NYC First
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
NYC First firmographics
Firmographics- 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
NYC First industry classification
Industry- 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
Where NYC First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
NYC First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide funding, volunteers, professional mentors, services, equipment, and event support. Annual Igniting Ingenuity Benefit honors sponsors and donors.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | FRC Team Registration |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
NYC First product offering
Product offeringCore 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.
Companies that use NYC First
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NYC First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
NYC First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)coreNYC 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 TechcorePartnership 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 - NYPLcorePartnership 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)corePartnership 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 LibrarycorePartnership 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-19minorStudent-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.
- BloombergmajorBloomberg 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 EdisonmajorCon 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 DimonaminorInternational collaboration connecting NYC FIRST students with FIRST Israel Dimona students for cross-cultural STEM exchange and relationship building beyond borders.
- AmeriCorps VISTAcoreFederal 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 SigmamajorTwo 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
NYC First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
NYC First social profiles
Digital presenceNYC First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NYC First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NYC First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
NYC First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
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NYC First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NYC First
What does NYC First do?
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.
Is NYC First a public or private company?
NYC First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NYC First founded?
NYC First was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NYC First based?
NYC First is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does NYC First make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and government and Foundation Grants.
Who are NYC First's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Code.org, LEGO Education and Carnegie Science Center. Direct peers are Iridescent, Bricks 4 Kidz, Mad Science Group, VEX Robotics (Robotics Education & Competition Foundation) and Citizen Schools. STEM NOLA is listed as a regional player.
Does NYC First have an API?
No public API is recorded for NYC First.
What industry is NYC First in?
NYC First's product category is Youth STEM and Robotics Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAE, Competition Robotics Teams & Coaching (FLL/FTC/FRC, VEX), with a secondary code of EDAMADAD, LEGO / Block-Based Robotics Programs. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.