About the Author

Marijana Gligoric and Srdjan Ristanovic are founders of brigit.dev, a product development agency that goes far beyond just building mobile and web apps. Their team integrates deeply with founders, acting as strategic partners - blending UX psychology, habit-forming features, and business logic to help startups not only launch, but grow through upsell, cross-sell, and long-term user retention.

While based in Europe, brigit.dev works globally across SaaS, MedTech, EdTech, FinTech, and other verticals - because in fragmented markets like ours, you can't afford to niche down too soon. You have to be smart, flexible, and deeply user-driven.

Since recently expanding into the U.S. market, Marijana and Srdjan share this playbook from firsthand experience - what it's really like to network, connect, and build traction in the fast-paced NYC tech scene.

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Where to go, who to meet, and how to make it count.

If you’re a founder visiting New York City, chances are you’re here to meet people, pitch your vision, and open doors for your startup. Welcome! NYC moves fast, talks straight, and rewards initiative.

We recently spent a few intense weeks in the city, attending events, meeting investors, and talking to other founders. We made mistakes, learned what actually works, and found ourselves in dozens of conversations that helped us rethink our strategy and expand our network.

This guide is everything we wish we had when we landed.

It’s tactical, honest, and full of practical tips-from where to go, how to reach out, and who’s worth knowing. Whether you're coming for a week or staying for the long game, this guide will help you make the most out of every coffee, pitch, and handshake.

Where to Stay & Navigate the City

Best Areas to Stay

When you’re here for networking, location is key. You’ll be hopping from meetings to events, and the clock adds up fast. Here are a few founder-friendly neighborhoods to consider:

Flatiron District:

A tech hub that’s walkable and buzzing with startups, coworking spaces, and VCs. It’s perfect for lunch meetings or quick coffee chats.

SoHo / Nolita:

Stylish and central, with a creative energy. Great access to events, plus it's where many founders hang out or host meetups.

DUMBO (Brooklyn):

Chill but vibrant, with coworking spaces and a creative community. Plus, the views of Manhattan are pretty epic! If you’re meeting NYC’s more creative tech crowd, you’ll likely end up here at least once.

Getting Around: Time-Saving Tips

Walking is your best friend.

For distances under 30 minutes, walking is often quicker and way more enjoyable. You never know who you’ll run into or what café you’ll discover!

Use the Subway for longer distances.

Google Maps or Citymapper will guide you. Just remember to build in some buffer time for unexpected delays.

Avoid Uber during peak hours.

The traffic is relentless. What looks like a 15-minute ride can stretch to 45 in a heartbeat!

Check venues in advance.

NYC venues can be tricky to find (think warehouses or rooftops). Arrive 5–10 minutes early to avoid an awkward entrance.

Essential Networking Apps & Tools (that actually work)

NYC can be overwhelming. Events pop up every day, people are always "in meetings," and unless you know where to look - you’ll waste time chasing dead ends. The good news? You can stack the odds in your favor with a few tools that helped us unlock real opportunities.

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Here’s what worked for us and how to use each one smartly:

Lunchclub - AI-powered networking

Lunchclub pairs you with relevant people quickly - whether they’re investors, fellow founders, or industry operators.

Tips:

Geneva - Community-driven meetups

Geneva hosts intimate groups for founders and creators. It’s the go-to platform for small, curated events.

Use it for:

Eventbrite - High-quality public events

Eventbrite is where you’ll find more “official” startup events - panels, demo days, pitch nights.

Telegram Groups - Fast-paced NYC tech scene

Telegram groups are often more active than Slack or Discord. Look for invite-only channels for founders and operators.

Examples:

X (Twitter) - Your networking weapon

Keep track of who’s building what in real-time. Start by:

To sum it up:

Tool What it’s good for Pro tip
Lunchclub Smart 1:1 intros Be specific about your NYC dates and goals
Geneva Intimate, curated events Join 2–3 local groups and engage
Eventbrite / Luma Larger public events Search by niche and location
Telegram Fast-moving founder chats Ask to be added in person
X (Twitter) Real-time tracking & access Use Lists + DMs + live posting

Must-Join Communities

If you only rely on public events and casual chats, you’ll miss most of what’s actually happening in the NYC tech scene. The real magic? It happens in communities - small, invite-only groups, Slack channels, founder dinners, Telegram threads, private brunches.

We tested over a dozen communities and here’s a curated list of those that are actually worth your time.

Tavern Community

Join Tavern for an active space filled with founders and creators. Their events are relaxed and authentic-think rooftop drinks and no-pressure demo days.

Why it matters:

Apply early - spots fill up fast.

Startup Grind NYC

Startup Grind NYC hosts fantastic events for early-stage founders, including fireside chats with top names and pitch showcases.

You’ll find:

Ideal for:

Gen Z Tech Communities

For younger founders, these communities are gold:

Gen Z Tea

Small group of Gen Z creators and builders who share ideas, resources, and meet IRL.

Club Y

A community and incubator hybrid focused on bold building.

Baby Bathwater

Invite-only but worth exploring - the network is tight and helpful, even outside NYC.

Founders Network by Damien Crosse

A close-knit Slack community that practices genuine support among founders. Strong focus on honest conversations, with weekly “asks & offers” threads.

Slack invite: (usually shared via events or other founders)

Founders Common

Community for early-stage and first-time founders who are building in public or growing small teams. It’s designed to be a safe space for brainstorming, building together, and giving/getting feedback.

Founders Club NYC

Check out Founders Club for curated interactions and community-driven activities like hikes and dinners.

Tech Builders & Operator Collectives

Join underground events hosted by people like Andrew for intimate dinners and gatherings.
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These are less “official” but incredibly powerful if you’re in SaaS, dev tools, or AI:

Andrew’s Mixers

Follow @andruyeung on X - he hosts the best underground events:

You’ll meet founders, VCs, and operators all in one go.

How to Get In

Joining communities can seem tricky, but it’s all about visibility:

1. Be visible.

Attend events and mention you’re looking for a community.

2. Be specific.

Instead of a vague “Any good communities?”, say, “I’m building an early-stage SaaS and looking for feedback groups.”

3. Give before you ask.

Share resources or help others out. Communities appreciate those who offer value.

Effective Outreach Strategies

Outreach in NYC isn’t about being charming, it’s about being clear, relevant, and fast. Everyone’s busy, and attention spans are short. You either bring value in the first few seconds, or your message gets ignored.

Here’s how to make your outreach count:

1. Be direct.

Skip the small talk. Say who you are and why you’re reaching out - immediately. Make it relevant to the person you're contacting.

2. Keep it short.

No one has time to read long intros or stories. Two or three sentences is more than enough to explain what you’re building and why you’re reaching out.

3. Make your value clear.

Don’t make people guess what you want or how it helps them. Be clear about what you’re offering or asking and why it matters now.

4. Include a clear call-to-action.

End your message with something specific. Suggest a time, offer a calendar link, or propose a quick coffee. Avoid vague questions like "let me know what works."

5. Show momentum.

You’ll get more replies when people feel like you’re already in motion. Mention that you’re in NYC for the week, meeting other founders, or already attending events.

6. Use the right channels.

7. Avoid friction.

Don’t ask people to “suggest a time” or “let you know if they’re interested.” Make it easy for them to say yes - drop a link or offer two clear options.

8. Don’t follow up too soon.

If they don’t respond right away, wait a few days before following up. One gentle follow-up is fine. After that, move on.

Top Cafés for Networking

In NYC, cafés aren’t just for grabbing coffee - they’re where meetings happen, deals get started, and random conversations turn into something real. If you’re a founder visiting the city, these are the places where you’ll likely meet other builders, investors, and creatives - without even trying.

We tested dozens of spots. Here are some standout spots to meet other builders or investors:

What to Look for in a Café

Best cafés for founders, operators, and tech people

Use this map to explore:

NYC Tech Café + Cowork Map

Most places here are founder-tested and community-approved.

Best Networking Cafés

Bonus: Ace Hotel Lobby (NoMad): Technically not a café, but a go-to for founders and operators, massive space, low-key business vibe and it is great for casual meetings and spontaneous networking

Pro Tips:

Best Co-working Spaces in NYC

NYC is packed with coworking spaces, but not all of them are worth your time. Some are just quiet offices. Others are full-on communities where events happen, intros are made, and people actually talk to each other.

The good ones aren’t just for desk space - they’re a fast lane into the local startup scene. And many of these spaces also streamline day-to-day operations with meeting room booking software, making it easy for members to reserve rooms and stay productive without any hassle.

Finding the right coworking space can be a game changer.

What makes a space worth it

Our favorite NYC co-working spaces for startup founders:

1. NeueHouse – Madison Square.

Good to know: Events happen here regularly - even if you’re not a member, try to get invited as a guest

2. WeWork – Multiple Locations

Pro tip: Use a day pass to test the vibe or just show up early and ask for a tour

3. The Tech Garden

4. Data Future Lab

5. Luminary

6. Tavern Community

How to network even without a membership

Networking at coworking spaces doesn’t always require a membership. Start by checking if the space hosts public events like pitch nights, panels, or community breakfasts. Follow them on X or subscribe to their newsletter for event updates.

You can also ask a member to invite you as a guest, as most spaces allow this. If you're not able to get an invite, book a day pass and treat it like a mini-conference: show up early, work, meet people, and stay late.

Don’t forget to introduce yourself to the community manager - they’re great for making connections if you share what you're building. The right coworking space isn’t just about having a desk; it’s about surrounding yourself with people who push you forward. In NYC, the value of that access is often worth the price of admission.

Early-stage Investors, VCs & Incubators

You don’t come to NYC just to meet other founders - you come to get in the room with people who can fund your company or open serious doors. But here’s the truth: not all investors are approachable, active, or early-stage focused. Before connecting with investors, founders can use tools like a private equity calculator to get a quick, informational understanding of potential deal structures, valuations, and projected returns. This doesn’t replace professional advice, but it helps you approach discussions more confidently, ask smarter questions, and gauge the financial implications of different investment scenarios.

If you’re looking for funding, knowing the right investors is crucial:

1. AlleyCorp

They’re often the first check in and help shape the company alongside the team.

2. 25Madison

They sometimes co-build with founders and provide resources beyond funding. Strong product + strong narrative = a good fit.

3. Techstars NYC

It is best for founders building in B2B SaaS, fintech, or healthtech, who want structure + speed

4. Future Labs at NYU

Real support + legit investor connections + engineering-heavy founder network

5. The Fund NYC

How to get in: Start by connecting with members at events - many are active in the NYC tech scene and open to conversations

6. AngelList & X as warm-up tools

Before reaching out cold, use platforms where investors actually hang out:

Connecting without the Pitch

In NYC, investor access isn’t the bottleneck. Clarity and timing are.

Get your story straight, know who you’re talking to, and lead with what makes your vision matter now.

Additional Tips for Success

Even in a city full of opportunity, the key is to stay intentional. If you try to do everything, you’ll burn out and miss what actually matters.

Here are some strategies to stay focused:

Limit Daily Engagements

2–3 quality meetings or events per day is more than enough. More than that, and you stop being sharp.

Mornings are great for deep conversations, evenings for casual meetups. Leave space in between to reset or process.

Research Beforehand

If you’re meeting someone, know who they are. Check their recent work, tweets, or posts. Tailor your pitch or questions to what matters to them.

It shows respect and it makes your conversation more useful for both sides.

Dress Appropriately

Business casual works in most cases. Jeans and a blazer, or smart sneakers and a clean shirt, are safe bets.

Some events lean formal, others are rooftop and relaxed - check the tone before you go.

Conclusion

NYC rewards people who are intentional, clear, and proactive. It’s not about being everywhere, it’s about showing up in the right rooms with the right mindset.

If you’re direct, prepared, and respectful of people’s time, you’ll be surprised how open the scene really is. From founders to investors to operators, people here move fast and if you’re building something real, they want to hear about it.

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Use this guide to navigate the noise, find your people, and turn short conversations into long-term momentum.

Your next opportunity might be one coffee away.

And finally, the spiciest part - step by step how brigit.dev did it:

We landed in NYC - we knew we were staying for just 14 days.

I posted on LinkedIn, Instagram and X that I am in New York. We used the momentum of the Netflix series YOU dropping, and built a narrative around it. You can check it out here.

A few people reached out inbound and booked meetings after seeing the post.

Then we kicked off the outreach. Since our ICP is quite broad and doesn’t always show strong sales signals, for us, the biggest benefit came from going inbound and getting as much visibility as possible. So that was the goal with our outreach: meet the community.

Btw, we build mobile and web apps for startups - that means pre-seed/seed or anyone who has money and an idea right now.

Next tip: Always research the mindset and habits of the region you're going to. We didn’t do that properly for New York, and our first messages didn’t land well - they were too detailed for New Yorkers, who actually prefer a more direct, even borderline hard-sell approach.

We built a system around events. Every day, one team member (you can do this solo, too) would go through all the event platforms and sign us up for the relevant ones. Each morning, we’d get tickets and QR codes. After each day, we logged everyone we met into the CRM - tracking is a MUST. You forget people fast otherwise.

We used a Tapni card to connect quickly with people across multiple platforms - so they’d keep seeing us around.

We built real relationships with community builders and also used Partiful to get into a few private parties.

Don’t forget to rest - and don’t underestimate burnout. I hit mine after just 7 days. As a CEO, I had packed every day with meetings and meetups.

This is a marathon, not a sprint. Mental health is everything. Rest. Celebrate yourself.

Enjoy New York - it has so much to offer!