Bodegas TV launched New York City's first in-store video network, bodegas.tv, on June 4, 2026, during the #NYTechWeek Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit. The event was held at the Stuyvesant Yacht Club in The Bronx and co-hosted by the Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG) and Cortes Global Equity Partners. It convened over 100 bodega owners, startup founders, investors, and technologists to explore the "Sovereign Bodega" framework—a concept focused on modernizing the corner store's digital infrastructure without displacing the cultural identity that makes bodegas essential to their communities.
The summit featured panels covering four pillars of bodega modernization: Media Tech & AI, FinTech, Security, and Infrastructure. Discussions centered on transforming storefronts into hyper-local media hubs, deploying integrated financial systems, implementing AI-powered security, and synchronizing inventory and content across locations. Panelists included industry leaders such as Andre Ureña, Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham, Samira O., Charlie Barnet, Arabel Alva Rosales, Jean Michael Lif, Riya Goel, and Steve Yanovsky, who brought expertise from areas like AI, fintech, telecom, and media.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson highlighted the role of bodegas as community anchors, stating, "Our bodegas are always open. They are the ones who are building relationships, community, and they are the ones creating jobs." Carlos Collado of the National Supermarket Association and Bodega and Small Business Association emphasized the integration of technology, noting, "Technology is something we can all integrate into our businesses. We are in every corner and we are here to stay." Ozzie Cortes of Cortes Global Equity Partners expressed amazement at the support and commitment to protect bodegas, calling this "the beginning for bodegas to involve more technology."
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, tapping into the $45 billion in annual spending in NYC's corner stores. The launch at NYTechWeek marks the start of a planned expansion to 500 bodegas by the end of 2026 and 2,000 bodegas within three years. For more information, visit bodegas.tv.
