7 SMEs making US cities smarter and greener

Tech City Ventures

We are all working towards a shared future in which our cities are greener, smarter and more inclusive. Some are helping us move across cities; others are improving our quality of life by detecting air pollution. Others are helping protect the environment by supplying clean and renewable energy.

Every month we will share companies with inspiring missions that are making city life better.

Today’s focus is on 7 ambitious US-based companies creating urban planning, air pollution, mobility and clean energy solutions.

Economic development in secondary cities

Tech City Ventures

More than 56.2% of the global population now lives in cities. By 2050 68% of us will live in cities. We are moving towards what Shlomo Angelo described as the “Planet of Cities” – a global system of cities becoming more and more intricately connected.

Today, 40% of the world’s population lives in what we call secondary cities. As the population grows, so will the number of people living in those cities.

Secondary cities are rapidly growing urban areas in developing countries that are experiencing unexpected growth and development. They are defined by their population, size, function and economic status, and neighbouring and distant cities. City population can generally range from 200,000 to 2.5 million; however, the size of cities is largely dependent on a country’s population and that of its capital or biggest city. For instance, secondary cities in China have populations well over 5 million, whereas, in Ethiopia, they are less than 200,000.

Cities in focus – Copenhagen

Tech City Ventures

Denmark is the second happiest place in the world, the easiest country to do business in and one of the most digitised economies and societies in the EU.

The country’s small and integrated population is quick to adopt new technologies, making Denmark an ideal location for companies looking to develop and test new technologies before expanding internationally.

85% of Denmark’s population is online and actively using digital services. Less than 2% have never used the internet, and only 3 out of 10 lack digital skills. Denmark’s tech-savviness and robust IT infrastructure provide the country with a solid foundation for becoming a leading tech ecosystem.

Denmark has a global footprint in software development. Some of the most used programming languages like C++, TurboPascal and Visual Prolog have been developed by Danish researchers. In addition, many global software companies like Skype, Tradeshift and Unity have been created in Denmark.

5 mobility companies transforming Europe’s cities

Tech City Ventures

By 2030 more than 750 million people will live in megacities. City populations worldwide are growing, and so is the need for stable, sustainable transport systems.

Unreliable mobility ecosystems pose a risk to health and safety and exacerbate social inequality by limiting access to jobs, healthcare, and education.

For cities to become greener, smarter and more inclusive, pressing mobility challenges such as congestion, pollution and accessibility need to be addressed. To do so in a sustainable manner, city officials, innovators, entrepreneurs, corporations and SMEs need to come together and co-develop innovative solutions and policies.

Nitrous joins Global Innovation Collaborative to speed economic recovery

Tech City Ventures

June 1, 2021 – Today, the Global Innovation Collaborative (GIC) announced the launch of its Creative Cities Challenge to speed economic recovery in the cultural and creative sectors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The GIC is a partnership between the Cities of Berlin, London, New York City and Paris, along with Bloomberg Associates, Nitrous and Microsoft. The GIC is looking for long-term, sustainable and equitable solutions that will support these critical sectors rebound from the pandemic.