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.

Miami 2.0 in the making

Tech City Ventures

“How can I help?”, this was Mayor Suarez’s response to a tweet suggesting Silicon Valley moves to Miami. Miami’s tech ecosystem had been already steadily growing over the last 15 years; the tweet just attracted the attention the city needed.

Mayor Suarez has been proactively promoting Miami as the next central tech hub. His politics are focused on developing an entrepreneurial, innovative and nurturing business ecosystem. Suarez believes that people looking to create great companies and thriving communities want two things – to feel welcome and not pay much tax. He is not only talking the talk; he is walking it.

Exactly how bad is Bitcoin for the environment?

Tech City Ventures

It is Thursday 25th March 2021, the price of Bitcoin is now $57,121. Since the start of the year, the cryptocurrency’s price has risen 99%.. According to Cathie Woods, founder of Ark Investment, Bitcoin’s value can increase between $40,000 and $400,000.

The last two months have seen a lot of discussions about Bitcoin’s impact on the environment. Elon Musk and Bill Gates have shown opposing attitudes about Bitcoin. Tesla has endorsed it by buying $1.5bn in Bitcoin, while Bill Gates has voiced concerns about the environmental damage that Bitcoin mining causes. According to Bill Gates, Bitcoin uses more energy per transaction “than any other method known to mankind” and says he would instead invest in malaria and measles vaccines than Bitcoin.

The differing opinions from the two most influential tech pioneers highlight the polarised views on Bitcoin, its complexity and its ambiguous future.