs!
How do you see NYC growing and changing in the coming years?
NYC will continue to aggregate people, opportunities and challenges. Solving the unique resource, space and social challenges will drive our team to be an even greater source of invention.
Diversity, data and determination drove location-mapping firm Unacast to set up their stateside shop in New York City. Co-founder and CEO Thomas Walle explained why our vibrant city is a natural fit for companies looking to be part of a growing scene.
What was the process of selecting your headquarters location like? Why did you ultimately choose NYC?
We first started Unacast in 2014 in Oslo, Norway. When it came time to expand to the United States, we chose New York City because it is the best location to be for data companies, when it comes to accessing clients, partners and the data ecosystem. Additionally, it also provides access to great people with data understanding, which was essential for building our team here.
How does NYC continue to influence your company culture, as well as your product?
With its high diversity and multiple cultures, NYC is a great place to be a human mobility company like Unacast. Being based here allows us to tap into that diversity by hiring people with many different backgrounds and viewpoints, which is an asset that allows us to better understand and interpret how people move around on the planet.
How do you see NYC growing and changing in the coming years?
The tech scene in New York City has definitely seen a great deal of growth over the last few years and it is still growing. It has been really exciting to watch this evolution since we moved here three years ago. I expect even more big companies to move to NYC, like Amazon and Salesforce, and it's going to be a tougher battle to hire the smartest people.
Pager works with healthcare providers so that their patients can experience the next generation of telemedicine. The Pager platform helps patients find doctors, connect to urgent care nurses, schedule routine visits and more. It’s a lot for one company, but as co-founder and President Gaspard de Dreuzy explained, the company draws its energy from the city itself.
What was the process of selecting your headquarters location like? Why did you ultimately choose NYC?
Our headquarters are situated right in "Silicon Alley" in Soho. We chose this location because it is in the heart of downtown NYC, an area buzzing with creativity and innovation.
How does NYC continue to influence your company culture, as well as your product?
The NYC lifestyle of determination and grit continues to shape our culture at Pager. The people in NYC are very results-driven, which is necessary for success at a startup. The culture in NYC will continue to drive a certain type of person that has the character traits that we look for in our employees.
How do you see NYC growing and changing in the coming years?
NYC has always been and will continue to be a hub for great tech talent. It also has a booming healthcare presence due to its close proximity to the country's top medical and education centers. Over the next few years, we will continue to see NYC as a hub for consumer-focused solutions, especially in healthcare. I find the people in NYC to be very open to embracing innovations, which will allow companies like Pager to evolve our offerings to better meet consumers’ needs at a rapid pace.
Sisense works with companies across industries to help them harness the power of their data. Since 2010, Sisense has been transforming large and complex datasets into actionable business insights. Co-founder and COO Aviad Harell explained how NYC pushes Sisense to keep innovating.
What was the process of selecting your headquarters location like? Why did you ultimately choose NYC?
Many factors go into selecting a headquarters; the main driver for Sisense to select NYC was the opportunity to attract world class talent and be closer to our customers. We initially started an office in Redwood, California, but the proximity and time zone to Europe and Tel Aviv played a role with the decision as well.
How does NYC continue to influence your company culture, as well as your product?
It was imperative for Sisense to attract smart people with a tenacious work ethic, but also people that can bring diverse life experiences and views to the table. Sisense is filled with diverse, hardworking professionals who are passionate about their work. One of the main reasons I moved to NYC was to keep Sisense's DNA when starting the Sisense U.S. entity. While we have grown very quickly over the past few years, our employees have kept true to the Sisense DNA, which is all about teamwork and getting things done.
How do you see the NYC market growing and changing in the coming years?
It’s changing right in front of our eyes and it’s very exciting. There are a growing number of startups launching in NYC, as well as large tech companies moving to the area. I believe this will help make NYC an even stronger hub for global innovation. Our headquarters and the management is based here — NYC is part of what Sisense is.
