Zelkova Ventures

Tonight, stilettos will dig their heels into the Silicon Alley scene at the Raise Cache fashion show presented by Rapture Ventures. The brainchild of Rebecca Zhou and Kane Sarhan, Raise Cache is a celebration of the existing/growing camaraderie in the NY Tech/fashion Startup Scene. The benefit fashion show aims to stimulate NYC entrepreneurship as well as encourage the next generation of innovators to stay in the big apple. Over 75 companies including tech startups, large corporations and venture firms (Zelkova), have joined forces in hopes to raise $100,000 for HackNY. A program organized by NYU and Columbia University faculty, HackNY strives to promote student technologists in NYC. In other words, HackNY promotes the NY tech scene as it “aims to federate the next generation of hackers for the New York innovation community.”

Rebecca and Kane might forgo sleep this week, which will result in an undoubtedly successful fashion show consisting of an open bar, dj, gift bags, raffles and prizes! The models and stylish garb strutting down the runway illustrate the merge between fashion and technology in NYC. Models gallivanting are mostly part of the tech scene, wearing garments lent by popular fashion sites such as Rent the Runway and Lux72. Cross your fingers I will not pull a Carrie Bradshaw and be labeled fashion road kill.

I interviewed Brian Malkerson, a member of Raise Cache’s Planning Committee, who exemplified the importance of Raise Cache. Brian reinstated the value proposition New York has over other cities: fashion and technology/innovation. He elucidated this point saying, “When the CFDA decided to launch an incubator program they chose NYC, not Silicon Valley, because all of the fashion/tech talent that NYC has to offer”. With proceeds from the show, Brian illustrated HackNY’s potential ability to “expand the pool of technical talent that is interested in startups in NYC.”

Please come celebrate creativity, brains and entrepreneurship today at the NYS Armory (Entrance on Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th Street). To learn more about Raise Cache or to purchase tickets, click here: http://raisecache.eventbrite.com/