Labs × Ventures: One Innovation Engine
Innovation Labs & Ventures is an ecosystem studio—our Labs explore and prototype; our Ventures execute and scale. Together they form a single engine that turns new ideas into working city systems that are climate‑positive and financially excellent.
The Engine
The engine runs year‑round. Teams plug in at different stages; we standardize on focused city pilots to prove outcomes quickly, then scale.
The Goal
Better product used in real places; verified outcomes (mobility, cost, emissions, access); clear economics (repeatable unit economics).
The Atmosphere
All build, all signal—operators, residents, city partners, and builders aligned on outcomes. Access to real assets unlocks speed.
The Commons
Product & CTO layer, shared GTM, investor readiness, talent via MVP Tech Lab, unified identity (PersonasOS), verifiable impact (The Grid).
Labs & Ventures: One System
Labs (Exploration)
- Discover problems with communities and partners
- Rapid prototyping with shared product, data, and ops
- Standards for telemetry, safety, and compliance
Ventures (Execution)
- Run pilots in live corridors, buildings, and neighborhoods
- Scale winners; sunset what doesn’t earn its keep
- Disciplined unit economics and service quality
Phases (Labs ↔ Ventures)
- Discover with residents, workers, and city partners.
- Prototype fast with shared product, data, and operations.
- Pilot (City) in live corridors, buildings, and neighborhoods.
- Scale what works; sunset what doesn’t earn its keep.
- Feedback from usage, cost, emissions, and experience.
Principles
- Low‑carbon mobility people actually adopt
- Housing + food access that strengthens neighborhood economics
- Circular making and local production (less waste, more ownership)
- Climate democracy: residents, workers, creators share in value
- Profitability by design: crisp unit economics from day one
- Verifiable impact via shared data standards
How We Operate (Cadence)
Guilds
Product & Data (PersonasOS, The Grid) · Mobility (Last Mile) · Housing & Access (Fort Street) · Hospitality & Culture (Eastern Market, SushiRitas) · Making (PrintBox) · Talent (MVP Tech Lab, Innovation House)
Reviews
Build (weekly) · Ops (bi‑weekly) · Impact (monthly). Unblock product, sync budgets/compliance, measure outcomes.
Field Rhythm
Kickoff (2‑day on‑site) · Public Pilots (corridors, buildings, neighborhoods) · Review Day (usage, economics, lessons, scale plan).
Beyond the Pilot
Advice
Ongoing office hours; product, data, and ops support on call.
Community
Builders, operators, and civic partners who default to helping.
Reporting
Unified data and ecosystem‑level outcomes/economics.
Why This Works
Compounding
Shared identity, data, distribution, and places mean every launch strengthens the rest.
City‑First
Validated on real streets and in real buildings—not just decks.
Speed & Discipline
Central product, financing, and ops remove repeat friction.
Who Should Join
- Cities & transit agencies: corridor pilots, data sharing, rider programs.
- Developers & operators: hospitality, housing, and mixed‑use with integrated tech.
- Founders & builders: ship inside the engine—product, data, and GTM included.
- Investors & partners: co‑fund city pilots and scale proven systems.