While traditional accelerators have had significant success at facilitating commercialization of early stage ventures–accelerator graduates have much higher success rates on average and garner disproportionately higher rates of investment–we believe we can do even better. To more rapidly move early stage ventures to commercialization, reduce risk for downstream investors, and improve likelihood of product uptake in the marketplace, Smart City Works has created a new class of business accelerator, called an Actuator — the world’s first Business Actuator.

A business actuator is built upon, but goes well beyond traditional business acceleration, through a number of enhancements to the business accelerator model. Like other accelerators, we provide an intensive boot camp and unique ecosystem with unmatched access to industry companies, mentors, and services. We also maintain access to maker spaces, laboratories, as well as design and production tools to help companies overcome technical hurdles. What sets us apart is our customized 1:1 actuation plans tailored to your specific growth needs and business concerns. What sets us apart is a selection process up-front based on an analysis of what cities really need tied to a network of hundreds of cities and end-users on the back-end to turn your participation in our program into a growing portfolio of demonstration projects and reference customers. What sets actuators apart from accelerators is a unique program designed to more rapidly move you from prototyping to demonstration, and from planning to moving into the marketplace, well-positioned for investment and business growth.

The establishment of a new type of business accelerator—a business ACTUATOR—creates a unique opportunity to rethink infrastructure and reinvent it, as well as to de-risk commercialization, government procurements, and investments. By leveraging new technologies and an enhanced model for commercialization, we can significantly improve and revitalize the well-being, sustainability, resiliency, and livability of cities.