NYC First

What NYC First does

NYC FIRST is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 46-2754933), founded in 2000, that delivers FIRST robotics programming to K-12 students across all five boroughs. The organization operates as the official program delivery partner for FIRST in NYC and runs three competitive robotics leagues: FIRST LEGO League (grades 4-8), FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12), and FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12), collectively reaching more than 7,000 students annually and producing over 30 competitions each year. Programs are delivered through a combination of school-based robotics clubs, library partnerships, and three physical STEM Centers — located on the Cornell Tech campus, at the Washington Heights branch of the New York Public Library, and at the Far Rockaway branch of the Queens Public Library — equipped with professional fabrication tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, and a range of mechanical and electronic equipment.

The technology stack is hardware-centric and education-focused, featuring LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, Spike Prime, and Tetrix robotics kits, alongside digital design tools such as TinkerCAD, Autodesk Fusion 360, and GitHub for code sharing. During the COVID-19 pandemic NYC FIRST pivoted to remote delivery by launching STEM Kits and the 'Robot in a Box' ultra-low-cost curriculum in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library. The organization has also developed internal operational tools such as an RFID-based student check-in system built by STEM Center interns.

Commercially, NYC FIRST is funded through a diversified revenue model consisting of individual donations (including monthly recurring gifts), corporate sponsorships (Bloomberg, Con Edison, Two Sigma), foundation and government grants (Siegel Family Endowment, Charles H. Revson Foundation, Kapor Capital, AmeriCorps VISTA, NYC Council), and event fundraising via the annual Igniting Ingenuity Benefit. Most programs are free to participants, with FIRST team registration fees ($2,000 veteran / $3,000 rookie per FRC season) typically covered through grants. The organization is governed by a board including Michael Zigman (President and CEO), Gilda Barabino, Armen Avanessians, Michael Dubno, Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, Ann Kirschner, David Siegel, and Karl Sprules, and maintains a 20,000+ alumni network and active Youth Council that supports a separate Pathways career-development program.

Name

NYC First

Legal name

NYC FIRST

Website

https://nycfirst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NYC FIRST is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers FIRST robotics programs — including FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition — to K-12 students citywide through STEM Centers, schools, and library partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM and Robotics Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX) (EDAMADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

LEGO / Block-Based Robotics Programs (EDAMADAD), STEM & Coding Learning Centers (Robotics, Programming, Engineering) (EDANAHAF), Robotics & Engineering Summer Camps / Bootcamps (EDAMADAF), Teacher Training & Curriculum Providers (Robotics/Maker Education) (EDAMADAM)

Keywords

• STEM education
• Robotics competitions
• Youth education programs
• Nonprofit education
• STEM learning centers

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: NYC FIRST operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through individual and corporate donations. EIN: 46-2754933. Monthly recurring donation options available. Contact: Michelle Sharkey, Director of Development.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide funding, volunteers, professional mentors, services, equipment, and event support. Annual Igniting Ingenuity Benefit honors sponsors and donors.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from government entities and foundations. Council Member Althea Stevens allocated $100K to STEM center at Andrew Freedman Home. AmeriCorps VISTA program partnership for capacity building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NYC FIRST delivers citywide STEM and robotics education programs to NYC youth through the FIRST robotics competition framework (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition). It operates physical STEM Centers equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers that provide hands-on fabrication and engineering workshops. Programs are offered free to participants, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

NYC FIRST is a nonprofit organization providing meaningful and joyful STEM and robotics programming city-wide through its core FIRST robotics programs. The organization delivers four FIRST programs: FIRST LEGO League for ages 9-14, FIRST Tech Challenge for middle/high school students, and FIRST Robotics Competition for high school students. Complementing these competitive programs are two STEM Centers offering hands-on workshops in computer science, fabrication, and engineering with professional-grade equipment. The organization also provides alumni engagement through its Pathways Program for career development, volunteer and mentor programs for community support, and an annual Igniting Ingenuity Benefit for fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FIRST LEGO League An international robotics program for children ages 9-14 (grades 4-8) where teams research real-world problems and design, build, and program LEGO-based robots to complete missions in annual challenges. Emphasizes STEM skills, Core Values, and innovation projects.
• FIRST Tech Challenge A robotics competition for middle and high school students (grades 7-12) where teams design, build, and program robots to compete in an alliance format using modular robot kits. Emphasizes engineering design, programming, and technical problem-solving skills.
• FIRST Robotics Competition A high school robotics competition (grades 9-12) where teams have six weeks to design, build, and program large-scale robots to compete in complex alliance-based games. Involves professional engineering mentorship and significant technical challenges. Veteran teams pay $2,000/season and rookie teams pay $3,000/season, with grants available.
• STEM Centers Physical hubs of learning providing STEM educational experiences to students, teachers, and communities across New York City's five boroughs. Centers offer workshops in computer science, digital and non-digital fabrication, mechanical engineering, electronics, and sensors, with resources including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, miter saws, drill presses, metal saws, and other professional tools.
• Robot in a Box An ultra-low-cost robotics kit and curriculum designed to expand STEM access. Contains lessons on electrical and mechanical engineering, computer programming, design thinking, physical and digital prototyping materials, a browser-based learning webpage, augmented reality package, and digital toolkit in TinkerCAD and GitHub. Delivered through partnerships with libraries and educational institutions, having reached over 40 children in pilot delivery.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000NYC FIRST is the official program delivery organization for FIRST robotics programs in New York City. FIRST is a multinational non-profit organization that designs accessible, innovative programs to build STEM skills, hands-on learning, and employability skills in youth ages 4-18 across over 100 countries.
• Cornell TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting NYC FIRST STEM Center on Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, providing access to university facilities and expertise for student robotics and STEM education programs.
• Washington Heights - NYPLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with New York Public Library's Washington Heights branch to host a STEM Center providing robotics and STEM education to the community.
• Queens Public Library (Far Rockaway Branch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting NYC FIRST STEM Center within the Far Rockaway Branch Teen Library, providing immersive and sustained STEM education focused on robotics, technology, and engineering through workshops, robotics teams, drop-in programs, and high school credit-bearing classes.
• Brooklyn Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership running FIRST LEGO League teams within a mile of any middle school library patron in Brooklyn. Also collaborated on Robot in a Box pilot program delivering kits and workshops to over 40 children.
• Makers for COVID-19minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-driven partnership connecting makers with communities in need of PPE equipment. Students at NYC FIRST STEM Centers have produced and distributed face shields and ear savers through this initiative.
• BloombergmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBloomberg provides volunteers and event support for NYC FIRST competitions. Bloomberg LP and Pinkerton Foundation funded a product design internship program for high school students creating curricular materials and testing Robot in a Box kits.
• Con EdisonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCon Edison provides Machine Shop facilities for students to use during robotics competitions and is listed as a leadership supporter for Robot in a Box project.
• FIRST Israel DimonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration connecting NYC FIRST students with FIRST Israel Dimona students for cross-cultural STEM exchange and relationship building beyond borders.
• AmeriCorps VISTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program partnership to build capacity in communities to expand FIRST programming. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve one-year terms supporting NYC FIRST operations and outreach.
• Two SigmamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTwo Sigma featured in NYC FIRST press for their commitment to NYC robotics, providing professional mentorship and support to student teams.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): NYC FIRST's upstream parent/strategic partner. FIRST is the multinational nonprofit that designs and owns the FLL, FTC, FRC, and FLL Discover/Explore programs NYC FIRST delivers. They share the same robotics-competition curriculum and a substantially overlapping youth-STEM mission, but FIRST operates globally as the brand and content owner while NYC FIRST is a regional delivery affiliate.
• Code.org: A leading nonprofit focused on expanding access to computer science education in K-12 schools. While Code.org emphasizes software/coding and NYC FIRST emphasizes robotics/fabrication, both serve the same underserved-student STEM-equity mission and compete for the same philanthropic, government, and school-district funding pools.
• LEGO Education: For-profit education arm of the LEGO Group providing LEGO-based STEAM learning solutions including SPIKE Prime and MINDSTORMS—the exact hardware NYC FIRST uses for FLL and FTC. Comparable as the underlying curriculum/hardware provider, though LEGO Education operates commercially while NYC FIRST delivers programs free via grants.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center and STEM education nonprofit offering school programs, camps, and competitions (including FIRST-affiliated events in some regions). Comparable as a regional STEM education provider serving K-12 with hands-on programming and competition hosting, though with broader science center infrastructure versus NYC FIRST's dedicated robotics focus.

Direct peers

• Iridescent: A nonprofit delivering STEM education programs (including Curiosity Machine and Technovation) to underrepresented youth through family engagement and mentor networks. Highly comparable to NYC FIRST in mission, target population (underserved K-12), mentor-driven model, and reliance on corporate/foundation funding, though with a broader national footprint and different content focus.
• Bricks 4 Kidz: A franchise-based STEM enrichment provider using LEGO-based engineering and robotics programs for elementary and middle school students. Comparable to NYC FIRST's FLL-oriented programming in audience age, LEGO-based curriculum, and afterschool/workshop delivery, though delivered via paid franchise model rather than grant-funded free programs.
• Mad Science Group: A franchise-based STEM enrichment provider delivering hands-on science and engineering programs to K-8 students through afterschool programs, camps, and in-school assemblies. Shares NYC FIRST's target age group, hands-on enrichment focus, and school/community-based delivery channels, though focused on broader science topics rather than competitive robotics.
• VEX Robotics (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation): The primary competitor robotics platform to FIRST, running VEX IQ, VEX V5, and VEX U competitions globally. Directly comparable as a K-12 competitive robotics platform serving similar school-based team structures and competition ecosystems, and a viable alternative curriculum partner for regional STEM programs.
• Citizen Schools: A national nonprofit providing extended learning time and apprenticeship programs (including STEM/robotics) to underserved middle school students, leveraging volunteer mentors from corporate partners. Highly comparable to NYC FIRST in mission (STEM access for underserved youth), mentor/volunteer-driven model, corporate partner ecosystem (e.g., Google), and free-to-student delivery via schools.

Regional players

• STEM NOLA: A New Orleans-based nonprofit delivering hands-on STEM programming to underserved K-12 youth through community events, camps, and workshops. Comparable to NYC FIRST in mission (STEM equity), target population (underserved urban youth), and community-based delivery model, but operating in a different metro with broader STEM (not specifically competitive robotics) focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nycfirst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUHQ-kkgKRW_7QNymF2YaMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/nycfirst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nyc-first
• Instagraminstagram.com/nycfirstrobotics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NYC First