Californian-based SaaS startup Automotus has just completed a $9 million seed funding round to automate curb space management in the United States.
Many American cities have to deal with challenges in managing their curb space due to the change in the mobility landscape. In the past, curbs were only used for public parking, buses, taxis and deliveries. Now ride-hail services, dockless vehicles, bike lanes and many other things also take over the space.
With Automotus, cities can automate payments for parking and unloading and manage drop zones and identify violations more efficiently.
CEO Jordan Justus explained that Automotus could also help encourage people to switch to electric vehicles by allowing cities to offer discounted parking rates.
“We also integrate with other mobility services providers to help cities get a more comprehensive view of how the public right of way is being used and by which modes for planning, policy and pricing efforts,” Justus added.
Automotus installs its tech on existing infrastructure, such as cameras on traffic and street lights, to monitor curbs. To protect the privacy of street users, the company blurs faces and de-identifies data.
The startup believes its tech can help reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by 10 percent and hazards linked to double parking by 64 percent. It can also increase parking turnover rates by 26 percent and parking revenue by more than 500 percent.
The seed funding round started in March 2021, with the startup raising $1.2 million. Recently, Automotus successfully added $7.8 million to its initial fund. CityRock Venture Partners, Quake Capital and Bridge Investments were among the household investors participating in the fundraising.
Justus said Automotus would use most of the funds to expand into more cities in 2023 and scale up previous pilot projects. The startup currently serves several cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Omaha.
