Founders

The New York Fashion Tech Lab is a joint initiative between Springboard Enterprises and the Partnership Fund for New York City.

Springboard Enterprises is a resource hub of entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors that help women-led technology and life science companies reach their next milestone. Over 15 years they have supported 550+ women leaders globally with access to funding, advisors, partnerships, and customers for growth and product development. These companies have raised $6.6 billion, created tens of thousands of new jobs, and generated billions of dollars in annual revenues. 83% of Springboard companies are still in business as independent or merged entities, including 11 IPOs and many that are the technology engines of publicly traded companies.

The Partnership Fund for New York City ‒ formerly the New York City Investment Fund ‒ is the vision of Henry R. Kravis, founding partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., who serves as its Founding Chairman. The Partnership Fund has raised over $135 million to mobilize the city's world financial and business leaders to help build a stronger and more diversified local economy. It has built a network of top experts from the investment and corporate communities who help identify and support New York City's most promising entrepreneurs in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors co-chaired by Richard M. Cashin, Managing Partner of One Equity Partners, and Charles “Chip” Kaye, co-CEO of Warburg Pincus LLC. The Partnership Fund is an affiliate of the Partnership for New York City, an organization of the leaders of New York City's top corporate, investment, and entrepreneurial firms. They work in partnership with city and state government officials, labor groups, and the nonprofit sector to promote the interest of the city and its neighborhoods. The Partnership carries out research, policy formulation, and issue advocacy at the city, state, and federal levels, leveraging the resources and expertise of its CEO and Corporate partners.