The Startup in Residence program has expanded its list of startups to almost 100. The program has enrolled 22 governments to solve civic problems using the companies' donated time.
"This program is a unique opportunity for government agencies and startups to think creatively about how we can all work together to modernize government to benefit residents,” said Jay Nath, co-executive director of City Innovate and previously the chief innovation officer of San Francisco. City Innovate is the foundation over the STiR program.
Forty startups were selected out of 700 for this round's 16-week program. This year also saw 11 more governments selected for projects, in the U.S. and Canada.
San Francisco selected the startup StarDog to join multiple data sets. The company, which has worked with NASA, Raytheon and Morgan Stanley, hopes to use its platform to expand hiring opportunities for under-represented groups.
"This year the startups will focus on improving disaster response coordination and communication; connecting low-income renters with micro-lenders to more quickly access their security deposit; providing dynamic routing support software for transit buses and many more," a STiR press release states.
Actionable Science will help Bay Area Rapid Transit create self-service options for its IT desk. GovIQ will build a 911 tool for San Francisco's non-English speakers. Gruntify will help San Jose improve disaster response coordination. The city of Walnut Creek will work with bluDot to create an engagement tool for existing businesses. You can see other projects here.
In the past, the program has focused on "streamlining the foster care application process, smart sensors on trash cans, homeless health services, volunteer engagement tools, and developing tools to assess the damage in the aftermath of an emergency such as an earthquake or a flood," according to a Business Wire press release.
The program also educates vendors and governments on procurement, technology trends, and lean methodology. Startups can find more information here.
