While MBA hopefuls interested in finance have long considered attending Columbia Business School and NYU Stern, maybe those interested in technology should also start considering New York. In “New Tech City,” a recent study conducted by the Center for an Urban Future, the authors argue that the technology industry is growing faster in New York than anywhere else in America. In fact, from 2007 to 2011, New York City saw a 32% increase in technology venture capital deals, while the country overall showed an 11% decrease in similar deals. Second only to Silicon Valley in terms of its size as a hub for the development of new technology companies, New York’s digital community tends to focus on Internet and mobile technologies.
MBA applicants who prefer the East Coast or who want to get in on the ground floor of the country’s hottest new tech hub might consider New York City as a home base. And the New York tech community is pretty easy to find. Many start-ups are located in close proximity to one another, with the offices of such companies as Tumblr, Shelby.tv and The Levo League located between Union Square and the Flatiron District in Manhattan. New York is even home to pioneering organizations such as Women Innovate Mobile, which is the first start-up accelerator designed for women-founded companies in mobile technology. It’s always worth the time for MBA hopefuls to go beyond the stereotypes of schools or regions to dig a little deeper and find a gem that might be a perfect fit for their needs.
