Media release

Communitech connects communities with startups in preparation for the “Future of Cities”

Collaborative aims to future-proof Canadian cities and equip neighbourhoods for digital innovation 

KITCHENER, ONT., August 23, 2022 — Communitech and the Future of Cities 2022 partners have teamed up with more than 20 municipalities from across Canada to solve top challenges facing our communities with homegrown Canadian tech solutions.  

“Convening the right people and collaborating has always been part of the Communitech story, and it continues to be the best way to get things done. We’ve recognized that the challenges facing cities cannot be tackled by any one entity acting alone,” said Joel Semeniuk, Vice President of Ecosystem Collaboration at Communitech. “We are stronger together than apart, so have formed this collaborative to research and test solutions that will help our communities prepare for whatever the future holds.

After completing initial discoveries and brainstorming sessions with partners such as the City of Kitchener and Presagis, the Future of Cities collaborative issued a nationwide call for digital solutions focused on:

  • Citizen engagement: How might cities utilize technology solutions in order to engage citizens and build communities of trust?
  • Asset management: How might cities utilize technology solutions in order to optimize asset and infrastructure management?
  • Alternative transportation: How might cities utilize technology solutions in order to improve citizen mobility, decrease congestion and reduce traffic incidents?
  • Emissions: How might cities utilize technology solutions in order to meet emissions targets and improve air quality?
  • Collaboration: How might cities utilize technology solutions in order to enable internal teams to move quicker on decision and action? 

After careful deliberation with partners, municipalities and seasoned business coaches working with Communitech, the collaborative has selected 10 companies with tech-enabled solutions to pitch their solutions to a live audience of potential customers, investors and collaborators. These companies include: 

Through this work, companies will be able to solicit introductions to Canadian municipalities to discuss potential pilot projects as well as receive coaching from a Communitech growth coach in preparation for their pitch at the Future of Cities Showcase event taking place on September 13, 2022.

For more on Communitech’s Future of Cities collaborative, please visit https://www.communitech.ca/future-facing/collaboratives/future-of-cities.html. 

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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Darcy Greaves

Public Relations Specialist, Communitech

darcy.greaves@communitech.ca


About Communitech:

Established in 1997 in Waterloo Region, Communitech was built by tech founders who saw the need for a community of support to help ensure the future prosperity of Canada. Today, Communitech is Canada’s leading innovation hub, supporting a community of more than 1,200 founders by providing accelerated opportunities to access talent, capital and sales.

As Canada’s tech supercharger, Communitech helps founders start, grow and succeed by: 

  • Hiring and retaining the smartest, brightest and most experienced people
  • Accessing growth financing at every stage
  • Selling to the biggest customers at home and around the world
  • Connecting the right people at the right time – peers who have been there before, coaches who can guide them through the difficult spots and partners from all over Canada