Deadline: 20 September 2024
The Department of Buildings (DOB) and Partnership Fund for New York City have launched the Buildings Tech Lab to identify innovative solutions from the global tech sector to address complex DOB priorities as it works to ensure the overall safety, compliance, and quality of the city’s built environment.
Each year, the Buildings Tech Lab will engage with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) leadership and staff to develop priority problem statements to improve agency operations and services. The proven process, modeled on the Partnership Fund’s Transit Tech Lab and Environmental Tech Lab, has received strong endorsement from both the startups and public servants they work with.
Why Buildings Tech Lab?
- Opportunity for growth stage companies to work with the largest municipal construction regulator in the nation
- Each application submitted is reviewed by relevant domain experts, with potential to pitch directly to relevant DOB staff.
- Direct access to relevant decision makers and subject matter experts.
- Exposure to NYC DOB leaders, private sector investors, and industry experts.
- Two Phased Testing Approach:
- Proof of Concept: 8 weeks of programming for finalists with a customized plan to evaluate a technical test in collaboration with DOB.
- Yearlong Pilot: Opportunity to participate in a year-long pilot to deploy technology at scale with DOB
Challenges
- Process Management
- How can NYC Department of Buildings better manage internal processes to expedite permitting processes, building inspections, code reviews, and enforcement initiatives?
- Data Utilization
- How can NYC Department of Buildings better utilize existing data to automate operations and increase staff capacity?
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizens and companies from all around the world can apply. However, please note that all DOB data must be stored in the US and companies must be registered to do business in New York. Companies incorporated outside New York state that wish to participate in the Buildings Tech Lab must complete the following steps prior to starting the Proof of Concept.
- To be evaluated, applicants must meet these requirements:
- Be a growth-stage company with an innovative solution to one of the open challenges
- Have technology that is at least in beta version (i.e., working prototype with active users) and successfully deployed with at least one customer.
- Subsidiaries of larger companies are not eligible to apply.
- Be a corporation, joint venture, partnership, or LLC as defined by Applicable Law and registered to do business in the State of New York (“NYS Registration”)
- If you are not yet registered to do business in the State of New York, please do so prior to starting the Proof of Concept phase
- Store all DOB data in the US
- Companies are subject to a NYC Cyber Command Review prior to beginning Proof of Concepts.
For more information, visit Buildings Tech Lab.
