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WHY THIS MATTERS

New York City is home to 6,000 miles of streets, 13,000+ signalized intersections, and the nation’s largest automated-enforcement program. Yet many critical assets—such as speed-limit signs and streetlights—are still inspected or monitored manually and intermittently, leading to lags in repair times. Responsible, real-time AI can close those data gaps, modernize maintenance workflows, and help NYC become safer and smarter.

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OUR THESIS

NYC DOT and Newlab share a vision of responsible AI deployment at the street level - delivering measurable public-safety and operational benefits while upholding transparency, privacy, and equity. We believe the fastest path to impact is to co-design rigorous pilots with leading startups, embed them in real city operations, and prove a clear line of sight to scaled deployment.

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OPPORTUNITY SPACES

PILOT TRACK 1 – Speed Limit Sign Monitoring

Speed-limit signs are critical for NYC’s traffic safety and enforcement infrastructure. Missing, vandalized, or obscured signs can lead to inconsistent enforcement and undermine the effectiveness of the program. Today, DOT relies on a small team conducting manual monthly inspections—an approach that’s slow, reactive, and resource-intensive.

What we’re looking for: AI and sensing solutions that can detect, locate, and assess the condition and visibility of speed-limit signs at scale. Example technology may include, but is not limited to:

- Vehicle-mounted cameras + computer vision

- LiDAR or 3D mapping for placement verification

- AI infrastructure mapping platforms

- GIS-integrated dashboards with asset alerts

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PILOT TRACK 2 – Streetlight Outage Detection

NYC’s 400,000 streetlights are vital for nighttime visibility and pedestrian safety—but the agency currently depends almost entirely on 311 complaints to identify broken streetlights in need of repair. Without proactive monitoring, outages can persist for days or weeks, creating safety and service equity concerns.

What we’re looking for: Technologies that can identify and localize non-functioning streetlights in real time or at a regular frequency (e.g. weekly, monthly, or quarterly), without relying on public reports. Example technology may include, but is not limited to:

- Thermal or low-light cameras mounted on fleets

- AI classifiers trained to flag dark poles

- Streetlight telemetry integration

- Advanced satellite imagery

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PILOT TRACK 3 – Construction Permit Compliance 

DOT issues over 200,000 permits annually that allow construction companies to occupy part of a street or sidewalk, but lacks a scalable way to verify when and how these spaces are actually being used. Violations—such as occupying more space than permitted, working outside approved hours, or setting up early—often go undetected, leading to inefficiencies, safety risks, and diminished public trust.

What we’re looking for: Solutions that detect, analyze, and categorize construction staging or activity on streets and sidewalks in real-time or at a regular frequency (e.g. weekly, monthly, or quarterly). A capability to match these findings with DOT permit records is a plus, but not required. Example technology may include, but is not limited to:

- Dashcams or vehicle-mounted cameras for mobile monitoring

- AI models that detect signs of construction (e.g., barriers, sidewalk sheds, workers, equipment)

- Remote imaging tools (e.g., fixed cameras, satellite. or aerial data)

- Systems that match time- and location-stamped images with permit records to flag inconsistencies

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PILOT TRACK 4 – Open Category: AI for Transportation Safety & Operations

AI technology is developing at an accelerated pace with new use cases being tested every day. NYC DOT is open to all transformative AI-enabled concepts that support their broader goals around safety, sustainability, and/or smarter street operations.

What we’re looking for: Any promising solution that applies AI, sensing, or geospatial data to improve NYC DOT operations at the street level and that can be tested through a short-term pilot. Focus areas may include, but are not limited to:

- Assessment and predictive maintenance for street assets

- Street safety analysis or near-miss incident reporting

- Bike lane network usage 

- Camera enforcement evasion, including use of so-called ghost plates

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NOTE: Submissions must be relevant to NYC DOT operations. Proposals outside the jurisdiction of NYC DOT as it relates to transportation, urban infrastructure, or public safety will not be considered.

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Further information on each pilot track and potential available pilot resources is available in the Pilot Opportunity Overview Deck.

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WHO SHOULD APPLY

We welcome startup companies at any stage that:

- Operate in AI, computer vision, sensing, geospatial analytics, or related fields

- Have a working prototype or commercial product ready for pilot deployment within 3 months

- Are eager to co-develop with NYC DOT, meet NYC cyber- and data-security standards, and share insights publicly

- Value responsible AI principles (fairness, transparency, privacy, explainability)

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Solutions from adjacent industries with transferable technology are encouraged to apply.

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NEWLAB SUPPORT

Investment:

Non-dilutive grant funding to offset pilot costs. A stipend will be provided to help cover costs associated with pilot deployment. Participating teams should also expect to contribute in-kind resources toward implementation.

Exposure:

Showcase opportunities with NYC DOT leadership, investors, and media.

Pilot Design Support:

Structured workshops to refine your pilot’s scope, success metrics, and regulatory pathway; hands-on guidance from the Newlab team.

Agency Integration:

Direct access to DOT operational experts, data systems, and curb- or fleet-based testbeds; facilitation of permits and safety reviews, as applicable.

Community & Infrastructure:

24/7 access to Newlab’s Brooklyn Navy Yard HQ - 84k sq ft of workspace, prototyping resources, and a peer network of 300+ frontier-technology companies.

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KEY DATES

- Open Call Launch: July 23, 2025

- Application Deadline: August 15, 2025

- Startup Selection: September 2025

- Pilot Design & Contracting: September 2025

- Pilot Deployment Window: October 2025 – January 2026 (4 months)

- Public Showcase: February 2026

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ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Newlab is a venture platform for critical technology startups transforming core industrial sectors. We help startups commercialize faster by aligning Infrastructure, Projects, and Capital in strategic geographies. Newlab operates five locations across Brooklyn, Detroit, New Orleans, Montevideo, and Riyadh, and works with over 50 industry and government partners around the world. Newlab has supported over 400 startup companies in raising over $5.8 billion in venture capital, achieving $2.3 billion in exits, and reaching a collective valuation of over $20 billion. 

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The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, equitable, and sustainable movement of people and goods and create public spaces that strengthen our communities. The agency's vision is a transportation system that provides equitable mobility for all residents and visitors, is environmentally sustainable and built to adapt to the threat of climate change, and is driven by human power and clean energy.

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READY TO PILOT AI ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK?

Click Apply Now to submit your application. Questions? Email nycdotopencall@newlab.com.

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