NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 — New York’s entrepreneurial community convened Tuesday evening for the latest edition of the Entrepreneurs Roundtable, a nonprofit event series that has become a cornerstone of the city’s startup ecosystem since 2007.
This month’s featured speaker, Somak Chattopadhyay, managing partner at Armory Square Ventures, shared insights on venture capital and market trends before engaging in a Q&A with attendees. The highlight of the evening came as five early-stage founders pitched their companies, receiving direct feedback from Chattopadhyay — a rare chance to test ideas in front of an experienced investor.
The event, hosted by Sara Werner of Lowenstein Sandler, followed the Roundtable’s established format: opening remarks, speaker presentation, audience Q&A, startup pitches, and networking. The structure has helped the series thrive for nearly two decades, consistently drawing entrepreneurs eager for candid investor perspectives and peer connections.
Longstanding Impact on NYC Tech
Founded in 2007 by Murat Aktihanoglu and Jonathan Axelrod, Entrepreneurs Roundtable has organized more than 200 events, while its accelerator arm, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA), launched in 2011, has backed over 300 startups. ERA’s portfolio includes four unicorns — TripleLift, Katapult, Thirty Madison, and Glia — with alumni raising more than $2 billion and exceeding $10 billion in collective market capitalization.
ERA invests $150,000 for 6% equity through a post-money SAFE and provides founders with access to a network of 1,000+ mentors, industry leaders, and alumni. Each program culminates in a Demo Day, where founders pitch to a global audience of early-stage investors.
Open Access, Strong Community
One of the Roundtable’s defining qualities is its free, open-to-all format, making investor insights and networking opportunities accessible across the startup community. For founders, the chance to gain feedback directly from an active venture capitalist, while building relationships with peers and mentors, continues to make the series a unique fixture in New York’s innovation landscape.
The September 9 session reaffirmed the Roundtable’s role as a critical hub for founders and investors, showcasing New York City’s growing influence in the global startup arena.
For details on upcoming events or to apply to pitch, visit eranyc.com or follow @eranyc on Twitter.
Sources: ManhattanBusinessClub.com