BetaNYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization via The Fund for the City of New York’s partner project program.
Our story
In 2008, BetaNYC started as the “NYC Open Government” meetup by Hailey Austin Cooperrider. In 2009, we relaunched as the “Open NY Forum” and was co-founded by Philip Ashlock, Hailey Austin Cooperrider, and Noel Hidalgo. In 2013 and after the NY Governor launched the State’s Open Government initiative, aka Open NY, the group was renamed to BetaNYC.
We have evolved to be a key local leader and national partner in public interest technology / civic technology, open data, and open government.
Our work empowers individuals and local communities to build a civically engaged technology ecosystem and provide for an honest and inclusive government. We want New York’s governments to work for the people, by the people, for the 21st century.
BetaNYC demystifies design, technology, and data to the point where anyone can use it, create it, and participate in the decision making process.
In 2013, the community wrote the People’s Roadmap to a Digital New York City. This document has helped produce several proposed pieces of legislation and seven additional laws.