2 Strategies, 1 Goal: Helping Cities Solve Problems

NYCx and Urban-X have similar names but different models for coming up with better ways to deliver government services.

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 Go Public is a new podcast from Governing and our sister publication, Government Technology. Every episode, we'll be exploring successful public-sector innovations and stories of government getting the job done. 

 
In this debut episode of Go Public, we look at two initiatives in New York City with similar-sounding names and goals but very different approaches.

One is an innovation challenge run by the mayor's office called NYCx; the other, called Urban-X, is a program for private-sector company founders run by a venture capital firm that specializes in startups that solve city problems. 

Both programs share the view that there are no small problems in government, leading each to embrace a little hyperbole in describing the nature and scope of their work -- they refer to their projects as moon shots. 

Although these startups aim to solve government problems, Urban-X startups ironically avoid having anything to do with government in order to avoid the regulatory complications in that sector. Startups face the simultaneous challenges of finding a problem worth solving, building and running a business, keeping customers on board and courting potential investors.

Listen as we explore these two approaches to finding new ways to quickly solve challenges facing many cities. 

 
Follow the show on Twitter @gopublicpod

Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

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Paul W. Taylor is the Senior Editor of e.Republic Editorial and of its flagship titles - Government Technology and Governing.