Nasdaq@5000 : Start-Up's@ NYC

So the NASDAQ is revisiting its past, Past the Heady 5000 ! You already read about the pros (and cons) of that magic number,so will share about The Start - Up Eco System often associated closely with it. While Silicon Valley continues to be the mother ship, "Silicon Alley" is surely acquiring a position (and prominence ) of its own. I got the opportunity (like thousand others) to see hundreds of "Start-ups" in the NY area recently at a Large Event in NYC.I will refrain from any names ( The Event, the companies, The Very good, The crazy...) but share my limited observations on what I felt about it all. Again, a very personal limited view for whatever it is worth.

The Times are Heady !! :  Oh yes, We are all out to change the world, make it more efficient, seamless, analytic, sharing, informative (and for sure, some of them will). It is exuberant, most folks are optimistic of growth, funding (and its next round) and when asked some when they see could be the next "gloom and doom.  "Oh,  it looks sunny as far as we see. Our challenge is to hire well and grow fast "  

The kind of companies : While each start - up is different (or hopes to be different, and make a big difference), it was tough to resist to put them into some big buckets. Again, my own personal viewpoint.

At the Door - Instant Gratification : Okay, so you live/work in Manhattan and are too short on time (who is not) and also have good disposable income, so here are all can be delivered "to your door steps" mostly within the hour and all you have to do is "download the app" : Grocery (that's old), Cookies, Pizza (yes, one more company for that), Liquor (a Few start ups doing just that) , Doctor , Vet Doctor, Laundry, Home Cleaning, Flowers ( Bouquets, to be precise) , Home Help (Personal Concierge), Beauty and Nails Help, Self Storage bins..and the list keeps going on. There are start ups focused on just one of these and bringing it to your door bell. All driven by power of Technology : GPS App keeps track of the delivery person, stringent quality standards for hiring of "team- members" who bring the goods (and services) to you and plans to scale up quickly. More areas, More cities. Who said Uber ? 

Peer - to - peer Recommendation : There are specific apps / start ups which enable sharing of likes / recommends with your friends about : Stocks, Financial Advisor, Tourist Spots, Off Beat Tourist Spots, Food, Restaurants, Employment, Blogs, Bloggist. So you got the picture . Did someone say TripAdvisor ? 

Market Places/ Sharing Economy :  So you have a boat, or the Legendary Soccer mom who loves to car pool, or wants to buy only "Ethically Produced" goods. Well, there is a start-up focused on each of these. And More. Air bnb.

Hiring : Everybody wants to hire. The smart, passionate, self driven, cool innovative , ready to learn, team player. There are separate companies which help in hiring of College interns, blue - collar, Customer Support, sales and marketing, veterans, Women, Diversity, Hospitality, Designers, Programmers , Kick Ass Programmers, Magicians , Musicians and Sketch Artists for your next big party/ event, Personal Assistants, Voice Over Artists ..and the list goes on. Most companies bringing the power of Technology, Analytic,Niche to the hiring process. 

The Industries : And then start up in each of the Major Industry Segments : Finance, Health and Well Being, Realty, Education, Fashion and Beauty, Travel, b2b Collaboration and Sharing. And around mobile Marketing, Social Media and Advertising, Data Crunching and Analytics

Some more : A start up which enables you to "Scan" each of the keys - car, home, office- and get a copy if you lose the original. And one which makes keys/ entry cards obsolete with your smartphone. One which gives all its news items in 100 words, or less. Another which tracks all the previews/ trailers in the movies and "recognizes/stores" them on its app. A company which enables women to make any design (or picture) into a nail - covering and delivers it for them. One which allows eyes to be checked instantly with a mobile device and deliver the spectacles number ; all under five minutes . A company which enables you to book hotel rooms for few hours - in the day. And then start up companies so much running out of unique , that at least three companies sharing the same word in their name. Overall, lots and lots of Job Applicants, Hiring, Fund Raising.

Agreed, most of the goods - services mentioned above are in the b2c space but shall give you an idea of what's buzzing. What to make out of it : It all depends on who you are and where you look from . Just download the app, register and boom ! And one last thing, While I would have thought to see lots around The Watch (is there any other watch being talked?) , did not see much...yet....Lets keep ticking !

So this was the event I was talking about.

btw :You can keep track of the NYC Start Up Echo System