nextNYC Moves the Founder-Investor Conversation Across Three Neighborhood Tables

The same founder question will sound different across three New York coffee tables.

nextNYC's November VC and Founder Coffee Meetups divide the room by neighborhood on November 19. Michael Barone of Everywhere Ventures and Joaquin Lopez May of Roo Capital will host in Nolita. Mirit Lugassi of Laconia and Lucy Friedmann of Alumni Ventures will host in Flatiron. Katie Weiss of ffVC will host in Midtown.

Participants choose one meetup. The exact location arrives by email after approval, keeping each table small enough for founders and investors to move beyond the opening version of the company.

Why this room matters

Fundraising is often remembered through the meeting that changed the round. The relationship usually began earlier, when a founder was still learning which part of the company another person understood, which assumption they challenged and whether the conversation deserved a second hour.

One morning spread across three neighborhoods creates several versions of that beginning. The host mix carries seed, pre-seed and broader venture perspectives into separate tables. The founders bring the product, customer and capital questions that have not yet become announcements.

The coffee ends at 9:30. The useful part may be the conversation that leaves with each person and finds its way into another introduction, another meeting or a different way of explaining the company.

Event details

• Date: November 19, 2026
• Time: 8:30-9:30 a.m. ET
• Locations: Nolita, Flatiron and Midtown, New York
• Nolita hosts: Michael Barone and Joaquin Lopez May
• Flatiron hosts: Mirit Lugassi and Lucy Friedmann
• Midtown host: Katie Weiss
• Organizer: nextNYC
• Access: Approval required; register for one location only
• Register: Official event page

The organizer sends the precise location to approved guests before the event. Use the official page for current availability and access details.