How competition shapes the future of urban innovation
05 Sep 2025by Luke Antoniou
Jennifer Sanders of North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA) explains how the second Smart Cities Global Startup Challenge at SCEWC is levelling up in 2025.
You’re into the second year of the SCEWC Smart Cities Global Startup Challenge – how has last year’s experience shaped what’s to come in 2025?
The first competition was pulled together in quite a short timeframe – from concept to reality in basically a few days – and so this year we’ve been able to build in more time. That’s allowed us to bring more people into the process, including some really exciting new judges, like Toyota, who add fresh perspectives.
Last year we were still shaping what the competition could look like, and even now we’re measuring outcomes because some of those potential customer relationships that come from the challenge naturally have longer timelines. But we’ve seen real progression with start-ups like VisionCraft (winners of the challenge in 2024), and that confirmed for us that the model works.
In terms of participation last year, we were thrilled with the response – nearly 40 completed submissions from 18 different countries in just two weeks. For something that came together quickly, that was a huge success. This year, with more time and stronger partnerships, we’re aiming to go even bigger, both in terms of submissions and the support we can offer.
We’ve also been able to expand the prize package, bringing in Plug and Play, which means we can connect start-ups not only to opportunities in the US but also to resources globally, depending on where they’re based.
At its core, though, the mission hasn’t changed. It’s about connecting cities and corporate partners with innovative ideas they might never have found otherwise, and doing it in a way that accelerates problem-solving. Last year showed us that there’s enormous value in creating these connections – this year, it’s about scaling that impact.
What are you looking for this this year from applicants? What is going to make start-ups stand out from their competition?
This year, one of the things I’m really focused on is making the most of our international connections. Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) brings together delegations from all over the world, and we want to leverage that network much more intentionally. We’ve been able to do more direct outreach – inviting delegations not just to spread the word, but to really engage with the competition. We’re even exploring ideas like a ’progressive happy hour’, where different countries can come together, share information, and hopefully spark real matchmaking opportunities for start-ups.
As for the applicants themselves, the criteria are fairly broad, but the key factor is readiness. This competition isn’t the place for pre-commercial concepts – we’re looking for companies that are on the ground, with solutions ready to deploy. They don’t need to be big, or to have gone through major funding rounds, but they do need to be able to show that they’re ready for real-world opportunities.
What makes a start-up stand out is often past deployments. If they can show us where they’ve already implemented their technology, what the outcomes were, and how those experiences might translate to other cities, that really strengthens their case. We’re also looking for quick wins – solutions that can deliver immediate impact and build momentum for scaling across cities and corporate partners.
And of course, differentiation matters. We want to see things that haven’t yet gained traction in the US, or solutions that approach challenges in ways we haven’t seen before. That combination of readiness, proven deployment, and distinctiveness is what’s going to make an applicant rise above the rest.
What’s the long-term vision for the winners of the competition in terms of support through the pilot project and beyond?
The long-term vision is really about building the kind of support system that helps start-ups go beyond a single pilot and sets them up for lasting growth. When I think back to the early days of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, almost 10 years ago now, our living lab was created with that exact intention – to give both Fortune 50 companies and local start-ups a place to test, connect, and collaborate. That exposure was invaluable. For start-ups, it meant visibility with potential customers and channel partners, while for large companies, it opened the door to new ideas. In fact, a couple of those start-ups were able to get through the certification process with a major corporation far faster than usual, which led to real business expansion. That kind of acceleration is what we want to replicate through this competition.
The vision for winners goes well beyond just standing on a stage with a cheque; it’s about giving them proximity to the right partners, direct contact with customers, and the ability to grow. We’re building in tangible resources too – for example, both Curiosity Lab and McKinney have offered at least a year of support in the form of a home base where start-ups can set up shop. Plug and Play is also contributing resources like cloud credits and access to their mentor networks. And of course, the involvement of economic development corporations is critical. Their entire mission is to help businesses grow and create jobs, and they’re uniquely positioned to identify opportunities within their regions and beyond.
Cities play an important role as the anchor customer and cheerleader, but the broader ecosystem is what helps these start-ups sustain and scale. As my co-founder at NTXIATrey Bowles often says, entrepreneurs can’t buy time or expertise – those come from relationships and experience. Our goal is to help winners connect faster, understand markets more deeply, and shorten the path to impact. The pilot is just the entry point; the real value is in building the network and ecosystem that will support them long after the competition is over.
How are you encouraging international start ups to come forward for the competition? What dynamics are at play for international start-ups potentially piloting their tech in the US?
One of the most important things we want international start-ups to understand is that they don’t need to come in with deep local knowledge of the US market. What we’re asking them to do is bring us their best ideas and solutions. We’ll help bridge that gap by connecting them with the right partners, cities, and resources here.
Last year we had submissions from six continents, which was fantastic, and that’s very much the goal again – we want to hear from everywhere. The reality is, there’s so much innovation happening globally that even I, working in this full time, can’t possibly keep up with it all. Our members certainly don’t have the time or bandwidth either. Competitions like this create a structured way to surface those ideas quickly and in a really focused way. They help us discover what we might not be thinking about, and what could be deployed to solve pressing challenges.
From the perspective of an international start-up piloting in the US, the competition can act as a landing pad. We’ve built strong national networks – through our partnerships with smart city coalitions across seven states, for example – which means we can help make introductions and create pathways for expansion. Cities and regional coalitions across the country are engaged and interested, so there’s a real opportunity for pilots to grow into multi-city collaborations.
How is the competition, and your continued work at Smart City Expo, helping establish North Texas as a global innovation hub?
For us, the competition and our continued presence at Smart City Expo are really about making sure the world understands who North Texas is today – and where we’re going. Too often, when people think of this region, their first associations are still cowboys and oil. I love being in Barcelona because it gives me the chance to say, “Do you know what’s actually happening in North Texas?” and watch the surprise when people see the proof.
That storytelling piece is critical. Through the competition, we’re able to showcase not only the innovative start-ups we’re bringing in but also the projects already happening in our cities with private sector partners. This year, I’m especially excited that more companies will be in our booth alongside the cities they’ve worked with, demonstrating real deployments and the impact on residents’ quality of life. It’s a tangible way to show the world what’s happening here, not just tell them.
It also ties into broader efforts across the region, like the Next Gen Sector Partnerships, where employers in different verticals – including tech – are driving conversations about what they need to keep growing. Tech cuts across every sector, from construction to logistics to retail, and the narrative about our strengths was identified as one of the top priorities. In other words, it’s not just about building the talent pipeline or staying ahead of needs – it’s also about making sure people know the story of North Texas as a hub for innovation.
That’s where platforms like Smart City Expo are so valuable. They give us a stage to share our differentiators – beyond the baseline story about being business-friendly, centrally located, and well-positioned. We can highlight the unique elements that set us apart even within Texas. Because our coalition is neutral, we can amplify the story in a way that individual companies or cities sometimes can’t. I can brag on their behalf, and I can also point out where we need to do better. That mix of advocacy and accountability is part of what helps position North Texas as a true global innovation hub.
How has the advancement of AI in the last 12 months changed what you’re expecting from this year’s competition? What recommendations would you have for AI start-ups?
AI has really shifted the landscape over the past year, and it’s definitely influencing what I expect to see in this year’s competition. Look back 10 years at those city technology companies that claimed they could do everything – integrate with anything, solve every problem. My co-founder Trey would laugh and remind me that wasn’t realistic, and he was right. The same applies now with AI. If a start-up tells you they can do everything, cities and corporations with experience will see through it.
So my first piece of advice to AI start-ups is: be clear about the problem you’re solving. It’s a cliche, but don’t build the solution first and then go looking for a problem to attach it to. Show that you really understand the system you’re aiming to transform. Even better, demonstrate precedent – examples where your solution has been applied and delivered real value.
Another recommendation is to think about customer readiness. AI itself can be an easy layer to deploy, but only if the underlying data infrastructure is in place. If a city’s data warehouse hasn’t been updated in decades, the system won’t be able to feed useful information into your model. I’ve seen projects fail to show any value, not because the technology wasn’t strong, but because no one helped the city prepare its data properly. That step zero – readiness – is critical, and start-ups that can guide customers through it are going to stand out.
It’s also worth remembering that many cities are still figuring out the right questions to ask about AI. They may be hesitant to admit what they don’t know, so start-ups that approach with humility, that are willing to educate and support rather than just sell, will make a much stronger impression.
Finally, my advice would be to position your AI solution in relation to what cities already have. If a city just invested $15 million in a platform, you need to be able to clearly articulate what your product does that their current system doesn’t – and why it’s worth the additional investment. That mix of realism, humility, and clear problem-solving is what will make AI start-ups credible and competitive in this space.