This past week we took a short detour south of Brooklyn to sunny and beautiful Mexico City.
Â
We were invited among 6 finalists to the FIA Smart Cities Global Start-Up Contest.
Â
Chosen from 108 applicants from around the world, we were in great company with startups like CityFlag and Urbvan creating networked solutions for a more equitable future of our cities
Â
Poray bikes, one of the largest bike-rentals in Mexico City had loaned us a bike as a prop for our presentation. And it turned out to be a great moment and a testament to CLIPâs design when our Alpha prototype fit the rental bike easily and without a fuss.
Â
The impressive panel, comprised of leading global actors in the smart cities & clean urban-mobility space; most notably Felipe CalderĂłn | President of Mexico 2006â2012. Credited for the creation of 16 Protected Natural Areas in Mexico, among the present 182.
Â
Suffice to say it was an honor and absolute pleasure to converse with a leader of this beautiful country who was gracious enough to compliment us by saying he could see himself using CLIP.
On Feb 16, we had a wonderful opportunity to talk to and interact with some of the local residents of Mexico city. CLIPâs mission resonated clearly -The average person here spends 3 hours a day commuting, thatâs almost 2 months a year stuck in traffic!
Â
We feel rejuvenated from the incredible show of love and support from everyone who visited our stand and spoke with us.
Â
Gracias & Hasta luego Mexico! We canât wait to bring CLIP to you soon.
Thanks to the FIA and Mobility For All for the tickets, we got to witness the unbelievably close Formula-E race with LucadiGrassi clinching the win a mere half a car length at the finish line. đ±Â (highly recommend watching the finish captured in the video below)
Â
Â
Last but not least, we spent our last day in the city at the Palacio Nacional admiring and trying to decode Diego Riveraâs brilliantly stunning and controversial mural. Packed with secret tongue-in-cheek symbols â like this childâs toy subtly hinting the Mayas independent knowledge of the wheel around the same time as the Mesopotamians.
Touché !