First step: Imagine a better future

Smart Cities New York 2018

Taking two first steps into our exploration we launched our website and then jumped on the subway to Brooklyn to attend the second annual Smart Cities New York conference earlier this month. It was an exciting day all around combining our digital launch with spending a day representing our new venture with a thousand inspiring people connecting, learning, and discussing ideas.

Leading up to this I have been getting the question, “What does smart cities mean?” As conference organizer Anna Recasens, put it, “[SCNY] is North America’s leading global conference exploring the emerging influence of cities in shaping the future.” Following the experience, I would sum it up simply by saying that smart cities represents the intention to use innovation to improve urban life. A scope which implicates protecting the environment and preserving rural life as positive by-products.

Our experience of speakers and interactions ranged from those representing government (notably mayors Bill de Blasio and Rahm Emanuel), entrepreneurs, tech organizations, investors, and international participants. In the sessions we attended there were some strong themes that were echoed across public and private sectors, from American and international delegates.

Themes that stood out…

• Powered by people was not just the conference tag line. A strong theme we heard throughout was that the most effective solutions come from being close to people and communities and including their voices and ideas in the solution. Powered by people…in action.
• Cities are the driving force for the future. This has been proving true both in economics and politics and the effect is increasing. The leaders and changes making significant impact have been coming from the city rather than national level. This phenomenon is called the devolution of power and will be a trend to watch.
• Collaboration is key: many spoke about public and private sector partnership as a factor in agile and successful innovations. Co-creation was a buzzword, bringing a broader definition of groups into collaboration. And, in regards to international markets, a challenge to tech companies in the room to collaborate around solving issues together rather than going to market one by one.
• Optimism and opportunity go hand in hand. Throughout the day, mayors were sharing inspiring urban impact stories that illustrated positive impact at the city level. Entrepreneurs, organizers and investors were working together to understand issues and build solutions with energy and conviction. It was absolutely refreshing to focus on solving rather than counting up problems.

Insights that inspired us!

• “The world is more local than ever.” Bill de Blasio, Mayor, New York City. While it may be counter-intuitive, increased globalization and connectivity also empowers a hyper-local focus. Cities can more effectively respond to the needs of their citizens. The seat of power is within the community itself.
• Blockchain technology is a powerful force with emerging uses for broadening investment access and new fintech models. We heard fascinating interventions on broadening investment access from Republic Crypto and smart speculations on the future of coins in the investment space from Brittany Laughlin. This panel was buzzing with energy!
• Data is another source with great potential to solve the world’s problems, but data must be used ethically. Dr. Marguerite Nyhan emphasized that data represents people, and introduced the concept of data philanthropy, which was new to me. “The corporate world has a responsibility to provide data that could have social benefit. And the scientific world has the responsibility to use that data ethically.” Very intriguing.
• The social impact pitch competition hosted by Echoing Green really highlighted the power of the people. Fantastic solutions were presented for refugee job training, post-incarceration job seekers, and more. Ideas are incubating now through the experiences of individuals in every community, and with collaboration and co-creation those ideas can become realities. Idea => collaboration across groups => vision => plan => communicating => investing => actualizing => impact.
• We have reached a new era of digitization in the world and it has proven to be a powerful equalizer. Whether providing broadband infrastructure in Harlem to spur its transformation as a tech and innovation hub (Silicon Harlem) or using fintech solution M-Pesa to successfully provide mobile banking to a cash-based society in Kenya, moving Kenya into position as the global leader in adoption of mobile money (more on this story). The power of connectivity and digital inclusion to transform is only just beginning.

The smart cities concept is about imagining what a city could be. For this experience, we put our practice of humble curiosity and questions before answers to work, met great people and gained valuable learning and insights. It feels great to focus attention on solutions, ideas and collaboration rather than just dwelling on the day to day problems we are facing in the world. Taking time to imagine, explore and share ideas is something we can all take a moment to do, and it’s also where a better future begins.