urbantech unicorns and where to find them
TRANSCRIPT
B2B
B2G
B2C
Urbantech Unicorns and Where to Find Them
Stonly BaptistePartner & Co-Founder
2019 Los Angeles as envisioned in 1982
WHAT G GOT WRONG
+ Polaroid+ Atari + Bell Telephones (now ATT)+ RCA (now part of GE)+ No Internet+ No Smartphones
WHAT GOT RIGHT
+ Climate change+ Urbanization+ AI tech policy challenges+ Economic opportunity+ Homelessness+ Law enforcement+ Mobility challenges
What we envision when we think of cities
Aivaris Zukis
What we envision when we think of the future of cities
What some cities actually look like
Glo
bal U
rban
Pop
ulat
ion
2B
4B
6B1990 GHG
EU Emissions Benchmark 2030 GHG
EU Target
1950 2000 2025
2050 GHG EU Target
1975
Today
Urban population growth vs climate change goals
Cities are currently responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Even as we attempt to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, urban populations are set to double (EU GHG targets used for illustrative purposes)
Increased population density in cities offers new opportunities to decrease per capita energy use and associated emissions, but it also leads to related needs in areas ranging from security to resilience.
2050
Crisis
Cities Are Climate Changethe answer to
^
We need density.GOOD
^
Virtually all of society’s problems are problems that both originate in the cities and are being solved there. - Michael Bloomberg
Reduce Energy Use in Buildings
Provide Clean Available Water
Create Economic Opportunities
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinboke/
Reduce Traffic Congestion
Climate & urbanization will also make old problems harder.
Provide Better Public Safety
MORE PEOPLE LOWER GHG
EMISSIONS
MORE FUNDING
Cities represent Challenges and Opportunities
A Hierarchy OfUrban Needs
It’s hard to predict solutions
Blade Runner used the wrong signals
The real insight about tech? Little bets.
My co-founder, Shaun
Abrahamson
WHY URBAN.US EXISTS
We invest in startups that make cities better.
We launched in 2013 with an investment thesis based on three insights:
+ Global cities are at the heart of humanity’s grand challenges. + Urbantech startups are an emerging and untapped investment category
from which some of the most valuable companies will emerge.+ Expert Networks can be leveraged to lower execution risk and to
increase access to high-quality early stage opportunities.
We believe that some of the most valuable startups will be built to solve city challenges in the coming decade.
We aim to work with our expert network to find the most promising opportunities and then support the teams to scale and secure follow-on funding.
OUR FOCUS
We invest in startup opportunities with the following attributes:
+ Potential to positively impact 100 cities within 5 years.+ Have a clear mission that can attract great talent. + Serve city agencies, businesses, or consumers. + If initially successful, will have multiple adjacent opportunities.
WHY STARTUPS
2000 20501975 2025
Num
ber o
f Citi
es
400
200
1950
Cities with Uber
Cities with subways
Sources: Embarq, Uber
UBER: Changes how we move around cities. Valued at $50b at 6 years old. San Francisco, CA.
NEST: Reduces heating & cooling costs by over 10%. Acquired by Google for $3.2b at 4 years old. Palo Alto, CA.
WAZE: Improves navigation through traffic. Acquired by Google in 2013 for $1.3b at 5 years old. Ra’anana, Israel. SOLARCITY: Provides solar power to over 200,000 customers. Valued at ~$5b at 9 years old. San Mateo, CA.
Consider how we move around cities. Metro systems have made steady progress since the 1950s, whereas bike sharing systems grew rapidly from nothing to about 500 cities. But ridesharing growth is unprecedented. Source: Embarq
NOW
A Hierarchy OfUrban Needs
IBM’s Rio Command Center
Government Response.
Citizen Response.
Rapidly ExpandingUrbantech Startup Universe
OUR PORTFOLIO
RESOURCE & BUILT ENVIRONMENTcommercial and residential real estate, mapping, infrastructure, waste, energy, water, air Example: Kiwi.ki sells to building managers, but logistics providers and consumers are beginning to pay, too.
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICSpublic transit, personal mobility, automotive, traffic, distribution, reverse logistics Example: Rachio sells to consumers but benefits muni water systems who often subsidize installs.
CIVIC & ADMINISTRATIONpublic works, security, public safety, regulatory, communications, social services, sharing systems, voting Example: 1Concern sells to government, but the technology will benefit home insurance companies as well.
B2B
B2GArchitizer
BRCK
BlocPower
BikeSpike
Rachio
Skycatch
Seamless Docs
HandUp
Future MotionFlairRadiator Labs
Valet Anywhere
Revivn
Dash Labs
Kiwi.ki
Mark43
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Customers include businesses, consumers, and local governments because purchases by one group often generate additional benefits for others.
Better communities
Better Energy Use
SKYCATCH / DRONES TO AUTOMATE CONSTRUCTION
RACHIO / SPRINKLERS THAT AUTOMAGICALLY CUT WATER USE BY 40%
ONEWHEEL / TRANSPORT THAT FITS IN A BACKPACK
ARCHITIZER / BETTER, FASTER, CHEAPER SOURCING FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTS
NIBI / INDOOR VERTICAL FARMS FOR QUALITY, VARIETY, RESILIENCY AND (EVENTUALLY) PRICE
ONECONCERN / REAL TIME EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE PREDICTIONS
ECOMO.IO / REAL TIME WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENT
B2B
B2G
B2C
Join us at http://urban.us/join
@StonlyBlinkedin.com/in/stonly