Can these companies make a difference in how governments share, conserve and connect?
The smart city market is evolving, its solutions becoming more pragmatic and its benefits more potent. Here are four examples of startups that just might make a big difference in how governments share, conserve and connect.
Founders: Alan Mond, Julien Vanier
Funding: $25,000 (Code for America Accelerator)
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Ann Arbor, Mich., and Oakland, Calif.
www.munirent.co
Ohmconnect is an app that pays consumers for thrifty energy practices. The startup works with energy utility providers to pay consumers cash for conserving energy during peak usage hours. Citizens can see where their energy comes from, track their usage and even connect smart devices to automate energy savings.
Founders: Matt Duesterberg, Curtis Tongue
Funding: Undisclosed
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: San Francisco
www.ohmconnect.com
Founders: Franz Garsombke,
Chris Klein, Matt Reisman
Funding: $3.4 million
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Denver
www.rachio.com
Veniam answers the question of how to provide free Wi-Fi service across an entire city. The platform does this by turning fleets of city vehicles like garbage trucks and buses into Wi-Fi hot spots. Vehicles grab a Wi-Fi signal attached to infrastructure around a city and then relay that signal to disperse Wi-Fi to the public.
Founders: João Barros, Susana Sargento,
Roy Russell, Robin Chase
Funding: $4.9 million
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: Mountain View, Calif.
www.veniam.com
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