When we last caught up with City Detect in 2021, the startup’s team told us about their ambitious plan to use artificial intelligence to map blight and property issues that impact communities.
Nearly three years later, they have impressive numbers out of their work with city leaders in Atlanta to back up just how powerful their technology can be in urban development work.
So far, the AI-driven platform has detected 1.5 million pieces of litter, over 1,400 illegally dumped tires, and nearly 3,500 piles of debris around the city.
“Working alongside the Atlanta Department of Public Works, we’ve outfitted several of their vehicles with AI powered cameras to rapidly detect and map out various community hurting signs of urban blight such as: graffiti, litter, and illegal dumping/ debris,” said co-founder and CEO Gavin Baum-Blake. “Atlanta’s leadership is proactively taking on innovative ways to reduce the amount of litter, debris, graffiti and other forms of blight to protect the communities throughout the City of Atlanta and City Detect is proud to support that mission!”
While helping to improve neighborhoods across Southeastern cities like Atlanta, City Detect has also attracted a new crop of local investors. The team just announced it secured a $2 million seed round.
The seed round was led by Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC), with additional backing from Atlanta-based firms Knoll Ventures and Atlanta Seed Company.
Richard Fraim, General Partner at Knoll Ventures, said the firm was drawn to City Detect because the startup’s “innovative approach to urban management not only addresses current issues but also creates a proactive model for the future.”
Behind City Detect’s Seed Round
The investment will fuel the company’s efforts to scale its AI capabilities and expand its innovative solutions to more cities across North America.
Baum-Blake said the fundraising process over the summer was difficult, but the team was able to navigate and engage an impressive list of investors.
“We had a lot of heavy engagement and received multiple term sheets, but ultimately we knew that LOVC was the right lead for us. From the outset it was clear that they were actually committed to investing in the Southeast and didn’t balk that our team wasn’t in the Bay Area (we’re fully remote with a heavy concentration in Atlanta). They sent the term sheet, I went down and met their awesome team in person, we signed the term sheet and they’ve been great to work with,” Baum-Blake added.
Get To Know The Team
Co-founders Baum-Blake and Dr. Erik Johnson started City Detect in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as an urban analytics platform. The platform was born out of the economics department at the University of Alabama.
Baum-Blake is an Army Veteran-Turned-Attorney. Johnson brings more than 14 years of experience in machine learning and holds a Ph.D. in Economics.
“Our AI doesn’t just see problems; it quantifies and qualifies them in ways that allow cities to respond effectively and efficiently,” Johnson said in a press release. “This means better resource allocation and smarter decision-making for local leaders.”
