D. Bernard Webster

D. Bernard Webster is the Executive Director of the New York Institute of Technology, a distinguished innovation engineer and entrepreneurship thought leader possessing more than 20 years of professional cross-industry experience. Since 2009, Webster has been a trusted advisor to more than 25,000 small business entrepreneurs, startup founders, and city agencies throughout the tri-state area. During this time, he has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, effective technology solutions that impact the way clients launch and scale new companies or campaigns. Webster is also an exceptional communicator and strategist, able to effectively distill complex technical subjects to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Webster holds broad expertise in new media design, software development, and venture initiation, giving him unique insight into the development of new products and pathways to commercialization. He therefore routinely leads professional learning and technical assistance across a number of growth sectors, including but not limited to: higher education, small business development, digital media, light manufacturing, and Generative AI. Through his sustained inquiry related to emergent technologies and trends, Webster has raised more than $8.5 million in public and private funds to help startups and community-based organizations transform their operations through strategic tech integration and ip development.

D. Bernard Webster is presently the Executive Director and Adjunct Faculty at the New York Institute of Technology’s Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of Management (https://nyitentrepreneurship.org; https://somces.nyc) and Southern Connecticut State University’s Small Business Xcelerator respectively. He is also the Chief AI Officer for the MVP Accelerator, Inc. a Regional SBA Growth Accelerator for Minority and Women Led Tech Startups (www.mvpaccelerator.com) and Co-founder/Technology Director for the Open Door Arts-In-Education Project (https://odaep.org) in New York City. Lastly, Webster is (2) time recipient of the Major Owens Congressional Tec Champion Award for Pioneering Tech Literacy in Urban Communities.