Civic Hall Announces Strategic Partnership with Main Street Assembly and Visible Hands to Strengthen NYC’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

New York, NY — Civic Hall today announced a new partnership with Main Street Assembly and Visible Hands to expand entrepreneurial programming, increase access to capital and mentorship, and deepen support for founders building high-impact companies across New York City.

The collaboration will anchor the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network at Civic Hall’s The Bernard Goldstein Center, creating a shared home for ongoing events, convenings, and coworking in the heart of Manhattan’s tech and innovation corridor. Powered by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and operated by Visible Hands and Main Street Assembly, Visionaries NYC Alumni Network is designed to provide ongoing support to founders who have graduated from NYC entrepreneurial programs as founders grow, adapt, and scale their ventures.

The partnership brings together Civic Hall’s mission to expand access to technology and economic opportunity with Main Street Assembly and Visible Hands’ commitment to empowering underrepresented founders. Through this collaboration, Visionaries will bring entrepreneurial energy, curated programming, and a growing network of founders and startups into the broader Civic Hall community—while Civic Hall provides a dynamic platform for events, convenings, and workspace that supports long-term ecosystem growth.

Through an active presence at Civic Hall, Visionaries will offer programming that supports founders, fosters connection, and expands opportunity for the broader community. Together, the organizations will amplify one another’s networks, create space for collaboration, and lower barriers to access for emerging entrepreneurs.

“Civic Hall represents the kind of collaborative infrastructure cities need to drive broad-based economic growth,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap, the parent organization of Civic Hall. “By bringing together entrepreneurs, capital networks, and mission-driven partners, this partnership strengthens New York City’s innovation ecosystem while expanding access to opportunity for founders whose talent and ideas deserve pathways to scale. This is how we build economic mobility—by ensuring innovation is accessible, connected, and community-driven.”

“Main Street Assembly was built to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit and the ecosystems where founders thrive,” said Zahra Amanpour, CEO of Main Street Assembly. “Partnering with Civic Hall gives Visionaries a permanent home in New York where our members can gather, build, and grow alongside a broader ecosystem committed to innovation and impact.”

“Visible Hands invests in talented founders building the future,” said Justin Kang, Co-Founder and General Partner of Visible Hands. “This collaboration deepens our ability to support entrepreneurs not just with capital, but with community, mentorship, and meaningful physical space to convene and collaborate.”

The NYCEDC welcomed the partnership as a boost to the city’s innovation economy. “New York City thrives when entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have access to the resources, networks, and support needed to scale throughout the five boroughs,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) Senior Vice President of Innovation Industries Daria Siegel. “NYCEDC is proud to support Civic Hall’s partnership with Main Street Assembly and Visible Hands that will continue to build a startup ecosystem with equitable opportunity that is reflective of the city's unmatched diversity and reinforces New York City as a global center for inclusive innovation.”

“This partnership strengthens Civic Hall’s role as a central hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic mobility in New York City,” said Jim Malatras, Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of Education at Civic Hall’s parent organization, Fedcap. “By bringing together founders, investors, and technologists under one roof, we are building the connective tissue that fuels opportunity and inclusive growth.”

By formalizing this collaboration, Civic Hall, Main Street Assembly, and Visible Hands are advancing a model of shared space, shared programming, and shared purpose—ensuring that New York City remains a place where founders can access the capital, community, and connections needed to succeed.