Eight of the capital’s innovative tech start-ups have been shortlisted for funding from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to counter violent extremism online and to help make the planning system more accessible.
More than 125 entrants have been whittled down to the eight finalists in the second round of the Mayor’s Civic Innovation Challenge, which will work with City Hall and the Metropolitan Police Service to develop their proposals to help tackle some of the key challenges facing the city.
Two winners – one per category – will each be awarded a contract worth £40,000.
The Civic Innovation Challenge, delivered in partnership with Microsoft and the Social Tech Trust, brings together London’s public and private sector with tech companies, which were asked to pitch new solutions to key issues facing the capital.
In addition, another 20 companies will work with Transport for London and pitch to Mayor's Office of Los Angeles - one of London's 'Innovator Cities' partners - to try to secure funding and support in developing their ideas.
Finally, in the coming months, a further six companies will be selected from a separate shortlist of 20 to work with Transport for London to receive £20,000 each to tackle road congestion caused by freight deliveries.
The eight start-ups which have been shortlisted in two categories are:
Making a more accessible planning system:
- 3D Repo – bringing down the barriers to collaboration for construction professionals
- Agile Datum – specialising in delivering cost-effective AI solutions for the public and private sectors
- LandHawk – helping developers identify land which positively impacts the environment and enhance communities
- The Future Fox – a platform helping planners collaborate with communities on ambitious urban schemes
Countering violent extremism online:
- Data Language – experts in data-driven product innovation and mission-critical AI platforms
- Faculty – developed and tested a new AI algorithm designed to detect and flag terrorist propaganda videos
- Logically – a social enterprise using artificial intelligence to improve how we consume and interact with information online
- Raven Science – an intelligent software using machine learning to find, classify, and analyse extremist videos
London’s Chief Digital Officer, Theo Blackwell, said: “The Civic Innovation Challenge is a unique opportunity for tech companies to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing our capital.
“I’m really impressed with the calibre of entrants this year and the standard of competition means I’m sure we’ll see some really exciting projects taken to the next level.
“In important areas such as planning and countering extremism online, it’s only through the public and private sector working together that we’ll come up with the best ideas we need for the future.”
Programme Development Manager at Social Tech Trust, Anne Radl, said: “For the last three weeks, we’ve been working closely with some incredible ventures to co-develop their innovations and ensure that they’ll improve the lives of Londoners.
“Congratulations to the eight ventures moving into the final phase of the Civic Innovation Challenge. It’s our pleasure to continue working with them as they further refine their ideas.”
Notes to editors
- For more information on the Civic Innovation Challenge, see: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/arts-and-culture/mayor-londons-civic-innovation-challenge or visit https://tech.london/challenges.