Failure Analysis
MyCity's strategic failure stemmed from its inability to align product offerings with genuine market needs. Local governments, operating under restrictive budgets and layered bureaucracy,...
MyCity \USA
MyCity was developed as a civic engagement platform targeting city governments with the aim of bridging the communication gap between local authorities and their residents. It promised to streamline government-resident interactions through a dedicated tool, easing the burden of civic duties like reporting issues or attending town hall discussions. However, the company faced significant challenges in gaining traction due to limited market demand and the inherent bureaucratic nature of its primary customers—local governments already dealing with budget constraints and slow adoption of novel technologies.
Discover the reason behind the shutdown and the market before & today
Market Analysis
The civic engagement platform ecosystem has seen steady growth, but not without its hurdles. Entrepreneurs aiming for this market now gravitate towards AI-driven tools...
Startup Learnings
Use customizable platforms like Supabase to handle varying data structure needs efficiently. Deploy user interfaces quickly and manageably with Vercel’s deployment solution. Streamline communication...
Market Potential
The total addressable market for civic engagement platforms remains limited, mainly hindered by governments' traditional preferences for stability and predictability over innovation. While digital...
Difficulty
Building platforms for government sectors traditionally involves complex customizations to meet specific regulatory and operational requirements. Historically, this required heavy investment in custom software...
Scalability
MyCity struggled with scalability primarily due to its customer base of government entities, which often operate on tightly controlled budgets and require long acquisition...
Rebuild & monetization strategy: Resurrect the company
Execution Plan
Phase 2
Develop a prototype utilizing Anthropic models for initial communication workflows.
Phase 3
Deploy the prototype to a small city's government to gather initial feedback and adaptivity.
Phase 4
Iterate based on feedback, incorporating localized language nuances and data-driven reporting features.
Monetization Strategy
The platform would operate on a subscription-based model tailored to the size and specific requirements of each government entity. Additional revenue could stem from consultancy fees for custom integrations and from providing data analytics reports to help cities optimize their responses and resource allocations. Offering a tiered support plan, where agencies can pay for direct access to ongoing personalized analytics and tech support, could further enhance revenue streams.
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