Beta Testing a City: Startups, Sidewalks & Robotics

{
  "id": "PP1162248",
  "track": "Cities & Climate",
  "focus_area": null,
  "category": "Panel",
  "event_id": "PP1162248",
  "event_type": "panel",
  "format": "Panel",
  "genre": null,
  "subgenre": null,
  "name": "Beta Testing a City: Startups, Sidewalks & Robotics",
  "presented_by": null,
  "publish_at": "2025-11-03T16:30:00.000-06:00",
  "reservable": true,
  "reservable_id": "PP1162248",
  "reserved": false,
  "date": "2026-03-14",
  "end_time": "2026-03-14T15:30:00.000-05:00",
  "start_time": "2026-03-14T14:30:00.000-05:00",
  "message": null,
  "image": null,
  "credentials": [
    {
      "name": "Platinum Badge",
      "type": "platinum"
    },
    {
      "name": "Innovation Badge",
      "type": "innovation"
    }
  ],
  "contributors": [
    {
      "id": 78727,
      "company": "South Downtown",
      "credential_types": [
        "innovation"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2239694,
      "name": "Lucas Roberts",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Director Architecture and Design",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Lucas Roberts",
        "credit": "Wendell Weithers",
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/wUbvkkTDqgni3DL_Up2Ai7ezlRk=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/0d594bc8-ae51-ca78-90c3-fef11ae61215/pcid-1623982"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Lucas Roberts is an architect-turned-developer leading transformative work in South Downtown Atlanta. With a background in architectural design and a passion for urban revitalization, Lucas bridges the gap between architecture and development to create inclusive, community-driven spaces. He frequently moderates conversations on project ideation, equity in development, and the future of cities, bringing a grounded, visionary perspective to urban innovation. Lucas brings a unique perspective on how cities evolve—grounded in history, driven by equity, and shaped by collaboration.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 78726,
      "company": "H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs",
      "credential_types": [
        "innovation"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2239693,
      "name": "Jay Bailey",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "President and CEO",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Jay Bailey",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/oBLvsjj7scnsFbxknb7TBIaJ9Y0=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/498b770d-8bdc-f513-5e42-828ae5baad13/pcid-1623981"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "James “Jay” Bailey is President & CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), the world’s largest hub dedicated to growing Black businesses. Under his leadership, RICE supports over 600 entrepreneurs, sustains 4,125 jobs, and has driven $557M in economic impact across Metro Atlanta. An Atlanta native and three-time TED speaker, Jay has been honored by three U.S. Presidents and recognized as one of Georgia’s most influential leaders. He’s a passionate advocate for equity, innovation, and community empowerment.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 78718,
      "company": "Gensler",
      "credential_types": [
        "innovation"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2239685,
      "name": "Erin Greer",
      "speaker_types": [],
      "title": "Principal",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Erin Greer",
        "credit": "Wendell Weithers",
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/t-hyb7-UJfue6Z6Jk2kooTWCs38=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/629bfcb8-e0d7-792f-5d61-5be45684b958/pcid-1622388"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Erin Greer is a Principal at Gensler and a strategist shaping the future of work through design, technology, and purpose-driven innovation. With over two decades of experience, she’s led transformative projects for global brands like Microsoft, NCR, and Inspire Brands. Erin’s work reimagines how spaces can unlock human potential, fuel creativity, and drive inclusive growth—whether for startups or cities. She believes design is a catalyst for change and a tool for amplifying impact.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    }
  ],
  "venue": {
    "accessible": false,
    "age_policy": null,
    "floor": "2",
    "id": "V0407",
    "indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
    "name": "Room 203-204",
    "parent_id": "V0403",
    "parent_venue_name": "JW Marriott",
    "venue_entry_info": null,
    "formats": null,
    "location": {
      "address": "110 E 2nd St.",
      "lat_lon": [
        30.2645713,
        -97.743198
      ],
      "city": "Austin",
      "postal_code": "78701",
      "state": "TX",
      "name": "JW Marriott"
    },
    "root": {
      "accessible": null,
      "age_policy": null,
      "floor": null,
      "id": "V0403",
      "indoor_outdoor": null,
      "name": "JW Marriott",
      "parent_id": null,
      "parent_venue_name": null,
      "venue_entry_info": null,
      "formats": null
    },
    "events": "[omitted 5 venue events]"
  },
  "description": "What if a city could be beta tested like an app? In South Downtown Atlanta, tech entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders are transforming 16 acres of historic real estate into a living lab for innovation, equity, and urban reinvention. This panel brings together the visionaries behind the movement to explore how startups, real estate, and even robot dogs are converging to reimagine what cities—and civic life—can look like in the 21st century.",
  "experience_level": "Intermediate",
  "accessibility": [],
  "accessible_venue": false,
  "add_bcl_url": false,
  "add_slido": false,
  "age_policy": null,
  "american_sign_language": false,
  "apple_url": null,
  "audio_description": false,
  "caption_url": null,
  "closed_captioned": false,
  "cpe_credit": false,
  "has_subtitles": false,
  "hash_tags": [],
  "high_sensory_experience": false,
  "live": false,
  "long_description": "What if a city could be beta tested like an app? In South Downtown Atlanta, tech entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders are transforming 16 acres of historic real estate into a living lab for innovation, equity, and urban reinvention. This panel brings together the visionaries behind the movement to explore how startups, real estate, and even robot dogs are converging to reimagine what cities—and civic life—can look like in the 21st century.",
  "meeting_url": null,
  "meeting_url_live": false,
  "mentorly_url": null,
  "mobile_audio_url": null,
  "open_captioned": false,
  "playlist_tag": null,
  "rebroadcast": false,
  "recommended_ids": [],
  "search_conversions": null,
  "short_program": false,
  "slido_url": null,
  "sort": "BETA TESTING A CITY: STARTUPS, SIDEWALKS & ROBOTICS",
  "source": "Official",
  "squad_up_url": null,
  "stream_embed": null,
  "stream_id": null,
  "stream_url": null,
  "strobe_warning": false,
  "subdiscipline": null,
  "summit": null,
  "summit_display_name": null,
  "tags": [],
  "talent_attending": null,
  "title_only": false,
  "track_display_name": "Cities & Climate",
  "trailer_id": null,
  "trailer_url": null,
  "video_on_demand": null,
  "vimeo_id": null,
  "vod": false,
  "xr_project_type": null,
  "youtube_id": null,
  "related_sales_client": null
}