SMART CITIES / MINIMALLY VIABLE SMART CITY
Karl Dakin
Capital Coach | Stakeholder Investor Campaigns | Design, Stage, and Manage or Support | Reduce Time, Money, and Risk of Raising Funding | Increase Probability of Success! | Opportunity Management
FUNDING FORTUNES
"Every investor loves a sure thing; the closer you can make it look like one, the better."
Every opportunity can be improved. Some need significant improvement to become fundable. I am continuously surprised by entrepreneurs who present themselves for funding without being ‘ready to receive funding.’ This may be due, in part, to a lack of knowledge about what investors need to see to invest. However, so many entrepreneurs fail to do everything within their capability to make themselves a superior choice.
QUICK CALENDAR
TOMORROW, TUESDAY, March 4, Successful Funding show, Closing the Gap with Investors - 8 am Mountain Time, 10 am Eastern https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/successfulfunding-fillingthegap7300295275070271488/theater/
NEXT FRIDAY, March 7, NC3’s 2025 National Conference: Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, East Lansing, Michigan – 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Time.
April 2 thru April 23 - Investor ID Webinar - 8 am to 9 am Mountain Time, 10 am to 11 am Eastern Time -Targeting High Probability Investor Candidates: Finding Your Funding Soulmate – 1st in Four-Part, One Hour, Weekly Series starts on - https://dakincapital.com/event-6036637
FUNDING POINT – SMART CITIES / MINIMALLY VIABLE SMART CITY
The funding of a smart city raises the question of “What is a city?”
The definition of a city sets the groundwork for the question of “What is a minimal smart city?” Treating a smart city like a product, I am trying to determine what the ‘MVP’ or ‘minimally viable product’ is.
The book Smart Cities for Dummies (see below) defines a smart city as “a collection of technological responses to the growing demands, challenges, and complexities of improving the quality of life for billions of people now living in urban centers across the world.” This definition focuses on digital interconnectedness, the commonly held viewpoint in the United States. International definitions, which I adopt, use a broader array of metrics that relate to quality of life.
?Wikipedia defines a ‘city’ as a?substantial human settlement. In turn, it represents a human settlement in terms of geography,?statistics, and?archaeology - ?settlement,?locality, or?populated place?is a?community?of people living in a particular?place. A smaller settlement may be a town or village.
?Trying to work within existing definitions, a minimally viable smart city would be a small group of people in a particular place.
?I view an MVP for a smart city as a primary business or group of companies (industry) that justifies the development and capital costs of common infrastructure and services. This definition resembles a resort, theme park, or large apartment complex.
?Clearly, a smart city requires modern infrastructure and services. However, it is far more than having Internet access.
?Defining a smart city MVP is essential to enable the development of a capital strategy and raise needed funding. When positioning a smart city as a sustainable business enterprise with shared infrastructure and services, I must include access to water, power, waste management, transportation, and public safety.
?My definition may allow an MVP of a convenience store with six employees, including the building, housing, solar or other power, and its own waste/water system. It may be reasonably questioned whether this small business may justify all of the associated infrastructure. However, as do many island developments, many companies face this fundamental challenge.
?An MVP for a smart city may require the capability to scale up and economic incentives for more businesses to join the community.
RESOURCES ON SMART CITIES / MINIMALLY VIABLE SMART CITY
Technical articles on revenue sharing from Google Scholar include:
?Books available on Amazon:
ASK CAP – SMART CITIES – MINIMALLY VIABLE SMART CITY
CAP is my AI avatar produced by Knowledge Avatars and trained by me on topics of funding and entrepreneurship. CAP is available on the Dakin Capital website where you may ask questions about funding without charge.
I asked CAP:
If a smart city is defined as a combination of a selected business that serves as an anchor tenant, the provision of all services ordinarily provided by a city, utilities, and necessary infrastructure, what would be the MVP for a smart city?
CAP responded:
To determine the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for a smart city, consider these key components:
1. Anchor Tenant: Identify and establish a partnership with a core business or industry that can attract complementary businesses and residents.
2. Connectivity Infrastructure: Implement robust high-speed internet and communication networks to support smart technologies.
3. Energy and Utilities Management: Include smart grids and renewable energy sources for efficient energy distribution and consumption.
4. Transportation Systems: Develop smart transportation solutions like real-time traffic management, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and shared mobility options. 5. Data and IoT Platforms: Establish a central platform for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data from IoT devices to enhance city operations and services.
6. Public Safety and Security: Install smart surveillance, emergency response systems, and cybersecurity measures to ensure safety.
7. Dashboard for City Management: Create a management dashboard that provides real-time data analytics for efficient decision-making and resource allocation.
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Each element should initially focus on scalability, adaptability, and integration with future solutions and expansions. ?
SUCCESSFUL FUNDING SHOW
TOMORROW, March 4, on my Successful Funding show, I will present my insights on closing the gap between investors and entrepreneurs – the actions and information that need to be communicated in support of an investment decision. 8 am Mountain Time, 10 am Eastern
?You may view the show live or listen to a recording afterward at this link:
LAST TUESDAY, I presented my Successful Funding show on the topic of investors. I explained and provided examples of the limitations on investors in terms of time, knowledge, and motivation that act to prevent an investment.
You may view the recording of the show at:
EDUCATION PROGRAM - NEXT WEBINAR IN ONE MONTH
Targeting High Probability Investor Candidates: Finding Your Funding Soulmate
The webinar of this education program will be presented three more times this year:
·?????? April 2, 9, 16, 23
·?????? July 2, 9, 16, 23
·?????? Oct 1, 8, 15, 22
The education program includes:
· Artificial Intelligence Avatar - Attendees will have one year of online access to a custom AI avatar on the topic of identifying investor candidates.
· Book - Attendees will receive a digital copy of a book on matching their businesses and funding needs with investor candidates who need the businesses to succeed to attain their own goals.
· Workshop - A half-day webinar will be presented on Zoom on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 11 am to 1 pm Eastern Time, 9 am to 1 pm Mountain Time by Karl Dakin.
· Consult -? Each attendee will receive one-half hour of consultation with Karl Dakin on their funding challenges.
Discover how to secure funding more effectively and efficiently. By targeting the right investor candidates, you can tailor your entire campaign, from offer to closing, to match these candidates - achieving greater success in less time and with reduced costs.
This avtor is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders, charities, service providers, and economic developers responsible for raising funding.
Readers of this Instant Funding newsletter qualify for the discounted price of $400 (marked down from $500). Go to Register. Select the Funding Fans ticket and use the discount code FundingFan2025.
GOT 15 MINUTES AND A QUESTION ON FUNDING - GIVE ME A CALL
I recognize that many readers of this Instant Funding newsletter have questions about funding that are not answered by the newsletter. I am available for a 15-minute phone/video call about your funding questions. This is to let you know there is no charge for this call. Just contact me to schedule a time at [email protected].
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Karl Dakin, the Capital Coach
Dakin Capital LLC
Capital Coach | Stakeholder Investor Campaigns | Design, Stage, and Manage or Support | Reduce Time, Money, and Risk of Raising Funding | Increase Probability of Success! | Opportunity Management
9 小时前What is an MVP smart city?