September 26, 2024
Written by Christopher Carey
The North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA) has announced the creation of an international pitch event to be held at this year’s Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona.
The Alliance is a regional consortium of more than 40 local governments, government agencies, businesses, and academic institutions across North Texas, with Curiosity Labs located in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, and the cities of Frisco, McKinney, and Fort Worth, Texas. In partnership with American Pilot.
“Our goal in creating this pitch competition is to foster international innovation across smart cities,” said Jennifer Saunders, NTXIA Executive Director.
“We are very fortunate to have strong cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaborations with organizations across the United States.
“This pitch contest is an opportunity for these companies to interact with some of the leading minds in the field, pilot their technology, and reach their goal of potentially entering the U.S. market. It’s also an opportunity to receive funding.”
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The 2024 Smart Cities Global Startup Challenge will focus on the future of transport, sustainability and vulnerable road users (VRU).
Companies interested in participating in pitch events should ensure their solution addresses one of the following seven key challenge areas: Sidewalk management. Autonomous delivery system. Pedestrian safety. Heat island mitigation. Energy and water efficiency and resilience. Crowd management at large events with a focus on public safety and visitor experience.
Curiosity Lab will commit $15,000 for pilots, one year of office space in the innovation center, and access to a global partner network for additional market support.
The cities of Frisco and McKinney, Texas, will provide up to $10,000 for travel and lodging to the United States for senior leaders.
Applications for the pitch contest close on October 9th, and five finalists will be selected by a committee to pitch in person at the SCEWC USA Pavilion on November 6th.
Each company will have 10 minutes to pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A with the judges to determine the winner.
“We provide a very unique real-world environment in which companies of all sizes can test their technology,” said Brandon Branham, Curiosity Lab Executive Director.
“Our smart city ecosystem allows international companies to have a soft landing pad in the U.S. to continue developing their technology and enter the U.S. market when they are ready.
“We are excited to participate in this great pitch competition and to support international startups that are on a mission to improve our daily lives with various technologies.”
Image: Curiosity Lab
