Giving Compass' Take:

· New York City's new tech initiative called "The Grid" is hoping to help industries and businesses build networks, grow, and collaborate across different sectors.

· What are the goals of this initiative? Will collaboration in the technology industry provide solutions to important world problems? 

· Check out this article about the power of collaboration. 

Organizers hope this new initiative will help foster community between tech companies, especially as they work to find solutions to some of the most pressing problems in cities. Patchett emphasized the need to include everyone in such a new initiative — as opposed to just the big tech giants — noting in a statement that The Grid “signals that New York City is leading with a new approach to technology and startup culture, with a real focus on diversity, inclusion, equity, and community.”

Connecting startups and companies involved in The Grid with funding and corporate sponsorship will be a major boost for those involved. NYCEDC said venture capital investment in urban technology has approached $80 billion in 2016, led by New York City, where the investment climate has been active and continues to grow. An initiative like The Grid, in addition to the already-existing ecosystem that supports startups, should help increase investment and help more startups get their good ideas off the ground.

Read the full article about The Grid initiative by Chris Teale at Smart Cities Dive.