Keystone Edge is profiling contestants in the upcoming Ben Franklin Venture Idol competition (Nov. 20 at Ben Franklin TechVentures). After earning their way through the afternoon selection process, entrepreneurs pitch their startups to investors and attendees. Ben Franklin will invest $15,000 based on the “crowd-funded” audience vote.
For strapped local governments, compliance with everything from stormwater management regulations to inventorying traffic signals can be a big job.
“With revenues declining and infrastructure aging, municipalities need to maximize the value from their existing assets,” says Christian Birch, founder of Bethlehem's Map Decisions. “And even though budgets are getting tighter, demands for high quality service and accountability increase every day. In recent years, local governments face growing regulatory compliance demands that present an increased risk of fines and tort liability claims. Municipalities need to ensure that infrastructure assets are available, safe, reliable and performing to design standards.”
Map Decisions streamlines the process of mapping, managing and analyzing infrastructure assets. Its Mobile Enterprise Asset Management System, launched earlier this year, is a secure, cloud-based mobile platform that combines the benefits of geographic information systems (GIS), mobile work orders and computerized maintenance management systems. Aimed at governments, utilities, and the energy, transportation and construction industries, Map Decisions’ products are affordable, easy-to-use, can be set-up quickly and require no long-term commitment, says Birch.
“These services are an attractive option for customers that do not have the staff required to conduct the collection of data for their initial asset inventory,” he explains. “For example, our Traffic Sign Management module helps municipalities comply with a federal mandate that requires them to map and capture 30 different attributes for each road sign that is located within their municipality. Our product dramatically reduces the time required to capture and manage asset data versus paper-based processes. If our customers don't have the staff to complete their initial inventories, Map Decisions will conduct [them]. Once completed, Map Decisions will provide them with their complete data and the free use of our software for a year.”
Looking ahead, the company will focus on sales and marketing; it is on target to hit revenue projections for this year and projects quadrupled revenue next year. Map Decisions doubled its staff from two to four in the past three months, and anticipates creating four additional jobs in the next 12 months.
Source: Christian Birch, Map Decisions
Writer: Elise Vider