San Francisco picks companies for ‘Entrepreneurship-in-Residence’ program
San Francisco has selected six startup companies to participate in a new “Entrepreneurship-in-Residence” program that brings private sector innovators into city departments to find innovative solutions to civic challenges.
The companies chosen will work with city leaders for 16 weeks to find ways to lower costs, increase revenue and enhance productivity.
“San Francisco is home to the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, the ones who have ‘disrupted’ numerous industries, and we are bringing those same disruptive technologies to improve delivery of city services for our residents,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “The Entrepreneurship-in-Residence program brings together government and startups to explore ways we can use technology to make government more accountable, efficient and responsive.”
Nearly 200 startups from 25 cities and countries around the world applied to the program across a number of areas such as education, health care, transportation, public utilities, public safety, infrastructure and the environment.
The group of applicants ranged from seed-stage startups to later-stage startups and across software, hardware and services – including serial entrepreneurs, NASA engineers, employees of leading technology companies, and several patent holders including some that have been granted more than 100 patents, the city said.
San Francisco City departments and agencies selected the finalists through a competitive process based on their needs and priorities.
For this Entrepreneurship-in-Residence cohort, San Francisco selected six startups through a competitive process to participate in the program that will run through late July 2014.
The six selected participants are:
• MobilePD (gomobilepd.com) will work with the San Francisco Police Department on public safety and civic engagement. MobilePD is a mobile technology startup that enhances social engagement with the community to reduce crime.
• Birdi (getbirdi.com) will work with the San Francisco Department of Public Health on air quality and health issues. Birdi is a smart device startup that measures air quality as well as other public health measures and provides recommendations on how to improve individual and neighborhood air quality.
• Indoo.rs (indoo.rs) will work with the San Francisco International Airport on enhanced navigation and location-based services. Indoo.rs is an “Internet of things” startup that provides location-based services, indoor navigation and advanced sensors.
• Synthicity (synthicity.com) will work with the San Francisco Planning Department on new simulation, planning and urban development tools and technologies. Synthicity is a software startup that builds simulation tools and solutions for urban development and planning.
• BuildingEye (buildingeye.com) will work with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to engage residents and communities. BuildingEye is a software startup that makes permit and noticing information easier to discover through a mapping interface.
• ReGroup (regroup.com) will work with the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management on enhanced communication services so that the City is better prepared. ReGroup is a software startup that provides multichannel emergency notifications.
