We speak with Yang Lu CTO and co-founder of Vivacity Labs. Vivacity Labs developed an intelligent camera system that gives real-time insight into traffic and commuter behaviour. This is designed to help transport networks predict, adapt, respond and prevent congestion even before it happens. It is the first camera to accurately identify cyclists among other traffic. It also has potential applications in everything from real-time traffic counting to crowd management and security.
Who are you?
I am Yang Lu, CTO and co-founder of Vivacity Labs. We are working to revolutionise urban mobility by bringing cutting-edge AI to road infrastructure. At Vivacity Labs, we are combining our AI powered sensor and optimisation technologies to enable traffic lights to respond to an ever-changing road environment and for all types of road-user.
What inspired you to create with Vivacity Labs?
The founders of Vivacity Labs met while we were working on a student project to build a solar powered racing car. Following this experience, we were interested in starting a company in the mobility and transport space. It was clear to us that despite great technical innovations around electric and autonomous vehicles, the transport infrastructure that underpins our roads was still built on technology from the 1980's. We started Vivacity Labs with a vision to bring the AI revolution to transport infrastructure.
What is the hardest thing about working at Vivacity Labs?
One of our biggest challenges is operating as a startup selling new technology to local authorities and government. It has taken a long time for us to build up the trust and reputation to give authorities the confidence that we can deliver on our claims and provide them with a valuable service.
What’s the biggest thing your company has achieved so far?
Our biggest achievement is to have started controlling traffic in the real-world. Through our partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, we are expanding our system over the next year to control traffic across 25% of the central Manchester area.
What does the future hold?
We are looking forward to demonstrating and maturing our traffic control technology in a variety of cities around the UK. At the same time, we are building up partnerships and collaborations internationally to start deploying our technology overseas. We aim to establish ourselves as a global leader in traffic optimisation and help the UK develop into a centre of excellence for AI and Intelligent Mobility.
What advice you would give to future entrepreneurs?
If you want to create a startup, building the team is just as important as building the idea. Make sure to have a diverse range of skills and experience in the people working around you.
What impact has the Enterprise Fellowships Programme had on your business?
Through the Enterprise Fellowship Programme, I have been able to access valuable courses and advice to help improve the skills needed to run a business, learning from industry experts and other entrepreneurs. The Enterprise Hub has connected us with investors and helped to generate brand awareness of Vivacity Labs.
What advice would you give to potential applicants?
The Enterprise Fellowship programme is a fantastic opportunity, providing valuable help to an early stage business with no strings attached. Make sure your idea is clear and simple to understand. Be able to explain what problem you are trying to solve and why that problem needs solving.
And finally, if you received an infinite sum of cash, what’s the first thing you would do for your business?
Buy an amazing coffee machine with unlimited free coffee for all our developers!
The Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub supports the UK’s brightest technology and engineering entrepreneurs to realise their potential.
We run four programmes for entrepreneurial engineers at different career stages. Each one offers equity-free funding, an extended programme of mentorship and coaching, and a lifetime of support through connection to an exceptional community of engineers and innovators.
The Enterprise Hub focuses on supporting individuals and fostering their potential in the long term, taking nothing in return. This sets us apart from the usual ‘accelerator’ model. The Enterprise Hub’s programmes last between 6 and 12 months, and all programmes give entrepreneurs lifelong access to an unrivalled community of mentors and alumni.
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The Enterprise Hub was formally launched in April 2013. Since then, we have supported over 300 researchers, recent graduates and SME leaders to start up and scale up businesses that can give practical application to their inventions. We’ve awarded over £11 million in grant funding, and our Hub Members have gone on to raise over £1.2 billion in additional funding.