New York, NY — Civic Hall today announced the launch of the AI Founder Program, a four-week accelerator supported by Verizon that will give New York City high school students the opportunity to learn how to use artificial intelligence not simply as consumers, but as builders, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs.

The first program will run for four weeks beginning in September and serve 20 students. The hybrid program will combine hands-on sessions at Civic Hall—The Bernard Goldstein Center, near Union Square in Manhattan, with virtual learning and mentorship.

Students will move through the entrepreneurial process, from identifying a problem and conducting AI-assisted research to developing a business model, building a functional prototype, and pitching their venture.

What makes the Civic Hall AI Founder Program distinctive is its focus on civic innovation. Students will be challenged to examine problems affecting their own communities and New York City, from transportation and housing to food access, education, public health, environmental justice, public safety, and civic engagement, and explore how AI-enabled solutions might address them.‍

Doug Binette, Director of Programming at Civic Hall and the NY Tech Alliance said, “With Verizon’s support, we’re putting powerful technology into the hands of young New Yorkers and challenging them to use it to solve problems they see around them every day. We want students to leave this program thinking of themselves not simply as technology users, but as founders and creators.”

The curriculum is organized around the same fundamental stages experienced by early-stage founders: problem discovery, research and validation, ideation, business-model development, prototyping, testing, iteration, and pitching.

Students will use leading AI and no-code technologies to conduct research, develop concepts and create working prototypes. Each participant will also receive extended access to advanced AI tools, allowing students to continue learning and developing their projects after the accelerator concludes.

“The next generation shouldn’t simply experience the changes being driven by artificial intelligence, they should have the opportunity to help shape them,” said Ashley Greenspan, State & Local Government Affairs, NYC and Long Island. “Through our support of the AI Founder Program, Verizon is helping young people gain hands-on experience with emerging technology, develop future-ready skills, and see themselves as builders, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers. We’re especially proud to help expand access to these opportunities and give students from communities traditionally underrepresented in technology the tools, exposure, and confidence to turn their ideas into solutions that can make a difference in their communities.”

The program will culminate in the Verizon AI Founder Showcase, a live pitch competition bringing together students, mentors, technology leaders, founders and members of New York’s innovation community.

Student founders will present their AI-enabled civic ventures before a judging panel and compete for a $5,000 Verizon-sponsored prize pool, with awards of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000 for the top three teams.

The experience will not necessarily end at Demo Day.

The grand-prize-winning venture will be invited to appear at the NY Tech Alliance’s final event of 2026, hosted by Civic Hall in partnership with Columbia Business School, giving the winning student team an opportunity to present its work to a broader audience of founders, technologists and members of New York’s technology ecosystem.

“AI is rapidly changing nearly every industry, but young people shouldn’t only learn how to use AI—they should have the opportunity to build with it,” said Jim Malatras, Managing Director of Civic Hall and Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President for Education at its parent organization, Fedcap. “This program will give students the skills to use AI in meaningful and productive ways, challenging them to apply this powerful technology to solve real problems and create positive change in their communities.”