As more people flock to cities and raise the populations of urban centers, infrastructure and technology have shown growth in number and purpose. Several urban tech startups are attempting to improve city life, housing, and social development.
These 4 are leading the way, changing city living in 2019 and years to come.
Waze
This mapping startup with over 100 million users has expanded its partnership with analytics platform Esri to provide cities with the Waze Connected Citizens Program. This technology allows cities access to public real-time data — traffic information, congestion, accidents, road conditions — without having to write code or purchase additional software. By providing information on how a city is organized and real-time updates on its functioning, Waze is changing the way people navigate traffic and public infrastructure is thought about.
“Now, with just a couple of clicks, a city can easily access and analyze Waze data within Esri ArcGIS and use those insights to improve roadway management and build safer roads for its citizens,” Adam Fried, Waze Global Partnerships manager, expressed in a statement.
Lime and Bird
In the past few years, the market for mobility tech experienced substantial growth and have caught the attention of the public. Solutions such as electric scooters make transportation in urban areas more accessible, environmentally friendly, efficient, and low-cost.
Renting a scooter costs 15 cents to $1 per minute, and being “dockless,” they can be picked up and dropped off pretty much anywhere in the city. People love that they can travel short distances conveniently and reduce their environmental footprint. This social impact of micro-mobility technology allows companies like Lime and Bird to continue their entrance into new markets in the next few years and transform life across cities.
Instacart
Food and restaurant tech is another sector that is improving the consumer experience around food selection, consumption, and restaurant operations in the city. As many urban centers require people to travel downtown for food and groceries, companies like Instacart are capitalizing on this opportunity.
Users of Instacart can shop from over 200 retailers and have their groceries delivered right to their door. The on-demand software is able to calculate the time of dispatch using information on the city weather, traffic, and a range of other factors to optimize delivery.
Common
Housing in urban areas raises a concern in today’s day and age. Common, with coliving options across all major U.S. cities, alleviates the stresses of the housing market. By designing, managing, and operating coliving spaces, Common allows members to easily move to a city and live conveniently.
Common homes come fully furnished with high-quality furniture and all the household essentials. To make life even easier, utilities, free laundry, and free weekly cleanings are included in one all-inclusive rate. Additionally, Common fosters a community-centric environment in each home by offering free event tickets, event funding, and opportunities to get out in the city.
Take a free tour today, and experience these improvements to city life firsthand.