In Reimagining Startup Ecosystems (Fall 2025), students explored the inner workings of New York City’s dynamic startup landscape—learning how to navigate, analyze, and shape it through the lenses of systems thinking, strategic design, and AI.

Grounded peer-reviewed, systems-oriented research conducted at the Parsons Entrepreneurs Lab under Professor Rhea Alexander, this project enters a prototype development/testing phase with this course. The research integrates literature review, stakeholder interviews, participatory workshops, and AI expert consultation with behavioral scientists to ensure methodological rigor and real-world relevance. 

The course used this inequity as a live case study to design ecosystem interventions that could potentially help close the gender gap. Teams focused on all stakeholders, not just female founders. Some teams highlighted inequity and focused on language within the sector itself, while others promoted fairness and inclusion. All leveraged technology and attempted to use AI for good, reframing AI for equity in entrepreneurship. Students examined market dynamics and ethical frameworks before prototyping their own solutions to expand access to funding for female-identifying founders.

Through hands-on collaboration with founders, investors, and ecosystem partners, students engaged directly with the realities of startup culture. They attended live pitch events, developed research tools, and tested prototypes—iterating on feedback from peers and experts. Mentorship in design and systems methods helped them move from insight to action, equipping them with both creative confidence and strategic literacy.