Building bridges for inclusive, sustainable cities
CoTown aim is to help cities boost civil engagement and local economies through the latest technology while helping local governments make cities more sustainable and inclusive. But while achieving the aim at its core, this startup wanted to shape and have a better structure of its organization and therefore joined the AMS Startup Booster.
This program is meant for emerging entrepreneurs with impactful ideas and startups at their beginning in the urban tech field. From idea to reality, this is the goal of the program. Several teams have joined the AMS Startup Booster over the past three years!
Are you willing to transform your idea into a startup? The AMS Startup Booster could be your opportunity! Keep in touch, and join the next batch!
How to spark civil engagement
Back in 2019, the foundations of the startup CoTown were laid by Grégoire Piette and Daniel Vanetti, former co-founder. A company that bridges municipalities or local communities with their citizens, to work together towards safer, more livable, and more sustainable cities. From idea to reality, in 2021 they collaborated with the Municipality of Heerlen in the South of the Netherlands at their first pilot, 't Heerlen’s Heitjes, a project financially supported by the Urban Innovative Actions fund of the European Union. Since then, their commitment to this idea has only grown stronger as they continued to refine and enhance it.
CoTown offers a platform designed for municipalities and communities that want to actively involve their residents in creating cities that are more pleasant, safer, and environmentally sustainable. Citizens are encouraged to take part in various straightforward and manageable tasks that contribute to improving the overall quality of life in their city. These tasks range from painting poles and benches to sprucing up trash bins or participating in social activities to assist those in need. The tasks are intentionally designed to be quick and easy, making it convenient for everyone to get involved. In addition, citizens earn credits for their efforts, with each credit having the same value as one euro. These credits can be spent at local businesses, creating a win-win situation where citizens are rewarded for their contributions while boosting the local economy. Everyone aged 21 and older can participate, with a monthly cap of 150 credits!
CoTown serves as a platform that addresses multiple objectives. It promotes citizen engagement, strives to make cities more livable and sustainable, and encourages the idea of circular cities, where money and resources circulate within the community. It's a comprehensive approach to enhancing our communities in multiple ways. What more could you ask for in a community improvement initiative?
“CoTowns aim is to support municipalities and local communities in thriving for more livable, safe, and sustainable cities through citizen participation.”
Grégoire Piette, founder of CoTown
Redefining the core of CoTown during the AMS Startup Booster
The startup had already launched its pilot project in Heerlen when it joined the AMS Startup Booster. After this initial positive pilot, they saw the opportunity to refine their concept for the next phase, with the goal of entering the market and scaling up.
As they progressed through various startup phases, involving customer validation and prototyping, their focus sharpened: they worked to clarify the core ideas and values that underpinned CoTown.
While the program plays a crucial role in helping startups clarify their objectives, it also helps to develop new skills. This was certainly the case for this particular startup. During their participation in the program, they received an exciting proposition for a new pilot project in Amsterdam Zuid Oost, later named 2ping. Skills trained during the program, such as effective questioning and insightful answers, helped CoTown to find a strong alignment with the cooperative behind 2ping.
Through these two pilot projects, the startup gathered valuable data from the platforms and conducted user surveys, enabling them to validate their ideas and refine their approach based on real-world feedback.
“We joined the AMS Startup Booster to think through our values and structure CoTown to maximize our impact on local communities.”
Grégoire Piette, founder of CoTown
Future plans: lauch of platform 2ping
A recent milestone for CoTown is the launch of their new platform, 2ping, developed specifically for Amsterdam Zuid Oost. While still centered around engaging citizens in social activities that support organizations aiding those in need, it differs from CoTown's previous ventures. This community currency initiative emerged from the bottom, driven by local entrepreneurs and residents who came together as the social cooperative Lokaal Geld U.A., which received financial support from the Municipality of Amsterdam, the Zuidoost district, and the Community Wealth Building.
This different context demonstrates the adaptability of CoTown's concept to various scenarios. If you're curious, you can explore the platforms they've developed!
CoTown has been diligently strengthening collaborations with the companies already involved in the full-scale pilot for Amsterdam Zuid Oost, and in Heerlen with a long-term contract with this Municipality. Furthermore, they're actively exploring new pilot opportunities, particularly in France.
Since the end of last year, they've built a strong multicultural development team composed of 3 people (Arnaud Mathias, Yulia Pankratova, and Khalil Salaymah), they’ve secured an investor to facilitate the next step in scaling up and they're also partnering with a renown high-tech platform IT provider to distribute their platform and concept more widely. This partnership aims to make it easier to adapt their platform to different contexts and ensure its ongoing maintenance.
Exciting months lie ahead of CoTown!
Explore your business idea too!
Are you inspired by the CoTown experience and eager to embark on your own entrepreneurial journey? Keep an eye on the AMS Startup Booster—an exceptional platform that propels your innovative ideas into thriving businesses, offering solutions to urban challenges and enriching city life.
Our program is tailor-made for ambitious entrepreneurs like you, giving you the essential tools and support required to bring your concepts to life. Over the course of three months, you'll participate in workshops and masterclasses, benefit from the guidance of industry experts, and gain valuable insights to navigate uncertainties. We'll guide you in conducting customer discovery, building a robust team, and much more. Armed with a refined pitch and a minimal viable product, we'll assist you in taking that critical next step. Curious about the transformative impact of our program? Delve into the experiences of our previous 20 teams by exploring their testimonials here!
Are you ready to transform your idea into a thriving business? Keep an eye on our website! We have new batches starting every half year!
