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Radar · Smart Cities in San Francisco

Best Smart Cities Companies in San Francisco, United States

The 32 best Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Hayden AI.

32companies tracked
$450.4Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
16have raised

Ranked: Best Smart Cities companies in San Francisco

#CompanyDisclosed fundingLast roundEmployeesFounderTech stackPatents & IP focusRecent signals
1Hayden AI
Developer of AI-powered platform for traffic and parking violation enforcement
60Funding top 23%AI top 30%Moat top 37%Tech top 38%
All 11 signals ▾
Fundingtop 23%
AItop 30%
Moattop 37%
Techtop 38%
Growthtop 40%
Talenttop 45%
Innovationbottom 48%
Globalbottom 40%
Newsbottom 39%
Marketbottom 37%
Patentsbottom 35%
Funding: Raised $193M across 7 rounds · 7 rounds over 7 yrs (1.0/yr)
AI: Classified as an AI company · Product described with: ai-powered
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 60/100
$193M28 mo ago82
82 → 195 (+138%)
Vaibhav Ghadiok
Cofounder & CTO
SanitySentryApple iCloud Mail+186 patents
Enterprise compensation planning and performance scoring software for hierarchical workforce management
—
2Aclima
Provider of connected sensor networks for environment awareness
53Moat top 21%Innovation top 22%Patents top 22%Funding top 30%
All 10 signals ▾
Moattop 21%
Innovationtop 22%
Patentstop 22%
Fundingtop 30%
Talenttop 39%
Marketbottom 43%
Globalbottom 43%
Techbottom 38%
Growthbottom 30%
Newsbottom 18%
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 80 patents
Innovation: 80 patents (top 23% of patent-holders) · 44 filings since 2022 vs 22 in 2017-21
rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 53/100
$64M25 mo ago51Davida Herzl
Co-Founder & CEO
—80 patents
Real-time environmental monitoring and methane detection using multi-sensor data analytics
—
3StreetLight
Platform offering transportation data and analytics for government, business, consultants
$41M76 mo ago95
95 → 154 (+62%)
Laura Schewel
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
WordPressMySQLPHP+29——
4Fracta
Provider of a SaaS platform to assess water conditions for utilities
$37M101 mo ago29—Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespace+1533 patents
Predictive analytics and data imputation for water pipe infrastructure management
—
5Compology
Visual camera and software solution for waste dumpster monitoring
$35M87 mo ago31——19 patents
Smart waste monitoring: sensor-based fill level detection and container location analytics
—
6Remix
Transit planning and scheduling software for efficient transportation network management
$27M92 mo ago59—RubyRuby on RailsAmazon Web Services+7——
7Zenysis Technologies
Developer of an open-source data analytics platform for health systems
$22M52 mo ago16
16 → 31 (+94%)
—WordPress Block EditorWordPressMySQL+11——
8Populus
Connected mobility management platform for smart cities
$15M50 mo ago19
19 → 22 (+16%)
Regina Lee Clewlow
CEO & Founder
———
9GridMatrix
AI & SaaS enabled platform offering comprehensive traffic monitoring and analytics solution
$7M30 mo ago9——9 patents
Intelligent traffic safety analytics: image‑based detection, near‑miss identification, accident prediction
—
10Beep Networks
Sensors and wireless sensor networks
$4M143 mo ago—Daniel Conrad
Co-Founder & CEO
———
11WattIQ
Provider of asset management solutions
$3M118 mo ago16————
12Valor Water Analytics
Provider of smart water management solutions
$2M124 mo ago7Matthew Pine
CEO
———
13Fysical Labs
Provider of ACMI, charter, and cargo aircraft operations
$800K117 mo ago3Ben Smith
Co-Founder & CEO
———
14Roundabout Technologies
Provider of software solutions for traffic management
$500K28 mo ago—Sabeek Pradhan
Co-Founder & CTO
Tailwind CSSReactReact Router+7——
15Zensors
Manufacturer of AI and cloud-based sensor fusion systems for diversified applications
$125K62 mo ago20Chris Harrison
Co-Founder
———

Top 12 Smart Cities companies in San Francisco

#1
Series C · San Francisco, California · founded 2019 · 82 employees
$193Mraised
▾

Developer of AI-powered platform for traffic and parking violation enforcement. The platform uses vehicle-mounted hardware and vision AI to analyze urban environments. It detects parking and moving violations to improve transit performance. The technology aims to make streets safer and improve transit accessibility. The platform provides tools to enforce violations that disrupt mobility. It helps cities rebalance streets for transit riders.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 60how this company ranks against its industry peers
Funding
top 23%
AI
top 30%
Moat
top 37%
Tech
top 38%
Growth
top 40%
Talent
top 45%
Funding: Raised $193M across 7 rounds · 7 rounds over 7 yrs (1.0/yr) · Last round Series C (Jul 2024)
AI: Classified as an AI company · Product described with: ai-powered
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 7/10 · IP moat: 6 patents · 9 curated direct competitors tracked
Audience (LinkedIn): 12k LinkedIn followers — 2.5% of this cohort's audience
Hiring (LinkedIn): 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Senior State Estimation, Engineering Manager, State Estimation
Activity (LinkedIn): 1 awards announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Jul 2024Series C$95M
  • Feb 2024Grant (prize money)—
  • Oct 2023Series B$53M
  • Mar 2023Series A—
Founders & team
Vaibhav GhadiokCofounder & CTOMichael ByrneCo-founder & SVP of ProductChris CarsonCEO
Investors
BootstrapLabs, Autotech Ventures, Flavors.me, MVP Ventures, Transatlantic AI, Drawdown Fund
Tech stack
Apple Icloud MailGoogle AnalyticsGoogle WorkspaceHstsLenisMatomo Analytics
#2
Series B · San Francisco, California · founded 2010 · 51 employees
$64Mraised
▾

Operator of a purpose-driven technology company intended to catalyze bold climate action that protects public health reduces emissions, and delivers clean air for all. The company diagnoses the health of the air and tracks climate-changing pollution and is powered by its network of roving and stationary sensors, which measures air pollution and greenhouse gases at unprecedented scales and with block-level, hyperlocal resolution, and their professional analytics software, translates billions of scientific measurements into environmental intelligence for governments, companies, and communities, enabling governments, businesses, and communities to harness innovative environmental intelligence to raise awareness, manage climate-related risk and make smarter decisions in service of human and planetary health.

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 53how this company ranks against its industry peers
Moat
top 21%
Innovation
top 22%
Patents
top 22%
Funding
top 30%
Talent
top 39%
Market
bottom 43%
Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · IP moat: 80 patents · Soonicorn
Innovation: 80 patents (top 23% of patent-holders) · 44 filings since 2022 vs 22 in 2017-21
Patents: 80 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 44 filings since 2022 vs 22 in 2017-21 · Latest publication 2026
Founders & team
Davida HerzlCo-Founder & CEO
Investors
LEONID, Clearvison Ventures, Kapor Capital, Social Capital, Womens VC Fund II, KTB Network
Tech stack
Hubspot Cms HubHubspotLightboxJqueryGoogle AnalyticsCloudflare Bot Management
#3
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2021 · 9 employees
$6.5Mraised
▾

AI & SaaS enabled platform offering comprehensive traffic monitoring and analytics solution. The company offers video-based traffic analytics solutions that manage traffic congestion, etc. It uses various technologies like AI, big data, etc. It offers features like data visualization, real-time data analytics, etc.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 4k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Apr 2024Series A$3M
  • Jun 2022Seed$51.1K
  • Apr 2022Seed$3.5M
Investors
8VC, Cota Capital, Alumni Ventures, The Y Startup Index Fund, Team Ignite Ventures
#4
Seed · San Francisco, California · founded 2024
$500Kraised
▾

Provider of software solutions for traffic management. It provides users with a company that specializes on creating human-centric traffic intersections that leverage AI technology to enhance traffic flow. Their solutions aim to eliminate unnecessary waiting times, reduce emissions, and foster a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

Funding rounds
  • 2024Seed$500K
Founders & team
Sabeek PradhanCo-Founder & CTOCollin BarnwellCo-Founder & CEO
Investors
Y Combinator
Tech stack
CloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementGoogle AnalyticsGoogle WorkspaceHstsOpen Graph
#5
Series B · San Francisco, California · founded 2015 · 16 employees
$22.4Mraised
▾

Developer of an open-source data analytics platform for health systems. The platform integrates data from disparate information systems into a unified workspace. This data fusion unlocks insights, enabling decision-makers to transform health systems and programs. The platform offers features such as data integration, harmonization, flexible analysis and reporting, data quality improvement, and integrated data warehousing. It blends technology with an implementation model customized to specific needs, deploying specialists to provide data-driven support.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 4k LinkedIn followers
Hiring: 1 hiring post in 12 mo (public) · hiring: Technical Advisor, Software Engineer - Data Integrations
Activity: 2 partnerships (incl. National Institute of Public Health (INASA) and The Global Fund) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Jun 2022Series B$13.3M
  • 2018Series A$5.8M
  • 2016Seed$2.8M
  • 2015Seed—
Investors
500 Global, Steele Foundation for Hope, Omidyar Network, Y Combinator, 10x Group, NKM Capital
Tech stack
Apache Http ServerBootstrapD3Google WorkspaceGravity FormsJquery
#6
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2017 · 19 employees
$14.8Mraised
▾

Connected mobility management platform for smart cities It develops software featuring tools for analyzing mobility data and leveraging big data analytics. It also generates real-time insights for studying customer behavior.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 5k LinkedIn followers
Activity: 3 partnerships (incl. Santa Monica) announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Aug 2022Series A$11M
  • Mar 2019Seed$3.8M
Founders & team
Regina Lee ClewlowCEO & Founder
Investors
Zero Infinity Partners, Comcast Ventures, Climactic, Precursor Ventures, Relay Ventures, American Family Ventures
Tech stack
Cart FunctionalitySquarespace CommerceSquarespaceStimulusPriority HintsGoogle Font Api
#7
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2010 · 95 employees
$40.5Mraised
▾

Platform offering transportation data and analytics for government, business, consultants. It offers insights into transportation planning, traffic management, and climate impact. The company delivers data through self-serve software, APIs, and custom services. It helps clients make informed decisions related to infrastructure and mobility.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 16k LinkedIn followers — 3.3% of this cohort's audience
Activity: 1 product launches announced in 12 mo
Funding rounds
  • Jun 2020Series D$15M
  • Aug 2018Series C$10M
  • Aug 2017Series B$2.4M
  • Mar 2016Series B$7.6M
Founders & team
Laura SchewelFounder and Chief Executive Officer
Investors
Vision Ridge Partners, T.Capital, ENGIE New Ventures, Osage University Partners, Macquarie, Ajax Strategies
Tech stack
AutoptimizeAzureCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementDocusignGoogle Analytics
#8
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2012 · 31 employees
$34.7Mraised
▾

Compology provides visual camera and software solution for waste dumpster monitoring applications. The camera captures dumpster images multiple times to view the waste level & has an accelerometer which notifies when dumpster gets picked up. Claims that the camera has an onboard battery which offers 5+ years of battery life and uses LTE cellular network for data transmission. Provides a web-based software solution for waste collection data reporting & analysis, route planning, and dumpster inventory management. Also provides cameras for monitoring of logistics trailer.

Funding rounds
  • Jul 2019Series C$17.1M
  • Mar 2018Series B$9.1M
  • Mar 2016Series A$6.7M
  • Jul 2015Conventional Debt$1.1M
Investors
Winklevoss Capital, Lemnos, Kombo Ventures, August Capital, Kapor Capital, Silicon Badia
#9
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2014 · 59 employees
$27Mraised
▾

Transit planning and scheduling software for efficient transportation network management. The company offers a comprehensive platform designed to enhance transit networks with flexible shared mobility solutions. It provides tools for microtransit, paratransit, student transit, corporate shuttles, and health transportation, ensuring cost-effective and compliant services. The platform supports planning, on-demand service design, scheduling, and street design, enabling users to visualize service impacts and financial trade-offs in real-time. It facilitates collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and efficient communication of plans to riders. The software aims to unify networks and create interconnected, multi-modal transit systems, improving accessibility and efficiency for transit agencies. This is a SaaS platform that offers solutions for cities, transit authorities, operators, school districts, universities, corporations, and healthcare providers.

Funding rounds
  • Feb 2019Series B$15.1M
  • May 2017Series A$10M
  • Mar 2015Seed$120K
  • Seed$150K
Investors
Y Combinator, Energy Impact Partners, Sequoia Capital, 500 Global, Elemental, Escavel Capital
Tech stack
Amazon Web ServicesCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Tag ManagerGoogle Workspace
#10
Acquired · San Francisco, California · founded 2013 · 29 employees
$37Mraised
▾

Provider of a SaaS platform to assess water conditions for utilities. It uses artificial intelligence to assess the condition of drinking water of distribution mains. The solution measures parameters such as pipe ID, location, diameter, length, material, installation date, soil, climate, water bodies, structures, population density, and break history. On this basis, it calculates the Likelihood of Failure that represents the mathematical probability of pipe failure enabling utilities to make better pipe rehabilitation and replacement decisions.

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 4k LinkedIn followers
Funding rounds
  • Jun 2018Series A$15M
  • Oct 2017Series A$5M
Investors
Kurita, Polaris Partners, Imagine H2O
Tech stack
AngularCart FunctionalityCore-JsGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Font ApiGoogle Workspace
#11
Series A · San Francisco, California · founded 2013 · 16 employees
$3Mraised
▾

Provider of asset management solutions. The IoT solution helps to monitor utilization. It also includes asset sharing, procurement, maintenance, and condition monitoring.

Funding rounds
  • Dec 2016Series A$2.5M
  • May 2016Seed$281.1K
  • Mar 2015Conventional Debt$450K
  • Dec 2014Seed$75.1K
Investors
JAFCO Group, Keiretsu Capital, Elemental, Innovation Incubator, Keiretsu Forum, Ulupono Initiative
#12
Deadpooled · San Francisco, California · founded 2012
$4Mraised
▾

Sensors and wireless sensor networks

Founders & team
Daniel ConradCo-Founder & CEOShawn LewisCo-Founder & CTO
Investors
Y Combinator, Technicolor Ventures, Western Technology Investment, S2 Capital, Betaworks, Maiden Lane

Funding & investor landscape

$450.4Mtotal disclosed funding
16companies funded
46disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
Y Combinator6 rounds
500 Global4 rounds
Alumni Ventures3 rounds
Berkeley SkyDeck2 rounds
Elemental2 rounds
Imagine H2O2 rounds
Kapor Capital2 rounds
MOX2 rounds
Western Technology Investment2 rounds
001 Ventures1 rounds

Notable founders

Vaibhav Ghadiok
Cofounder & CTO · Hayden AI
Michael Byrne
Co-founder & SVP of Product · Hayden AI
Davida Herzl
Co-Founder & CEO · Aclima
Sabeek Pradhan
Co-Founder & CTO · Roundabout Technologies
Collin Barnwell
Co-Founder & CEO · Roundabout Technologies
Regina Lee Clewlow
CEO & Founder · Populus
Laura Schewel
Founder and Chief Executive Officer · StreetLight
Daniel Conrad
Co-Founder & CEO · Beep Networks
Shawn Lewis
Co-Founder & CTO · Beep Networks
Matthew Pine
CEO · Valor Water Analytics
Chris Harrison
Co-Founder · Zensors
Anuraag Jain
Founder · Zensors
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 11,510,303 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of Smart Cities coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

RESEARCH SIGNALS · United States

How research on Smart Cities is moving in the United States

A read on the academic research around Smart Cities — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 4,295 United States-affiliated papers.

research sentiment over time
200820172026
enthusiastic · positive · guarded tone
Tone is overwhelmingly optimistic and intensifying — the enthusiastic (strongly-positive) share moved 37% → 59% across 2008–2026.
top research entities
  • Purdue University West Lafayette101
  • Carnegie Mellon University79
  • Georgia Institute of Technology69
  • Northeastern University68
  • Virginia Tech66
leading researchers
Sherali Zeadally · Nader Mohamed · Jameela Al‐Jaroodi · Freederia AI Researcher · Houbing Song · Saraju P. Mohanty · Mashrur Chowdhury · Andreas A. Malikopoulos
▲ Breakthroughs1,488 · 35%
▲ 30%→37% share
▲1.2× share momentum2 median citations67% since 2021mostly methods-led
Breakthroughs are rising (30%→37% of field), led by Intelligent transportation system.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Intelligent transportation system46→270
  • Smart city37→169
  • Scalability10→102
  • Reinforcement learning2→82
  • Key (lock)3→79
Newly emergingReliability (semiconductor) 0→25 · Automation 0→22 · Adaptability 0→21
Landmark A Multiagent Approach to Autonomous Intersection Management · 1,299 cites
◆ Advancements1,531 · 36%
▼ 37%→35% share
▼0.9× share momentum3 median citations61% since 2021mostly methods-led
Advancements are cooling (37%→35% of field), led by Smart city.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Smart city29→230
  • Intelligent transportation system62→252
  • Key (lock)11→85
  • Internet of Things12→79
  • Traffic congestion9→74
Newly emergingUrban planning 0→36 · Leverage (statistics) 0→29 · Sustainable development 0→26
Landmark Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control in Real Traffic Situations · 1,100 cites
▼ Concerns822 · 19%
▼ 21%→18% share
▼0.9× share momentum2 median citations57% since 2021mostly position pieces
Concerns are cooling (21%→18% of field), led by Smart city.
rising sub-themes (early→recent)
  • Smart city50→211
  • Intelligent transportation system31→108
  • Internet of Things11→67
  • Computer security24→69
  • Context (archaeology)9→53
Newly emergingAdvanced driver assistance systems 0→12 · Standardization 0→12 · Citizen journalism 0→11
Landmark Understanding Smart Cities: An Integrative Framework · 2,492 cites
RESEARCH HOTSPOTS · United States

Where smart cities is researched across United States

Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.

Boston156 · +0.56
Hot · Convolutional neural networkAdvancing · Latency (audio)Opportunity · Reinforcement learningConcern · Urban planning
New York114 · +0.49
Hot · TestbedAdvancing · Transit (satellite)Opportunity · Computer securityConcern · Scope (computer science)
SF Bay Area108 · +0.46
Hot · Traffic flow (computer networking)Advancing · Traffic simulationOpportunity · Set (abstract data type)Concern · Sustainable development
Pittsburgh97 · +0.52
Hot · Dedicated short-range communicationsAdvancing · Flow networkOpportunity · Advanced Traffic Management SystemConcern · Software deployment
Atlanta74 · +0.40
Hot · VisualizationAdvancing · Internet of ThingsOpportunity · SummitConcern · Citizen journalism
Los Angeles56 · +0.36
Hot · Vehicular ad hoc networkAdvancing · Wireless ad hoc networkOpportunity · TourismConcern · Corporate governance
Philadelphia51 · +0.37
Hot · Computer securityAdvancing · Smart gridOpportunity · Leverage (statistics)Concern · Smart city
Seattle49 · +0.40
Hot · Corporate governanceAdvancing · Artificial neural networkOpportunity · AutomationConcern · Smart city
Ann Arbor43 · +0.61
Hot · SimulationAdvancing · Vehicle dynamicsOpportunity · Advanced driver assistance systemsConcern · Smart city
Chicago31 · +0.54
Hot · Urban computingAdvancing · Geospatial analysisOpportunity · Telecommunications
PATENT SIGNAL · United States

Who's filing smart cities patents in the United States

United States smart cities patent filing is accelerating — 206 filings from 114 assignees (2016–2025), led by Intel, Strong Force TP Portfolio 2022, ARGO AI; annual filings 5→16.

206 filings114 assigneespeak 37/yr2016–2025
filing momentum (YoY 2016–2025)
top patent filers
  • Intel38
  • Strong Force TP Portfolio 202223
  • ARGO AI23
  • Navio INT12
  • Qualcomm10
  • Cisco10
  • T Mobile USA8
  • Swift Rails7

Common questions

How many Smart Cities companies are there in San Francisco, United States?
Radar tracks 32 indexable Smart Cities companies headquartered in San Francisco, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States?
The Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States on this list have raised a combined $450.4M in disclosed equity funding across 16 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Smart Cities company in San Francisco, United States?
Hayden AI is the highest-funded Smart Cities company in San Francisco, United States, with $193M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States are funded?
16 of the 32 Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Smart Cities unicorns are there in San Francisco, United States?
None of the Smart Cities companies in San Francisco, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in San Francisco, United States Smart Cities companies?
The most active investors in San Francisco, United States Smart Cities companies on this list include Y Combinator, 500 Global, Alumni Ventures, Berkeley SkyDeck, Elemental.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

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