Las Vegas, Nevada - The city of Las Vegas today announced the city will be joining “Startup in Residence,” a program that connects government agencies with startups to co-create new technology solutions that address Las Vegas’ civic challenges.

Startup in Residence is a 16-week program that connects startups and government to work together to co-develop solutions that create real and sustainable impact. The program began as a pilot in 2014 in San Francisco, and has since expanded across North America to cities, counties, states, and regional transit authorities. Las Vegas, Henderson and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada have joined a national network of government partners working together to modernize government with innovations through Startup in Residence.
 
Start-up entrepreneurs will have opportunities to build our community to make life better by improving public safety, mobility and workforce development, and improving life for at-risk populations. Local startups can register on StartupinResidence.org to be notified of the estimated 60-80 opportunities that will begin to be posted September 25, 2018.  
 
“Las Vegas is looking into submitting challenges focused on the city’s strategic priorities, such as public safety and mobility,” said Joanna Wadsworth, city of Las Vegas program manager for the Information Technologies Department. “We are interested in working with startups with innovative ideas that will improve our services and benefit our community.”
 
Since 2014, 44 startups from around the world have joined government departments in cities including San Francisco; Oakland; Washington, D.C.; and Houston. The startups shared technological solutions that were developed to address civic challenges and improve the quality of life for their residents. 
 
Startup in Residence projects have included working on issues such as streamlining the foster care application process, smart sensors on trash cans, homeless health services, volunteer engagement tools, and developing tools to assess the damage in the aftermath of an emergency like an earthquake or flooding. 
 
The program offers education for government and startup staff in areas including partnership, procurement, open data, civic technology trends, the technology marketplace, and new methods of product development and procurement.