Highline Beta and Aviva Canada are accepting applications for the second cohort of its Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator until December 18. The remote accelerator launched in 2019 and completed its first cohort this year.
“We’re excited to hear from startups with products in-market and early traction and help the right companies test, validate and scale their technology.”
– Ben Yoskovitz
The six-month accelerator aims to scale and pilot emerging technologies in order to make cities smarter and more efficient. The program works with early-stage startups in verticals such as IoT, urban mobility, and connectivity that look to tackle road safety, mobility, and other connected city challenges.
“The Safe x Connected Accelerator program’s inaugural year has been a success. We have amazing pilots working in the field now, driving change and making our roads safer,” said Ben Yoskovitz, chief product officer and founding partner at Highline Beta.
“As this program enters its second year, we’re excited to hear from startups with products in-market and early traction and help the right companies test, validate and scale their technology with support from Aviva Canada and other platform partners,” Yoskovitz added.
Three startups graduated from the accelerator’s first cohort. MicroTraffic, PreAct Technologies, and LifeSaver Mobile. The only Canadian startup, MicroTraffic, which was founded in Winnipeg, helps traffic engineers use AI to review camera footage at road intersections for collisions or ‘close calls’.
Portland, Oregon-based PreAct Technologies’ tech integrates with cars to determine whether a collision is imminent microseconds before it happens, therefore allowing safety features to be deployed in time. LifeSaver Mobile, a Palo Alto-based startup, has developed a fleet safety software for mobile that aims to measure and reduce distracted driving for commercial fleet operators.
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Applications for the Safe x Connected Accelerator’s second cohort are now open to startups whose solutions can help address issues such as cycling safety, pedestrian safety, data, sensors and digital signage.
This year, the accelerator is also calling for solutions that address “the new normal,” as cities adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific solutions could include those that address social distancing during travel or enhancements to public transit.
The accelerator will run for six months and provides startups with coaching and programming to help connect them with enterprise partners. The accelerator runs in two, three-month-long stages; first helping companies develop a proof-of-concept with a corporate partner, with the companies that enter into a commercial agreement getting to test and launch their product.
Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator is one of four of Highline Beta’s corporate accelerators, with others including RBC Reach and Accelerator 100+. Highline Beta also recently launched the Intuit Prosperity Accelerator, which aims to support seed-stage tech startups solving specific financial prosperity challenges that Canadian consumers and small businesses will be facing in the wake of COVID-19.
The second cohort will be announced in early 2021.
Image source Unsplash. Photo by Denys Nevozhai.