Bodegas TV is set to launch New York City's first captive-audience in-store video network at the Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit on June 4, 2026, an official event of #NYTechWeek. The summit, running from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Stuyvesant Yacht Club in the Bronx, will gather over 100 bodega owners, startup founders, investors, and technologists to explore the “Sovereign Bodega” framework—modernizing corner store operations without displacing their cultural significance.
According to the press release, Bodegas TV (accessible at bodegas.tv) is a smart-screen video network deployed inside bodegas, delivering hyper-local media, advertising campaigns, and AI-curated content at the point of purchase. The network targets Latino and urban communities that generate an estimated $45 billion in annual spending through NYC’s corner store ecosystem. The official launch marks the beginning of a planned expansion to 500 bodegas by end of 2026 and 2,000 bodegas within three years.
The summit, co-hosted by the Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG), Tech Ranch, and Angeles Investors, will feature panels on four pillars of modernization: Media Tech & AI, FinTech, Security, and Infrastructure. These discussions aim to transform storefronts into hyper-local media hubs, deploy integrated financial systems, implement AI-powered security, and synchronize inventory and content across locations. Confirmed panelists include Andre Ureña, Co-Founder & Chairman of Centro AI; Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham, Co-Founder & CEO of Alvix Advisory; Samira O., Founder of Building Experimental AI Products; Charlie Barnet, Co-Founder of World Mobile; Arabel Alva Rosales, J.D., President & CEO of AAR Tech; Jean Michael Lif, Co-Founder of RDÉ; Guillermo “Will” DeJesus, CPA/CIA, Co-Founder & CFO of Negozee; Mohamed Toure, Data Scientist at Shopify; and Riya Goel, Investment Banker at Bank of America and Founder of Barnard Investment Group.
“Corner stores have always been more than a place to shop—they are community anchors and, for many families, the first face of entrepreneurship,” said Maria Probert of Bodegas TV. “This collaboration brings together the operators, builders, and investors who understand that deeply. Bodegas TV exists to make sure technology serves the people who built these communities.”
The initiative underscores a growing trend of integrating technology into small businesses without eroding their traditional roles. By deploying AI-curated content and digital payment systems, Bodegas TV aims to unlock new revenue streams for bodega owners while preserving the cultural identity that makes these stores essential to their neighborhoods. The expansion to 2,000 bodegas could significantly impact advertising and financial services in underserved urban areas.
