NYCEDC Initiative Women.NYC Launches Mentorship and Networking App

Digital Platform Expands Equitable Access to Career Growth Tools for Women Across New York City

Platform Developed by Women-Led WERULE, Built Exclusively for Women.NYC

NEW YORK, NY-Today, the New York City Economic Development Corporation's (NYCEDC) flagship gender equity initiative, Women.NYC, launched its Mentorship App, a digital platform expanding access to mentorship, professional networks, and career and entrepreneurship guidance, targeted to women across New York City but open to all. Grounded in the City's commitment to advancing economic justice, the platform directly supports efforts to reduce barriers to economic mobility by increasing access to social capital, guidance, and networks that are critical for career and business growth, but unevenly distributed. The digital application was developed by WERULE, a New York-born, women-led community and mentorship platform supporting female founders since 2015.

The Women.NYC Mentorship App builds upon the success of its signature program, The Network, a suite of programs focused on building social capital, designed to connect women in New York City with resources to help them excel and identify opportunities in emerging high-growth industries. Access to mentorship is a proven driver of economic mobility, but for countless women, access remains uneven, with many still unable to benefit from structured, high-quality networks and support. Built to serve women at every stage of their careers, the app helps remove traditional barriers to mentorship by making professional connections more accessible, structured, and sustained.

"Women.NYC has already made a deep impact supporting over 5,000 women in the last three years by expanding access to career and business growth tools for diverse women across the city, and is now building on that momentum to ensure these resources are accessible to all communities in today's digital age, without time or location constraints," said NYCEDC Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak. "This groundbreaking new platform will help expand the reach of Women.NYC's programming to New Yorkers in all five boroughs, and NYCEDC is proud to continue investing in long-term economic growth and success for all in New York City."

"At its core, this platform opens doors that have long been closed-connecting women, especially those from underserved communities or without access to role models, with executives and experts they wouldn't otherwise meet," said Women.NYC Vice President Diana Franco. "Open to all, the app makes it easy to reach over 100 leaders-just sending a message or booking time already available in the app. These connections can truly change life trajectories and expand what's possible for the future."

"There's something deeply powerful about building a mentorship platform by the women of New York, for the women of New York City," said WERULE Co-Founder Camille Jalandoni.

"We're incredibly excited to partner with Women.NYC to build a mentorship platform that can truly scale access and impact," said WERULE Co-Founder Justyna Kendra. "This collaboration allows us to bring thoughtful, human-centered technology to a moment where expanding access to opportunity for women feels more important than ever."

"As former Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I have seen Women.NYC expand access to opportunity for women across our city. This new mentorship app is helping to break down barriers by expanding access to networks and connecting women to the social capital they need to grow, lead, and thrive. I am proud to support NYCEDC, Women.NYC, and WERULE in advancing a more equitable economy for all New Yorkers," said Council Member Amanda Farías.

The digital platform, accessible in both English and Spanish, features direct messaging capabilities-enabling its users to build and sustain relationships with advisors and professional connections made through Women.NYC programming. Designed with user safety at its core, the app offers a trusted environment for women to connect, engage, and grow their networks. The platform's unparalleled mentee matching capabilities developed by WERULE and spearheaded by Lukman Ramsey, an AI specialist who has held senior roles at Google, are designed to disrupt the mentorship space, powering initiatives such as Women.NYC to reimagine career advancement and help close the gender pay gap through scalable, innovative mentorship across New York City.

Women.NYC is a City initiative, launched in 2018, created to help women of all backgrounds succeed in their businesses and careers. Since its launch, it has served over 10,000 participants. Currently, Women.NYC is focused on implementing tools and strategies to help connect women with careers and build businesses in New York City's future economy and improve women's representation in emerging industries ensuring New York City is made up of diverse growth sectors. While offerings are geared towards women, people of all genders and identities are welcome to utilize Women.NYC's programming and resources.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About WERULE
WERULE is a New York-born, women-led community and mentorship platform founded by Justyna Kedra and Camille Jalandoni, recognized by UN Women and the Office of the Mayor of New York City for helping organizations create meaningful impact at scale. Guided by intelligent technology, its beautifully designed white-label SaaS platform equips governments, universities, and companies to run and grow mentorship programs through streamlined matching, scheduling, and community while prioritizing genuine human connection.

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