IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press contact: info@fiveboro.nyc

The 5BORO Institute, an independent think tank dedicated to advancing equitable and creative solutions to New York City’s most challenging problems, announced today that entrepreneur, tech reformer and former Kansas State House Representative Raj Goyle will join the 5BORO board as Co-Chair. 

Raj Goyle’s career has spanned government service, philanthropy, start-up technology and civic engagement. Goyle grew up in Wichita, Kansas. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he returned home to run for the Kansas State House in 2007. Deploying data and developing new campaign technology, Goyle raised a record amount of money, registered thousands of new voters and won the election. He served two terms as a state legislator, championing campaign finance reform, pharmaceutical access, and an expansion of unemployment insurance in the state. 

Goyle moved to New York in 2011, to serve as Senior Advisor to the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation. He counseled the foundation on its operations in all philanthropic, political and business matters. He would go on to found Bodhala in 2014, a start-up that uses data to help companies track their legal spend that become a national leader in legal business intelligence. Goyle also launched Indian American Impact, a group dedicated to empowering South Asian communities in the U.S. He sits on the boards of State Innovation Exchange and Hunger Free America.

Goyle brings 5BORO his deep experience and insights from the intersection of technology and data, civic engagement and government policy. 

“5BORO has been a powerful convening force and impactful policy leader, advancing independent and innovative solutions to major challenges facing the city, like housing, childcare, and the recent influx of migrants to our city. I’m honored to help lead an organization that is playing such a vital and growing role in New York,” Goyle said. 

Goyle will join fellow co-chair, media entrepreneur and City & State publisher Tom Allon, in steering 5BORO’s Board. 

“At a time when our city needs more civic leaders to help address our compounding challenges, Raj is stepping up. We are thrilled he is joining 5BORO and excited to work with him to advance policy solutions that move New York forward,” Allon said.

5BORO Institute executive director Grace Rauh said: “Raj’s exceptional background and dedication to public service make him an invaluable addition to our board. His unique blend of experience in business, technology, politics and policy will enrich our efforts to develop impactful solutions for New York City. We welcome him to 5BORO.”

Since launching in the spring of 2022, the 5BORO Institute has had a deep impact on city policy. 5BORO’s inaugural report on the city’s staffing crisis drew attention to the consequences of widespread vacancies across city agencies and proposed policy changes to modernize the city’s hiring practices and help city government attract and retain top talent. 

5BORO’s work on housing policy is shaping local and national conversations about how to maximize housing production and affordability and boost commercial districts with high office vacancy rates. 

Most recently, 5BORO’s major report on child care lays out the crisis facing our current child care system in NYC and calls for policy changes that will benefit families, providers, and our city at large.