The city of San Diego is calling on startups to solve its urban problems, officials announced Tuesday, joining a San Francisco-based effort that connects entrepreneurs to civic challenges.

First piloted by the city of San Francisco as an internal program in 2014, the program was later spun out into a nonprofit called City Innovate. Earlier this week, the group said it has attracted 30 government organizations — including San Diego — to participate in its Startup in Residence program. Those governments have listed 81 projects that cover issues in transit, housing and public safety for startups to tackle.

San Diego also posted five challenges it hopes startups will take on, including efforts to keep the city clean and better connected.

Erik Caldwell, San Diego’s director of economic development, said reaching out to startups to brainstorm how to solve city challenges is a tactic he’s long considered — especially considering San Diego’s concentration of scientists and technologists. It’s hard for cities to know the best way to solve its problems, he said, and the current process to hire private parties doesn’t allow for thinking outside the box. Issuing a “request for proposals” or RFP, for example, requires the city to detail what it’s looking for so private parties can bid on a project.


“But often governments don’t know what they’re looking for,” Caldwell said. “What’s the latest technology? The best practices? Are there new and innovative things we’re not aware of? Instead of laying out a solution in an RFP, this allows us to lay out the problem and let others decide how best to solve it.”

The city paid $7,500 to enter the City Innovate program for one year, and identified five big problem areas it wants help with:

Coordinating nonprofits: A software platform is needed for nonprofits to better communicate about local challenges, so efforts aren’t duplicated. As an example, three San Diego nonprofits are working to develop programs to train youth for jobs in the innovation economy. All three are competing for the same funding opportunities, Caldwell said, and trying to establish relationships with the same partners. The platform would facilitate coordination rather than competition between nonprofits, and help local funders understand what projects need money.

Tracking commute and travel: The city would like to track how people travel throughout San Diego, identifying how many people are biking, walking or taking public transit, for example. This information will help the city measure and evaluate progress toward its sustainability goals.


Cataloguing curb markings: The city needs a better way of cataloguing curb coloring and time limit parking to reduce costs associated with doing this manually.

Reporting messes: A platform is needed to report street mess, overflowing trash cans and other maintenance issues using automated technology.

Using street light sensors: Ideas are needed for how to optimize the use of “smart” street lights equipped with sensor technology to improve resident services.

Caldwell said startups, entrepreneurs, or even individuals can apply to the program if they have ideas on how they might solve the city’s challenges. Applicants apply to the City Innovate program by visiting www.cityinnovate.org. The application deadline is Nov. 7. If chosen, the applicant will co-develop products with government agencies over a 16-week period with the goal of winning a contract.


In San Francisco, City Innovate says 46 startups have already participated in the program in previous years, and 40 percent of them won contracts or are in contract negotiations now. In practice, the program has connected San Francisco’s Department of Public Works with a startup out of Copenhagen called Nord Sense, which used smart sensors to improve trash can management in San Francisco. They also connected the city’s Human Services Agency with Binti, a startup out of Oakland that matches foster children with families.

“We can rebuild trust in government by creating a government that is more responsive and effective,” said Jay Nath, co-executive director at City Innovate.

Soliciting startups to solve big organizational problems is an increasingly popular tactic. The San Diego International Airport, for example, has a similar program called the Innovation Lab, which lets tech startups pilot new ideas at the old commuter terminal.

Neal Bloom, co-founder and chairman of local nonprofit Startup San Diego, said it’s heartening to see the city tap startups to solve problems.


“The city is smart to lean into the startup community for help for a few reasons, including that they are listening to their customers, which is the startup way,” Bloom said. “Getting diverse ideas, solutions, and entrepreneurs to engage should help with larger impact and adoption.”


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