AWS Startups Shine at New York Tech Week

New York Tech Week was a whirlwind of innovation, community building, and inspiration as AWS Startups brought together more than 1,500 tech enthusiasts, visionary founders, and savvy investors across ten events June 3rd through June 9th. As NYC continues to be a hub for tech innovation, AWS Startups remains at the forefront, empowering startups to reach new heights. From networking and learning to a high-stakes pitch competition to entertainment, this week held something for everyone, and today, we’re giving you a glimpse into the captivating experiences that defined this remarkable week.

Unleashing the Power of AI with Lux Capital

Hosted at the Amazon offices overlooking Bryant Park, this event featured speakers from leading generative artificial intelligence (AI) startups, investors, and visionary founders. Attendees had the opportunity to network and gain fresh perspectives on AI's transformative potential. Key discussions included a fireside chat with Lux Capital, followed by a deep dive into the future of generative AI with Jon Jones, AWS Vice President, WWSO, and a panel with Mor Cohen-Tal of Opstream, Donny Greenberg of Runhouse, Eyal Manor from Squid Cloud, Vishal Rohra from Kay.ai, and Arun K. Subramaniyan with Articul8 AI. Additionally, the CRO Fellowship program was spotlighted, supporting CROs and Heads of Sales from fast-growing enterprise software startups and their growth strategies through the AWS Marketplace.

Highlights from AWS x NVIDIA AI Pitch Competition

The exclusive pitch competition provided an unparalleled platform for startups to showcase their AI-powered solutions before a panel of esteemed judges from AWS, NVIDIA, and NYC's top VCs. Notable judges included Seth Rosenberg from Greylock and Chris Brown from NVIDIA. The competition culminated with Dr. Kenny Brown and his startup Feno, which uses AI to revolutionize tooth brushing, taking home the top prize – a coveted AWS x NVIDIA wrestling belt and up to $500,000 in AWS credits.

PartyRock, Partying, and Robots

Throughout the week, tech enthusiasts were never short of entertainment. AWS Startups introduced a generative AI application built on PartyRock, an Amazon Bedrock playground. The app experience was offered through roaming robots that provided personalized happy hour recommendations based on user prompts, adding a fun and interactive element to the week. Partygoers simply input the vibe of the happy hour they were seeking, and they were matched to a local watering hole that fit the bill!

Times Square Takeover

NY Tech Week saw a spectacular showcase of innovation and excitement with a prominent Tower shot and billboard video in Times Square. This event, in partnership with Nasdaq, celebrated the future of technology and finance, featuring trailblazers in AI technology. The event was held at the iconic MarketSite, kicking off with Jeff Thomas, Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Platform, Nasdaq, and ending the night with Angie Ruan, VP & CTO, Capital Access Platforms at Nasdaq. Exciting sessions highlighted AI trends, including AI Finding Its Best Self with Jon Jones, and Kate Jensen, Head of Revenue at Anthropic and Navigating the New Era of AI, moderated by Guido Appenzeller, a16z partner, Amit Jain, co-founder and CEO of Luma AI, Edo Liberty, co-founder and CEO of Pinecone, and Marjorie Janiewicz, GM US at Mistral AI.

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