A Boston-Israel-based startup that helps government engage with community members has received $10 million in early stage venture capital.
Boaz Amiti, Tal Ventures, Iron Nation, Unicorn Technologies, Ariel Maislos, and Yuval Bar Gil participated in the round.
The startup, called “With,” helps local government agencies better understand how engaged their communities are with local events. The startup also puts events in a centralized calendar, enabling community members to engage more easily with free activities.
With the $10 million seed round, With can expand its platform and reach across North America. The platform is already available in 10 cities, including Scottsdale, Arizona; Carlsbad, California; and Sugar Land, Texas. The company declined to say what states and cities it is looking to move into next.
With is also looking to invest in AI capabilities for its platform, which will enhance the search and suggestion function for users. Its AI capabilities are meant to help suggest events based on resident demand and interest, which helps municipal leaders gauge initiative impacts.
"We help cities, with less effort and investment, reach more residents until they can reach the last resident. From the resident's point of view, we help them feel like the city sees them as they are and give them a personalized experience," said Adi Perry, CEO and co-founder of With.
According to Perry, cities and counties only reach 15% of their community members, despite the millions of dollars spent on community engagement each year.
With's focus is on helping local leaders better understand their constituents' preferences and increase participation in community events through a centralized calendar of events.
City organizers can also use With to send personalized text messages and reminders to increase attendance at local events.
“At With, our mission is to empower city and county leaders globally to build resilient, thriving communities that foster deep, meaningful connections among residents,” Perry said in a release.
