Where New York’s Founders Gathered During Tech Week
June 2026
During New York Tech Week, The Woolworth welcomed founders, operators, and startup leaders alike for a series of community-led gatherings that transformed one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks into a destination for networking and collaboration.
We are proud to welcome communities and organizations that are building the next generation of companies, products, and ideas. These gatherings reflect the type of energy, creativity, and collaboration we are intentionally cultivating within The Woolworth.
The Woolworth welcomed events from EchoHer and Paper Popcorn, both women-owned businesses headquartered across the U.S., for independently organized events that brought together more than 100 attendees. The week’s programming included founder conversations, presentations, book swaps, and community-building inside the historic building, reflecting the growing role of The Woolworth as a home for entrepreneurship and innovation in Lower Manhattan.
EchoHer, a global community dedicated to supporting women and non-binary founders through mentorship and strategic partnerships, hosted one of Tech Week’s largest women founder pitch competitions alongside discussions centered on entrepreneurship, leadership, and expanding opportunities for women building and investing across the technology industry.
Hosting one of Tech Week’s biggest women founder pitch competitions, within one of New York City’s most iconic buildings, created a powerful backdrop for bringing together women who are shaping the future of the industry.
The building also welcomed Paper Popcorn, an invite-only business book club that brings together ambitious professionals through thoughtful conversations. Its Tech Week gathering convened founders and career-builders for a morning focused on authentic dialogue, creating opportunities for meaningful connections outside the traditional conference setting, and inspiring curiosity.
Bringing our community to The Woolworth created exactly the kind of experience we’re working to foster with every Paper Popcorn event, where the history and character of the space elevated an already meaningful morning.
While New York Tech Week unfolded across venues throughout the city, The Woolworth offered a distinctive setting where innovators gathered inside one of New York’s most storied landmarks. The week’s programming reflected the building’s continued evolution as a place where historic architecture and forward-looking industries intersect, creating space for new conversations, new connections, and the next generation of ideas.