Venture at Work: NYC 2026
Venture at Work: NYC brings together investors, founders, fund managers, economic development leaders, and entrepreneurial support organizations to explore how public, private, and community-focused capital can strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, expand access to investment, and generate both competitive returns and economic opportunity.
Drawing from Community Development Venture Capital Alliance's (CDVCA) national network, the event combines investor conversations, founder pitches, ecosystem perspectives, and structured networking.
What We'll Cover
Inside the Opportunity - Finding Deals & Building Markets: Where investors are finding promising markets, what makes companies investable, and how different forms of capital can help unlock growth.
Building the Ecosystem Behind the Investment: What helps turn entrepreneurial potential into investable companies, and how investors, ecosystem organizations, and public-sector partners can strengthen the pipeline.
Featured Founder Spotlights: A curated group of companies from CDVCA's Unlock Capital network will take the stage to pitch their companies and connect with attendees during networking.
Who Should Attend
Venture capital and impact investors
Angel investors and family offices
Emerging fund managers
Community development investors and capital providers
Founders and entrepreneurs
Accelerators and entrepreneurial support organizations
Economic development leaders
Corporate and philanthropic partners
Members of New York City's broader innovation ecosystem
Schedule
3:00 - 3:30 PM: Registration & Networking
3:30 - 5:30 PM: Conversations & Founder Spotlights
5:30 - 7:00 PM: Capital Connections & Networking
Presented by CDVCA's Unlock Capital program in collaboration with NYCEDC | Venture for NYC.
Registration is required, and attendance is subject to approval.
—
Venture for NYC (formerly known as Venture Access NYC) is a suite of bold programs launched by NYCEDC designed to make NYC the world’s leading and most inclusive innovation ecosystem. The initiative connects diverse founders and funders with the capital, networks, and resources they need to launch, grow, and thrive in NYC. Through high-impact programs and partnerships, we aim to catalyze systemic change across the investment ecosystem, ensuring that NYC continues to lead as a global hub for equitable innovation.
—
Gunderson Dettmer is the preeminent international law firm with an exclusive focus on the innovation economy. The firm serves market-leading venture capital and growth equity investors and pioneering companies through inception, growth and maturity, as well as groundbreaking public companies that result from the global venture capital ecosystem. The firm’s focus and technical skill enable an accelerated pace and unmatched efficiency, delivering best-in-class value at each phase of a client’s business.
For over 30 years, Gunderson Dettmer has represented what’s next. Built exclusively for the innovation economy, the firm is the #1 venture capital law firm globally – partnering with leading investors and groundbreaking companies from start to scale. Learn more at www.gunder.com
Special thanks to Aliya Sanders (asanders@gunder.com) for lending her time and expertise to the CDVCA community - please reach out to connect.
—
Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures provides early-stage innovators with access to capital and resources to help them develop and scale. Its mission is to catalyze innovation and impact by supporting early-stage startups and nonprofits building solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable future.