Highline Beta launches Safe x Connected accelerator program
The term ‘smart city,’ originally coined to denote various technological implementations in urban areas, has taken over the headlines over the past few years, capturing our collective imagination. Today, there’s no doubt that opportunity exists to connect people, urban environments, infrastructure and technology to make cities work better for everyone.
Driving connections that count
Just a couple of weeks ago, over 70 startups, mentors and corporate innovation leaders joined Highline Beta aboard the Startup Train to Montreal’s StartupFest, with support from Aviva Canada, Sidewalk Labs, RWDI and RBC. The trip flew by as some of Canada’s leading investors, advisors and corporate leaders got to partake in 1:1 mentoring sessions with curated startups to learn from each other and find new ways to collaborate.
As we jokingly debated internally if we should go with Startup Train, Startup Boat or Startup Bus this year – our focus on mobility and creating meaningful connections between startups and corporations has a larger purpose.
Highline Beta launches Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator
Highline Beta’s newest Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator comes with a ‘smart city’ ambition, looking to combine the expertise of multiple corporate partners and select startups to design, pilot and scale solutions that tackle road safety, mobility and smart city challenges across Canada.
Applications for the Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator are open to all early-stage startups at: https://highlinebeta.com/accelerators/safeconnected. Startups working in the IoT, mobility, urban tech, road safety, pedestrian safety, and cycling sectors are encouraged to apply.
The accelerator’s first founding partner, Aviva Canada has taken the lead with its challenge to improve road safety. Aviva Canada, through the Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator and its Take Back Our Roads initiative is seeking to address the pressing issue of road safety: over 80% of the Canadian population lives in urban areas, and more than 156,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads annually.
“Collaboration is the best approach to creating safer and more connected cities across Canada,” says Marcus Daniels, Founding Partner and CEO of Highline Beta. “No single company or organization can solve today’s mobility challenges alone. We’re excited to launch with Aviva Canada onboard as we gear up to announce more partners soon. We’re always looking to team up with innovative companies that share our mission to make cities safer and better for everyone.”
At the core of Highline’s mission and thesis as a venture capital firm is the idea that well-thought-out collaborations and connections between corporations and ventures can and do lead to big wins through tactical pilot programs, like Anheuser-Busch’s InBev 100+ Accelerator and RBC Reach.
Applications for the newly launched Safe x Connected Cities are open to applicants globally starting July 24th with a deadline of Sept 27th, 2019.
Interested in learning how your company can join the program? Please email: [email protected]