Transurban : Ideas hatch after 90-day incubation

Last week six startup companies pitched their ideas for how to use innovative technologies to improve Transurban's Express Lanes network.

Each idea was developed and tested in the Innovation Lab - a 90-day incubation program hosted by 1776 at their Crystal City campus in Arlington, Virginia.

As part of the Innovation Lab, start-ups had access to Transurban's transportation experts and mentorship from 1776 on how to grow their companies.

Start-ups were selected to participate following successful applications to Transurban's Smart Highways Challenge, which sought solutions in three key areas:

• vehicle monitoring: products for monitoring roads, tolls, and vehicles
• smart transportation: products that utilise cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, or robotics in building vehicles, and
• road safety: products and tools that build more resilient vehicles, predict traffic and driver behaviour, and create a safer road environment.

'Transurban and 1776 launched this partnership to drive innovation and empower startups to introduce new ideas aimed at improving transportation networks for the traveling public and regional economies,' said Leigh Petschel, Vice President of Operations for Transurban. 'We thank each startup for their efforts and look forward to advancing programs to strengthen traffic management on Virginia roads.'

Following the presentations, judges from Transurban questioned the teams about their products and services and how the solutions could integrate into Transurban's roadway networks.

Transurban is evaluating the pitches and will announce the winning partnerships in early 2018.