New Yorkers are no strangers to transit challenges. The city’s transportation infrastructure carries millions of subway and bus riders, cyclists, and motorists trying to get to work or get your packages delivered on time every day. There are several recent bright spots we’re keeping our eye on — OMNY’s one millionth subway fare tap, the roll out of the 14th Street busway, and more — but there are plenty more ideas for how best to fix our biggest challenges. And New York tech is ready to help.

 To move those ideas forward, Tech:NYC is partnering up with Crain’s New York Business to host the Future of NYC Summit, where we’ll bring together industry executives and government officials to discuss how to keep things moving. On October 31, you’ll hear from executives of several Tech:NYC members — companies like Via, Lyft, Transfix, Numina, and more — sharing the stage with city officials to discuss the tools we need to modernize and streamline the experience of getting ourselves — and our things — around.

 We’re proud that many of the companies in Tech:NYC’s network are doing just that. Before we see you at the summit, we’re highlighting just five of those companies, all startups working to make our commutes easier — however we (and our pets) choose to get around.

 (P.S. If you haven’t already grabbed your seat for the Future of NYC Summit, use code TECH to get discounted tickets here.)

COORD

What does your company do?
Coord co-founder and CEO Stephen Smyth: At Coord, we’re working to improve mobility and expand access to opportunity by digitizing the curb. We help government agencies, architects, engineers, construction firms, logistics and mobility companies, and everyone else working with streets, to get them the valuable data they need to make best use of the city - whether that’s by spotting a city’s parking regulations or totally redesigning a neighborhood’s streets. Mapping city curbs is crucial for cities–particularly as new mobility options continue to transform the way we move around–and we provide a suite of tools, including curb analytics, management and surveying capabilities, that allow cities to do that in a quicker, more efficient and cost-effective way than the traditional methods currently available.

Why did you found your company in NYC?
SS: On any given New York City block, there is a mix of pedestrians, cyclists, ride-hail, delivery trucks and private vehicles vying for street space at the exact same time. With this as a backdrop, plus the complex, fast-paced and dense nature of the city, there is no better urban environment to try and solve the greatest mobility challenges our cities face today. While it’s no easy feat to digitize street curbs in cities around the world, in my view if you can do it in New York, you can do it anywhere. 

What brought you to New York?
SS: A job.

What’s surprised or inspired you about ideas that have come out of cities and communities that have used the Coord Toolkit and Coord API?
SS: Early on in working with cities we realized how little is known about curbs. After using the Coord Toolkit, cities like Santa Monica were able to make curb and urban planning improvements that alleviate gridlock and congestion, while improving overall quality of life. This is exactly what we set out to do and we’re inspired by these cities every day. 

Your platform recently expanded to five new cities as part of your goal to offer data on more than 100 global cities by 2021. Have you found a common concern that cities want to address? Can cities learn from each other on how to solve their curb and mobility issues? 
SS: Cities across the world have had to respond to the many changes caused by the advent of new mobility. Scooters, bikeshare, ride-hail, 24/7 delivery, you name it, have completely transformed the way we view and use our streets. For many of the cities we are talking to, this is a major, lingering concern. Cities in all corners of the globe want to make their streets more livable and productive for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. I think as you see more cities using innovation, like our Toolkit, that address these nuanced issues and create more efficient streets, neighboring cities will be compelled to take action too. 

Coord just brought on Dawn Miller, former Chief of Staff at the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, as Head of Policy & Partnerships. NYC is no stranger to mobility discussions. How will her experience help Coord’s mission going forward in other cities? 
SS: We are thrilled to have Dawn on the team — she’s helping us bring a fresh perspective on how we can best work with cities to help them achieve their mobility initiatives. Through her years overseeing New York’s taxi, car service and ride-hailing industries, in addition to working closely with municipals, she has demonstrated an ability to translate and achieve value-packed initiatives. We are excited to have her join the Coord team and continue to build great city partnerships. 

Stephen, you’ve been the leader at a range of startups, from travel to education, and have training as an engineer. What is one major lesson from your experiences that you’ve carried with you to Coord?
SS: Anything can happen! Working in startups, you need to be nimble and ready for the unexpected. No day is the same. While engineer by training, it’s also important to be able to wear many hats in order to drive a successful company.

How do you get to your office?
SS: Subway.

Where do you get your favorite pizza slice?
SS: Roberta’s.

 Where do you get your favorite bagel? 
SS: FreshDirect.

What is the best New York waterfront?
SS: Coney Island.

What’s the best place in New York for a coffee or lunch meeting?
SS: Le Pain Quotidien.

Dream road trip?
SS: The Alps.

Would you rather always find a parking spot, never sit in traffic, or always have a train waiting in the station
SS: Always have a train waiting at the station.

REVEL

What does your company do?
Revel co-founder and CEO Frank Reig: Revel is a shared electric vehicle company that helps people who live and work in cities get where they need to go in a safe, reliable, and convenient way. We currently operate fleets of shared electric mopeds–Revels–in New York City and Washington, DC.

Why did you found your company in NYC?
FR: As extensive as New York City’s transit system is, it still has holes, especially in the outer boroughs. Getting around Brooklyn and Queens using public transportation can be really inefficient, and traveling between these boroughs or even within them on the subway may require a detour into Manhattan. Revel is a great match for New York City because our vehicles help fill these gaps. We also know that New Yorkers take a lot of trips that are a bit too long to walk and a bit too short to justify taking a taxi or ridesharing and risk sitting in traffic. Revels are ideal for this kind of travel, which is why our average trip length is around three miles.

What brought you to New York?
FR: I grew up on Staten Island and spent the first 18 years of my life there. I’ve spent the last 11 in Brooklyn, initially putting my culinary degree to work, then getting my Masters in Environmental Science at Columbia and eventually moving into consulting in the energy and industrial space where I met my co-founder, Paul Suhey.  

Congested roadways are a part of daily life in NYC and other major cities. What are some key points to help steer people away from car culture?
FR: We find that we don’t need to be steering people away from car culture, they’re anxious to get away from it already. Our early ridership numbers and feedback from riders back this up. People are looking for ways to get around cities that are convenient, affordable, and sustainable. Revel checks all those boxes. 

You’ve said before that you were inspired to create Revel after seeing scooter or moped sharing programs in other countries. Are there transit lessons that you feel U.S. cities can learn from abroad?
FR: Many cities outside the U.S. are set up so that people don’t need to own cars to get around, with well-thought out public transit and roads that accommodate pedestrians and vehicles other than cars. I think cities here would definitely benefit from following that example and making themselves less car-centric. Adopting mopeds would be a great first step, because they don’t require any infrastructure overhauls. That’s why we felt it was only a matter of time before they became prevalent in the U.S., so we started Revel to get ahead of the game.

You earned a Master’s of public administration in environmental science and policy and went on to work in different roles in that space. Had you ever imagined starting a company before Revel? How has your background aligned with Revel’s mission?
FR: Starting my own company and being an entrepreneur was always top of mind for me. I always had a business plan that I was tinkering with during my twenties and early thirties but Revel was the first idea I had worth going all in on! Our mission at Revel is to move people and what better way to increase transit access in your hometown than promoting electric vehicles ridership without any new infrastructure or subsidies?

What advice do you have for commuters who are new to moped riding or are hesitant to give it a try in their city?

FR: Sign up for a free lesson! We offer them seven days a week in both New York City and DC. Spending some time with one of our instructors will help you feel more comfortable riding, and you’ll soon discover how fun riding a Revel is.

How do you get to your office?
FR: Whenever I can, on a Revel!

Where do you get your favorite pizza slice?
FR: Lee’s Tavern on Staten Island. 

Where do you get your favorite bagel? 
FR: Bagel Pub on Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights! 

What is the best New York waterfront?
FR: Mount Loretto Park on Staten Island. I would walk to the beach as a kid and fish for striped bass during the spring and fall run.

Dream road trip?
FR: Alaska to Patagonia.

What’s the best place in New York for a coffee or lunch meeting?
FR: Coffee would be Sit & Wonder in Prospect Heights. Lunch meeting would depend on who you're meeting! Frankies in Carroll Gardens is always a good option.

Would you rather always find a parking spot, never sit in traffic, or always have a train waiting in the station
FR: Never sit in traffic.

SPOTON

What does your company do?
SpotOn founder and CEO Aparna Srivnivasan: SpotOn is a ride hailing market place for pets and the people who love them.

Why did you found your company in NYC?
AS: NYC has a diverse demography that fits with our proven ability to scale and expand beyond just the urban landscape.

What brought you to New York?
AS: New Yorkers! I was in LA when I came up with SpotOn. We ran a pilot there and what I found was that it was people in NYC who were asking for our service. I did further research and realized that NYC would be a better place to launch.

You really laid the groundwork to confirm that there was a real problem for pet owners — from speaking to over 300 pet owners at LAX to being a driver yourself and offering free rides pre-launch. How critical was that on-the-ground process to starting SpotOn and did anything surprise you throughout it?
AS: Yes. Before you decide to jump in the deep end, you need to know what the landscape is. My experience with ride-hailing was either taking a cab or using one of the ride-sharing companies, so I needed to know what, if any, problems existed with existing businesses, what they were and how to solve them, if possible. The only way to do any of that was to get first-hand knowledge. Talking to customers and drivers is crucial. I personally reach out to our amazing drivers and passengers and ask them how we can improve. Honestly, what I found surprising was that the pets-in-ride-shares problem was simply not being solved with existing services and the way things were being done. Not so surprising, people really wanted a service that actually addressed their issue — traveling with their pet.

 SpotOn often is quickly compared to other ride-hailing services. What do you do to make the point that SpotOn is clearly forging its own path forward?
AS: We are much different. Our focus is on a particular group of people: pet parents. We have a driver force that is 100% dedicated to taking pets. They don’t “opt in.” Our drivers are provided with backseat covers and harnesses that keep the pets safe during travel. They’re offered a bigger financial incentive for driving with us. Additionally, we have forged key partnerships with pet-focused companies to address their particular needs, including piloting unaccompanied pet rides. We’re always working to make our service meet, serve, and anticipate the specific needs of our customers. 

You helped co-found The Fourth Floor, an organization aimed at elevating women founders. What made you want to be an entrepreneur? What is a key piece of advice you have for women entrepreneurs starting out
AS: The Fourth Floor is amazing. I recently took a step back from being a co-founder to working as an advisor as SpotOn needs my undivided focus. What made me an entrepreneur? My brother is an entrepreneur so maybe I got the bug from him, since my parents are accomplished in their own work but never went for the entrepreneurial path. He’s had several successful businesses in the IT space. For myself, I tend to see a problem, and if it’s not being fixed, I want to fix it.

This advice would go for anyone starting out: Make sure you understand the problem you are trying to solve.  This means getting to know your target market and speaking to and with them. Also, and this is key, make sure you are not actually creating a problem. The problem has to already exist.

 What’s next for the company as we approach a new year? As a business owner and dog mom, what do you consider when looking into possible cities to expand?
AS: 2020 is going to be amazing for us. We’ll be expanding beyond the typical “ride-hailing” service; for example, you’ll be able to easily go from say the Upper East Side to Chelsea with your dog during prime hours with ease. We’ll also be launching our unaccompanied pet rides for the busy pet parent. There is a lot we’ll be doing in NYC! We’ll also be expanding all across the USA and the world! Look for us in San Francisco, Seattle, and a few more cities in 2020. We will be the hub of pet mobility.

 How do you get to your office?
AS: Krishna (my dog, who rides safely harnessed in the back) and I take my car in to work.

Where do you get your favorite pizza slice? 
AS: This is a hard one. Koronet Pizza because they have the biggest slice I’ve ever eaten!

Where do you get your favorite bagel? 
AS: Gotta go with Breads Bagelry in Dumbo!

What is the best New York waterfront? 
AS: Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Dream road trip? 
AS: Summit Everest! Hopefully in two years.

What’s the best place in New York for a coffee or lunch meeting? 
AS: I don’t drink coffee, but I personally like meeting in places with outdoor seating near the water, like PJ Clarke’s in Battery Park.

Would you rather always find a parking spot, never sit in traffic, or always have a train waiting in the station? 
AS: Find a parking spot!

CIVILIZED CYCLES

What does your company do?

Civilized Cycles founder and CEO Zach Schieffelin: We make next generation e-bikes that redefine the category. No other ebike can carry two adults in comfort and style, has fully integrated locking storage, or has a suspension that automatically adjusts to the rider.

Why did you found your company in NYC?
ZS: NY is a perfect microcosm of the world's transportation challenges. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!

What brought you to New York?
ZS: Born and (mostly) raised here.

What does micromobility mean to you? 
ZS: Micromobility is transportation at a human scale, proportionate to the task required.

The Civ ebike is sleek, has a battery portable charge station, and has storage that can be secured. Who is the ideal Civilized Cycle rider?
ZS: The bicycle industry already does a great job of serving cyclists. Our target is everybody else — people who just want an easy, fun, practical way to get around without sacrifice or suffering.

You’re a lifelong rider with more than a decade of experience it the scooter, motorcycle and biking world. What is your most memorable biking experience? Did it influence at all the mission of your company?
ZS: In college, I commuted every day over the Brooklyn Bridge with a backpack full of heavy textbooks. The experience taught me that I never wanted to carry something on my back when I rode, and that rough roads are exhausting and dangerous without a suspension. I hated having to divide my attention between traffic and road surface.

Safety for riders of all kinds, and road safety in general, is on the minds of many in NYC. Besides the safety features that the Civ includes, such as brake lights, turn signals, and full suspension, what do you see as some broader steps or needed conversations towards safer, friendlier roads?
ZS: The number-one safety factor for cyclists is the number of other cyclists on the road. Separated bike lanes, risk based law enforcement (i.e ticket dangerous cars before cyclists), and strict right of way rules are what work globally. More of that please!

How do you get to your office? 
ZS: By Civ, of course!

Where do you get your favorite pizza slice? 
ZS: Macoletta in Astoria.

Where do you get your favorite bagel? 
ZS: Still hunting since Kossars changed ownership.

What is the best New York waterfront? 
ZS: Brooklyn.

Dream road trip? 
ZS: Alaska.

What’s the best place in New York for a coffee or lunch meeting? 
ZS: New Lab.

Would you rather always find a parking spot, never sit in traffic, or always have a train waiting in the station? 
ZS: Never sit in traffic.

RALLY

What does your company do?
Rally co-founder and CEO Numaan Akram: Rally is bus rideshare — a platform that allows riders to self-aggregate and create bus trips on-demand. We specialize in rideshares to events such as concerts, sporting events, political rallies, and other large gatherings. It is a marketplace for event stakeholders. Rally integrates its technology with motorcoach operators (bus companies) to modernize their booking process, offer modern smartphone apps for operations, and automate support for riders and drivers.

Why did you found your company in NYC?
NA: Both Rally founders grew up here, but we choose to stay for the diversity of the city. 

What brought you to New York?
NA: The co-founders of Rally met in New York City. The mix of thought, culture, and personality in the city is what has allowed us to make a well-rounded team for Rally. 

The idea of Rally came out of a concept you created called “crowdpowered travel.” Can you elaborate on this concept and how your thinking has evolved or changed since starting Rally?
NA: At first, we meant that our business model requires the wisdom of the crowd to tell us where to go. Since then, the term “rideshare” has become ubiquitous, and we see Rally as another form of it. Simply put, Rally is “bus rideshare” and we find that resonates with people easily. 

New York City will be the first U.S. city to implement congestion pricing. How does congestion pricing complement, or work against, Rally's thesis?
NA: Rally’s services complements congestion pricing. Rally reduces traffic in congestion zones by utilizing high occupancy vehicles that take 35 cars off the road, on average. Motorcoaches do not idle or roam around in city centers as taxis do. As part of multimodal transportation, Rally’s buses complement other public transit options such as subways, bikes, and fixed route buses.

As the ridesharing market continues to evolve, how do you think your technology and platform will play to the broader transportation space?
NA: As the markets become more sophisticated, there will be a more nuanced understanding of all the different types of transportation types that exist. Each mode of transportation will need sustainable business models and healthy competition. Just as the first wave of mobility startups proved the potential for innovation, they also demonstrated the shortcomings of their models, both in profitability and social impact. The e-hailing companies increase traffic and have no barrier to entry; and regulators are catching up to their skirting of laws. Rally is swimming with the current — we work with the industry with a sustainable business model that is pro-regulation, and reduces carbon footprints and traffic. As riders learn of more options, they will choose the one that best fits their particular needs. Rally has proven that buses are the right vehicle for many different scenarios. 

What and where was the most memorable event a Rally Bus has taken a community to?
NA: On January 21, 2017, Rally transported almost 45,000 people to the Women’s March on Washington and to sister rallies across the country. They came from 250 cities, across 30 states, on almost 1,000 buses. No individual organization has transported this many people to a single day event before in history.

How do you get to your office?
NA: We live across a subway station near Coney Island. That means I have a seat for my entire morning commute. I get out at Herald Square, which is across the street from my office. It’s a long but very easy and productive commute.

Where do you get your favorite pizza slice?
NA: L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst.

Where do you get your favorite bagel?
NA: Bread Plus, a bakery in Gravesend. 

What is the best New York waterfront?
NA: Coney Island.

Dream road trip?
NA: Cabo San Lucas to Vancouver (or vice versa).

What’s the best place in New York for a coffee or lunch meeting?
NA: Samwon Garden is where we bring out-of-town guests who have never tried Korean food. It’s classy and has something for everyone.

Would you rather always find a parking spot, never sit in traffic, or always have a train waiting in the station
NA: Train…it’s usually easier to read or work on a train. And, have you seen the carbon footprint of a commuter who travels by car vs. public transit?

Author and Editor: Kelly Zegers
All illustrations by Elly Rodgers

NEW YORK CITY - JUNE 7, 2018: by Ryan DeBerardinisShutterstock.com