Hey transportation startups, here’s a new way to hit the accelerator

1776 and Transurban North America are seeking startups looking to revolutionize American road systems.

The two orgs opened applications this week for the Smart Highways Challenge: Smarter, Safer, and More Efficient. It’s an open call for startups solving problems in the following three areas:

• Vehicle Monitoring: innovative products for monitoring roads, tolls, and vehicles
• Smart Transportation: products that utilize cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, or robotics in building vehicles
• Road Safety: products and tools that build more resilient vehicles, predict traffic and driver behavior, and create overall safer road environment.

1776 teamed up w/ @TransurbanGroup for the Smart Highways Startup Challenge! Sign up to be the 1st to apply: https://t.co/7ZvQUxGzIM pic.twitter.com/Y4H7k4RiQ0

— 1776 DC (@1776dc) June 20, 2017

If selected as one of the six winners, Transurban and 1776 will award startups with a $25,000 cash prize, acceptance into the Transurban Innovation Lab, and travel and housing expenses to cover the costs of relocating to Northern Virginia for three months starting in early fall.

From August to October, 1776 will host the Transurban Innovation Lab at their Crystal City campus. The program will provide the space and resources for startups to further test and develop their products, in addition to providing mentors to help companies grow their businesses.

This challenge isn’t one to sit on. Applications will close July 11, and winners are set to be announced later that month. For more information on the challenge and application process, click the button below.