The CivStart Innovation Hub, according to a CivStart statement, is an online platform offering networking, resources and education to assist in understanding the gov tech ecosystem “from any perspective.” That includes people working for or founding gov tech companies, their investors, and their customers — that is, government agencies.
Now, it has the backing of NLC, an advocacy and professional membership organization for municipal governments across the U.S.
“This platform is going to fill an important need for local governments who need access to trusted, curated information and technologies in the rapidly shifting world of government technology,” said Peter Pirnejad, city manager of Los Altos Hills, Calif., in the statement.
The initiative springs from the persistent chicken-and-egg problem of technology companies working with government: How can a city work with a startup that hasn’t already worked with other cities?
The CivStart Innovation Hub aims to help bridge the gap by educating stakeholders on all sides of the industry. CivStart also hosts events where those people can meet directly and learn about each other.
“We’ve gained so much from the beta of the platform already as a startup,” Roger Lin, founder and CEO of gov tech startup Legislaide, said in the statement. “The curriculum has been really game-changing for us. Bringing a wider community together is going to unlock even more opportunities to connect and collaborate.”
CivStart and NLC will host an online event discussing the new partnership on Thursday at 12 p.m. Pacific time.