In this week's episode, JT previews the UrbanTech Market Map project, an ongoing initiative across UrbanTech's content for the rest of the year. The first version of the map which UT shared last week, includes companies and startups we've covered in our first year.The second half of this week's episode includes a conversation with NYC Mayoral Candidate Shaun Donovan. Shaun shares his vision for New York City and thoughts on urban tech.Other links from the episode:UrbanTech's first editionJoin the UrbanTech Premium CommunitySubmit a company to the UT Market Map project

UrbanTech Founder John Thomey sits downs with Pete Evenson, the co-founder and COO of Swoop, a mobility startup that provides software to small transportation companies for managing their business and mobility fleets. As reported by CNBC, Swoop recently won a contract from the NFL to provide rides at the 2022 Super Bowl in LA.Pete shares how the startup began as a booking platform and the way they have approached tackling the ultra-competitive transportation market.

Earlier this month for UrbanTech Premium members, JT interviewed Veo CEO Candice Xie to learn about the company's expansion into New York, how the company is trying to push the envelope for sustainability, and why she thinks mobility companies need more scrutiny for financial claims.Also, UrbanTech is featured on Product Hunt today!! Please leave us a review to help us grow our audience.Full transcript: https://www.urbantechnews.net/blog/how-veo-is-pushing-the-envelope-for-micromobility-and-mobilityReview UT on Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/urbantech

This week JT shared details on UrbanTech's new paid subscription and community that is now available for sign up!In the first part of the podcast, JT interviews Zencity's CEO on how the company is helping local leaders understand community sentiments.In the second half of the episode, John is interviewed by Propel cofounder Emily Pik on what's ahead for UT.

JT chats with the team at Local Logic to learn more about how stakeholders increasingly use data and analytics at the local level. Joining the conversation from Local Logic was CEO and Cofounder Vincent-Charles Hodder and Head of Industry Relations Sara Maffey.Additional Links:Sign up for the Urban Tech Beta waitlistLocal Logic Serie A Funding News via BetaKitLocal Logic Hires Sara Maffey as Head of Industry Relations

JT chats with Tom Knights, the head of Strava’s Metro Partnerships division to learn how Strava is working with cities to build healthier communities.

JT sat down with Journalist and Director of Applied Research at NewCities, Greg Lindsay to explore the biggest trends that cities are dealing with coming out of COVID and as they look to embrace innovation, while also competing for top tech talent.Greg's full bio: Greg Lindsay is a journalist, urbanist, futurist, and speaker. He is the director of applied research at NewCities and director of strategy at its mobility offshoot CoMotion. He is also a partner at FutureMap, a geo-strategic advisory firm based in Singapore, a non-resident senior fellow of The Atlantic Council’s Foresight, Strategy, and Risks Initiative, and co-author of Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next.

In Urban Tech's first audio essay, JT explores global trade by looking at Flexport, which aims to be the operating system for international trade and logistics.We also explored this topic in Thursday's newsletter: https://urbantech.substack.com/p/-the-opaque-systems-and-processesImportant Links:Austin Area Urban LeagueAustin Justice CoalitionAustin Mutual Aid

JT sat down with Hangar Managing Partner Josh Mendelsohn to learn how his firm helps startups bridge the gap between innovation and the public good. Before becoming an investor, Josh worked in government before joining Google's public policy team. Josh also served as a CEO, so he provides a unique perspective on how government can help spur innovation, having seen this world from all sides in his career.

As the Head of Public Enterprise at Unqork, and a former deputy mayor of New York, Cas Holloway is an expert on the complicated technical landscape that local governments face. He joined JT to talk about his time working for New York City and shared insights on how local governments are thinking about modernizing their IT infrastructure.

Political strategist and venture capitalist Bradley Tusk joins the Urban Tech Podcast to discuss how politics is increasingly changing our cities and tech.Here are some of the topics JT and Bradley discuss in the conversation:What qualities are needed for the next generation of local leadersBradley shares why he’s supporting and advising Andrew Yang’s NYC mayoral campaignThe conditions that founders, executives, and companies should consider when choosing a city to locateHow blockchain (not Bitcoin) could be the solution for America's election problemsBradley and JT geek out on their mutual love for NYC parks, plus they share their thoughts on the most underrated parks

Voi's Chief Commercial Officer Carl Vernersson joins JT to discuss how the scooter company is trying to break into New York, which is finally allowing scooter operators to enter later this Spring by competing in an RFP process.Here are a few highlights from the episode:Carl explains how he believes tech companies can work better with regulators.He shares how Voi's Swedish roots provide the company with a unique perspective on urbanism.He breaks down some of the innovations like computer vision that Voi is developing to make its products safer for riders.

A conversation with Lime's Head of Global Policy Katie Stevens. Katie's team helps Lime operate with over 130 cities to bring transportation services to citizens around the world.Katie shares insights with JT including:How COVID has challenged bike and scooter operatorsWho the many stakeholders are making decisions on transportation policiesWhy Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation excites herWhere micromobility is going after COVID ends

A conversation with The Lot Next Door's Russ Rosenband to examine the many ways innovation is changing the restaurant and food landscape.Russ works directly with founders to help raise capital and define real estate growth / go-to-market strategies. Russ' advisory portfolio consists of companies like Bbot (Restaurant Tech), Daily Goods (Grab-and-Go Retail), and Zuul Kitchens (Ghost Kitchen Operator).He's also an early investor in City Dumpling, a virtual restaurant & marketplace that distributes the best dumplings in New York City to the masses. City Dumpling was born mid-pandemic out of a desire to help local restaurants, and has grown to 5 locations in Manhattan with plans to expand into Brooklyn & Queens by Q1 2021.

John speaks with Dr. Anja Jamrozik to learn about the role of design in both the built world and the digital world. They also discuss the role of design at Airbnb, how remote work is changing the design landscape, and more.You can follow Anja's design newsletter and work by visiting her website.She is also active on Twitter:

Urban Tech Founder John Thomey previews the Urban Tech Podcast by sharing his quick thoughts on last week's two major IPOs from Airbnb and DoorDash.

A sneak peek at the conversations and topics that will be covered by The Urban Tech Podcast. The Urban Tech Podcast will officially be launching by January 2021.Listeners can stay up to date with all of Urban Tech's analysis by subscribing to Urban Tech's newsletter.