NYU students interested in working in technology or developing startups have a new resource available to them.

In a press conference on Oct. 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced Digital.NYC, a new web platform that aims to connect the tech startups and professionals in New York City.

The platform seeks to engage entrepreneurs, investors, potential employees and organizations. Innovators who need funding can visit the Digital.NYC website to look at a list of potential investors and their locations in the city, as well as borough-specific resources available to startups.

De Blasio said Digital.NYC may have the potential to become the hub of New York City’s expanding tech environment.

“This is a sector that’s going to grow a lot more in this city, and I think [Digital.NYC] is going to be a big part of it,” de Blasio said at the press conference.

Stern junior and CEO of the website mitley.com Rohit Mittal, however, said he does not think platforms such as Digital.NYC are absolutely necessary to foster growth in the tech industry.

“There are many ways for entrepreneurs to gain funding using other mediums such as New York University Venture competitions, NYC competitions, seeking investors related to NYU and asking around,” Mittal said. “This website is an additional resource, but is not a required resource for any entrepreneur to utilize.”

Despite this, Mittal added that he thinks Digital.NYC can help entrepreneurs who are new to the industry by giving them a starting point.

“Since the business process is difficult and understanding it requires an additional set of skills, Digital.NYC will assist in that process,” Mittal said. “Entrepreneurs need to know how to utilize all of the points of the Digital.NYC network to ensure that they are taking advantage of it.”

Senior vice dean for strategic initiatives and entrepreneurship at NYU Paul Horn said Digital.NYC could create a space for entrepreneurs to grow.

“To build a successful startup, you need a village,” Horn said. “A place with [venture capitalists], angels, tech experts and people to discuss and try out your ideas. Digital.NYC will help create that community.”

CAS junior and Tech@NYU startup week coordinator Terri Burns said people in the New York technology industry are already connected through social media and events in the city, but she hopes Digital.NYC will increase those connections.

“There’s always room for improvement in terms of efficiently connecting people, [and] I’m interested to see if the NYC tech scene finds that improvement through Digital.NYC,” Burns said.

Gallatin senior and Tech@NYU president Ethan Resnick said Digital.NYC could be successful in the city, but it is dependent on the level of user participation.

“It may not be the best resource in every respect, but it doesn’t need to be,” Resnick said. “To be successful for the city, it just needs to command enough attention from job seekers that it helps NYC startups hire and to show off enough of the startup activity and talent in NYC to convince potential founders that they should locate here.”

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Oct. 6 print edition. Email Suebin Kim at [email protected].