About Volta
Students who
give back
by doing real work.
Volta is a nonprofit run entirely by high school and college students. We believe that digital equity is economic equity — and that the family-owned restaurants, flower shops, and community businesses that define NYC's neighborhoods deserve the same digital tools and funding access as larger businesses.
Our members build websites, grow social media audiences, and win grants for businesses across the city. They develop professional skills, earn meaningful portfolio work, and contribute directly to the communities around them.
Our mission
“To close the digital and financial equity gap for small businesses by connecting them with the next generation of tech, finance, and marketing talent.”
Most small business owners know what they need. What they lack is the time, bandwidth, and connections to make it happen. We help them see what's possible — and then we make it happen.
Team photo coming soon
What drives us
How we operate
Equity-first
We focus on neighborhoods and businesses that don't have the resources to hire consultants or the capacity to manage everything on their own. Our goal is to broaden what's possible by showing new opportunities for growth and efficiency.
Student-led
Every project, from initial outreach to final delivery, is led by our diverse team from across the five boroughs.
Community-rooted
We work through local BIDs and community organizations because trust in a neighborhood takes time to build.
Transparent
Our students gain hands-on experience and build their portfolios, while businesses receive dedicated, high-quality support.
How we got here
Our history
Florida branch founded
Volta begins working with local businesses, food trucks, and nonprofits in the Jacksonville area.
NYC branch launched
Volta NYC is established, beginning outreach to Business Improvement Districts across Brooklyn and Queens.
First NYC projects
First website and social media projects kick off — Souk Al Shater, Higher Learning, and Anatolico.
Spring Cohort — NYC
Cohort expands to 80+ students across 9 NYC neighborhoods, with active projects in Park Slope, Sunnyside, Chinatown, and Long Island City.
The team
Who runs Volta NYC
A team of students from Stuyvesant High School, CUNY institutions, and other NYC schools.
National reach
Volta operates across the country.
Our Florida branch has partnered with 30+ businesses including OPA Behavioral Health, Persis Indian Grill, Sun City Sustenance, and 30+ food trucks and local stores. Volta now has operations across six cities.
Jacksonville
FL
Bay Area
CA
Atlanta
GA
Alexandria
VA
Dallas
TX
New York City
NY