StartupCities

ThoughtStorms Wiki

Prospera was one. See some discussion and criticism on that page.

Read this Twitter thread and compare GeekCities :

https://twitter.com/gregisenberg/status/1396096666525110273

New bold experimental cities/communities will boom over the next 10 years

These new "startup anti-cities" will unlock so much potential

Stop and think about this:

The state of cities:

  1. Cities are becoming more unequal
  2. Cities are becoming unbearably expensive
  3. Cities have seen a surge of crime
  4. Many people feel foreign in their own city
  5. Many people post-COVID are craving new lifeexperiences
  6. Many people work remote

Bottom line:

New experimental cities are inevitable

The playbook for prosperous startup anti-cities:

  • Start with a compelling purpose
  • Green & sustainable
  • Focus on lifestage
  • Affordable
  • Inclusive
  • Web3 friendly
  • Verticalized
  • Start as a digital community and move to physical

The startup city MVP:

  • Create city manifesto
  • Design digital community
  • Acquire digital community residents
  • Acquire land
  • Establish laws
  • Build one building. Host events. Host people
  • Convert digital community to physical community
  • Build self-sustaining town

City experiments are worthwhile

It creates new options for people

Competition makes existing cities better

It allows us to push boundaries

Win-win-win.

Startup founders can make for successful startup city founders

  • Instead of attracting new customers. Attract new residents
  • Instead of FB as your competition. Compete against SF
  • Instead of designing an app. Design a community
  • Instead of securing your code. Secure your city

Why start your anti-city as a digital community?

  1. Validate. Build community/market fit before city launch
  2. Funding. Pre-sell residences, office space etc

TLDR; reduce risk by gauging demand before becoming a full-fledged pioneer Most cities have failed us

Rearrange cities. They are stuck in the past

They can’t keep up with how fast society is changing

Don’t get me wrong. I love many of our cities

I’ve lived in:

  • SF
  • NYC
  • LA
  • Sainte Agathe Des Monts, QC
  • Montreal
  • Miami

I love them all. I just think the more experimentation the better

It's like learning languages. The more you know the better

Unhappy with you city?

  • Help your city progress
  • Start a new one (vote with your feet)
  • Do both

See also :