mySidewalk teases Sidekick — a data assistant at the forefront of AI’s difficult-to-simple transformation
May 22, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A new purpose-built community data and visualization tool from mySidewalk is designed to revolutionize decision making and empower those willing to embrace change when supplied with accessible and reliable data.
The Kansas City-based govtech company this month announced the beta launch of Sidekick, an AI-powered data assistant meant to drive meaningful progress through insights gleaned from it and the startup’s broader platform, said Stephen Hardy, CEO of mySidewalk.
“Finding useful data to make critical community investment and development decisions is too hard. We can change that,” he said. “We’re at the forefront of a new era where AI can make the difficult simple.”
“Our beta testers are helping to make Sidekick an invaluable resource for leaders dedicated to making a positive difference,” Hardy continued.
mySidewalk has a team dedicated to gathering the most relevant data for customers and offering tools that allow anyone — not just data scientists — to understand it, he said.
Building on mySidewalk’s mission to democratize data and equip changemakers with the necessary tools, Sidekick simplifies data access, provides trusted and transparent analytics, and facilitates data-driven storytelling while helping users sidestep technical barriers with an intuitive, natural language interface.
Those interested can access Sidekick through mySidewalk’s software platform to explore thousands of data points, create visualizations like maps, and craft narratives about transportation, economy indicators, public health, housing, and environmental factors.
Sidekick will be available to mySidewalk customers as part of their software subscription.
“Sidekick is founded on principles of accessibility and equity,” Hardy said. “Our robust foundation of meticulously researched proprietary data ensures reliable results, fostering trust and transparency in the analysis process. Ultimately, Sidekick will free up time for high-impact activities by finding and communicating meaningful insights faster and with less effort.”
Want to help beta test Sidekick? Click here to join the waitlist.

2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Junior Achievement honoring Ruby Jean’s founder with its 2022 KC Innovator Award
A group hoping to inspire the next generation of leaders, thinkers and doers has tapped a young entrepreneur with a healthy appetite for expansion as its next KC Innovator Award winner. Chris Goode, founder of Ruby Jean’s Juicery, is set to be honored with the award Nov. 1 during the Junior Achievement of Kansas City’s…
Put a ring in it: Journey Pro enters the ‘Era of Agnes’ with new location on KC’s East Side
Founder combines passion for wrestling, fighting cancer in latest show Every window was broken. A solid foot of trash covered the floor. And there was a strange smell coming from the bathrooms. Yet, DJ Stewart stepped into the abandoned section of the Agnes Arts Center and knew it was going to be the perfect home…
Real-world ready: Honeywell partners with local high schools, offering full-time careers to Grandview graduates
Simon Williams wasn’t interested in college; he instead saw a professional path after high school that avoided costly and time-wasting diversions. “I just didn’t want to start my career four years later, with almost $100,000 in the hole,” said the recent Grandview graduate and new hire at Honeywell as an assembler adjuster. The U.S. Department…
Thirsty fans line up as Weston distillery resurrects pre-Civil War Missouri bourbon
Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by Flatland, the digital magazine of Kansas City PBS and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the weekly Flatland email newsletter. This is a historic moment for the folks at Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, and also a big deal…


