June 2017 │ New York

Ken Craig, Group Technology & Operations, joined an expert panel at 1776 NYC's inaugural Startup Showcase, in which 20 early-stage social enterprises demonstrated their innovative concepts to the public.

Investors, corporate executives and members of New York City’s technology community gathered at 1776 NYC’s first Startup Showcase, which featured affordable electric vehicles, technology for reducing bottled water usage, a marketplace for hourly workers and a wide range of other startups that are addressing societal challenges and creating good jobs.

One of the goals of the Showcase was to give the entrepreneurs practice for pitch meetings. To that end, after each founder presented, they fielded questions about their ventures from Craig and fellow panelists Katie Beck (Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation), Tim Johnson (Greater New York Hospital Association) and Loretta McCarthy (Golden Seeds).

“It’s inspiring to see how these digital innovators are addressing society’s most pressing issues,” said Craig, who serves as Managing Director of Finance, Treasury & Corporate Communications Technology. “Just as technology is helping us build a better Deutsche Bank—by improving controls and meeting clients’ evolving needs—new technology is also empowering us as a society to effect positive change.”

1776 NYC is a startup incubator for tech companies in complex industries such as education, energy, health care and transportation. Membership in the incubator includes shared workspace at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a mission-driven industrial park, as well as access to key mentors, classes and workshops, networking opportunities and a program of community outreach activities.

Deutsche Bank partners with 1776 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as part of the bank’s Made for Good program, which builds the capacity and sustainability of socially motivated organizations. The bank’s support enables 1776 to perform extensive outreach and recruitment of underrepresented social entrepreneurs. A cohort of minority- and women-owned enterprises is currently participating in 1776’s incubator program as Deutsche Bank Fellows.