Harnessing the creativity of startups to solve local challenges

The Startup In Residence concept - started in San Francisco and further developed in The Netherlands - has been highly successful to help startups and local authorities innovate and deliver practical solutions for urban challenges faced by a community.

STiR is a programme in which startups and local authorities go through a process of co-creation to develop insights, social impact prototypes and minimal viable products/services. To tackle things that need tackling.

Changes and innovations are the order of the day. We also know that complex urban challenges need different organisations and the community to come together to deliver innovation.

We are launching it in the UK.

How does it work?

A local authority will work with us to publish a challenge.

A local issue that they could use some help figuring out a solution to.

Startups who are interested and have certain expertise, respond to the challenge.

Through a pitching process shortlisted startups will be selected to join a 12 week co-creation programme to develop and test theirs ideas in close collaboration with the council, often with use of their space, mentoring and contacts