mySidewalk CEO: Partnership with National League of Cities will ‘unlock’ hidden data for thousands of communities
February 4, 2022 | Startland News Staff
A veteran Kansas City tech startup has partnered with the National League of Cities to help its members “bring actionable data to every community,” mySidewalk’s CEO announced this week.
“Together, we will provide data to unlock funding, guide investments, and improve neighborhoods,” said Stephen Hardy, leader of the KC-based govtech company, describing NLC as “the country’s best resource for cities” — working with more than 2,000 communities across the country.
The partnership with the NLC is expected to give members free use of mySidewalk’s newly expanded tool, Seek for Cities, which allows users to quickly and seamlessly access curated data from more than 40 sources, including the U.S. Census and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Click here to learn more about Seek and the NLC pairing.
The NLC and mySidewalk also plan to engage local government and community innovators through a series of six conversations focused on addressing community challenges, such as equitable federal funding, housing, the economy, climate risk and resiliency. During each discussion, city innovators will identify a challenge their community once faced and share how they used Seek to successfully solve the problem.
“NLC is always exploring innovative ways to strengthen and support local governments and their communities,” said Heyward Harvin, director of strategic partnerships at the National League of Cities. “Partnering with mySidewalk will allow city leaders to leverage vital data, unlocking new insights and meaningful trends that will help assess community needs and develop solutions to various challenges they may be facing.”
Click here to learn more about the National League of Cities, which works to “strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions.”
Founded in 2010, mySidewalk provides a suite of data tools necessary to access large swathes of community data and information — in addition to a comprehensive community data library that pulls information for products like Seek for Cities. mySidewalk’s goal is to democratize data by making it readily available to all populations.
2022 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Ready to bet big? Kansas wants to help entrepreneurs win more federal innovation grants
Kansas innovators now have access to a new tool designed to help them compete for major federal funding. The Kansas Department of Commerce has opened applications for the state’s SBIR and STTR Matching Program, which provides financial support and hands-on guidance for entrepreneurs pursuing federal innovation grants. The matching initiative is part of ACCEL-KS, a…
New Maker of the Year: Why this mom’s side hustle for the girly girls couldn’t stay at home
A hobbyist venture that began with making shirts for her kids has earned Julie Swopes a spot on Made in KC’s shelves for her Chiefs- and Royals-inspired tees — along with one of the local-first retailer’s top honors: KC New Maker of the Year for 2025. “I’m just a stay-at-home mom that has turned her…
Don’t be a stranger: When this Crossroads refuge closes, another chapter begins for Afterword (and the space it leaves behind)
With two more Open Mic Nights and more than a month left on its lease at Afterword Tavern & Shelves — a cozy corner hotspot where patrons leisurely bond over drinks and good reads — the popular Crossroads third-space isn’t finished telling its story despite losing the space to its new landlord, said Kate Hall.…
Exporting KC to the world: Esports leader revs come-from-behind global takeover amid World Cup’s big draw
As the metro bundled up and showed out Friday, getting its latest taste of what the 2026 World Cup has in store, the Kansas City Pioneers dropped new heat — raising the thermostat on their commitment to seize the moment brought forth by the global gathering as a net for esports. “Now is the time for…