Derq
Derq is an MIT spinoff that builds AI-powered intelligent transportation systems for cities and state DOTs, combining proprietary computer vision, sensor fusion, and predictive analytics to detect and predict road-user behavior in real time and deliver safety and traffic insights via its Derq SENSE, Derq INSIGHT, and Video Detection System platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Derq does
Derq is a private, venture-backed AI company — an MIT spinoff founded in 2016 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan — that builds real-time intelligent transportation systems for road-safety and traffic-management applications. The platform combines proprietary computer vision, machine learning, and sensor fusion across cameras, CCTV, and radar to detect, classify, and predict the behavior of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists in all weather and lighting conditions, and to generate V2X messages for connected-vehicle applications. The company's product line is anchored by Derq SENSE (real-time edge detection and V2X), Derq INSIGHT (cloud-based analytics, ATSPM, and safety intelligence, with the March 2026 INSIGHT 2026 release adding agentic AI capabilities), and the Derq Video Detection System (panoramic fisheye hardware launched September 2024). It is hardware-agnostic and integrates with existing traffic controllers, ATMS platforms, and legacy sensors, and is SOC 2 Type II compliant with a formal BABA/BAA compliance letter for U.S. federal contracting.
Derq monetizes primarily through multi-year software licenses and project-based ITS deployments sold to U.S. and Canadian city and state transportation agencies, with international GCC expansion. Pricing is quote-based and contract-driven (e.g., $2.5M for a 10-year City of Montréal software license across 100 intersections). Revenue streams include recurring software licensing, professional services for ITS deployments, hardware sales of the Video Detection System, and OEM embedding fees from integrations into AT&T's Intelligent Transportation Platform (announced June 2026) and Econolite/Umovity's Centracs Mobility ATMS. The company serves more than 40 agencies across the U.S., Canada, and the GCC, with technology deployed at approximately 400 intersections in 25 cities, including marquee deployments for NJDOT (95 sites around MetLife Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup), Caltrans District 12 (52 intersections in Orange County), the City of Montréal (100 intersections), Sarasota, Detroit (80+ locations), Las Vegas RTC, Charleston, and Gulf Shores.
The business is led by co-founders Dr. Georges Aoude (CEO) and Karl Jeanbart (COO), with co-founder Amer Abufadel now in a senior advisor role following the October 2025 appointment of Ty Beltramo (former GM OnStar Chief Architect, MapQuest CTO) as CTO. The company has raised strategic investments from AT&T Ventures and e& capital (announced October 28, 2024), was the only private business named a Tier 1 winner of the USDOT Intersection Safety Challenge Stage 1B ($750K prize, January 2025), holds 20 patents, and is recognized by the World Economic Forum and U.S. DOT's National Roadway Safety Strategy as an "Ally in Action." Distribution is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales, channel partners (Tacel in Canada, Modern Network Enterprises in Oman), and OEM/embedded integrations with AT&T and Econolite/Umovity.
Derq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Derq
- Legal name
- Derq, Inc.
- Website
- https://en.derq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Derq is an MIT spinoff that builds AI-powered intelligent transportation systems for cities and state DOTs, combining proprietary computer vision, sensor fusion, and predictive analytics to detect and predict road-user behavior in real time and deliver safety and traffic insights via its Derq SENSE, Derq INSIGHT, and Video Detection System platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Derq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intelligent Transportation Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790)
- akta.pro primary industry
- V2X Message & Data Exchange Platforms (SPaT/MAP, TIM, CAM/DENM Brokers) (TLAJAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams (TLAEAFAG), Autonomous Driving & ADAS Perception (HDAAAEAI), Toll Plaza / Lane Equipment & Field Systems (Gantry, Sensors, Cameras, AVC) (TLAJABAH), Transit, Traffic & Mobility Data Platforms (BPAMANAH)
Keywords
Where Derq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Derq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Multi-Year Software Licenses to Government/Municipal Agencies: Derq sells long-term software licenses to city and state transportation agencies. Example: the City of Montréal awarded a $2.5 million contract to Tacel (Derq's Canadian distribution partner) primarily covering software licenses over a 10-year period, with technology managed internally by the city's Urban Mobility Management Center (CGMU). The model is recurring, multi-year, and contract-based.
- ITS Project Deployment Revenue: Project-based revenue from large Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) upgrades such as the NJDOT 95-site deployment around MetLife Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including analytics platform deployment, integration, and monitoring services.
- Licensing & OEM Embedding: Derq's AI intelligence is being embedded/licensed into third-party platforms such as AT&T's Intelligent Transportation Platform (ITP) and Econolite/Umovity's Centracs Mobility ATMS, generating platform-licensing and integration revenue.
- Hardware Sales (Video Detection System): Derq launched a Video Detection System (VDS) in September 2024, which primarily uses panoramic fisheye cameras but can support other sensor types, representing hardware sales alongside software. NEMA TS2 compliant for North American applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Quote-based multi-year software licensing (example: $2.5M for 10-year software licenses to City of Montréal across 100 intersections) |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Derq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Derq sells an AI-powered intelligent transportation systems platform that combines proprietary computer vision, machine learning, and sensor-fusion software to detect, classify, track, and predict road-user behavior in real time across intersections. Its core products — Derq SENSE (edge detection and V2X messaging), Derq INSIGHT (real-time analytics, ATSPMs, hotspot mapping, and countermeasure recommendations), and the Derq Video Detection System (VDS) hardware-plus-software edge sensor — are sold primarily as multi-year software licenses and ITS deployment projects to state DOTs, city transportation agencies, and regional commissions in the U.S., Canada, and the GCC.
Product overview
Derq offers a unified AI-powered intelligent transportation systems platform built around three core product pillars that work together: Derq SENSE (real-time edge detection and V2X messaging), Derq INSIGHT (cloud-based real-time analytics, ATSPM, and safety intelligence — with the next-generation INSIGHT 2026 release adding agentic AI capabilities), and the Derq Video Detection System (VDS) hardware-plus-software edge sensor. The hardware-agnostic platform integrates with existing city infrastructure (video sensors, CCTV, radar, traffic controllers, V2X technologies) and is also deployed as the AI layer inside partner platforms such as AT&T's Intelligent Transportation Platform (ITP) and Econolite's Centracs Mobility ATMS. Derq SENSE handles the real-time detection at the edge, the VDS captures multimodal road user data from fisheye cameras, and Derq INSIGHT aggregates and analyzes that data into dashboards, ATSPMs, hotspot maps, near-miss analytics, and countermeasure recommendations delivered via flexible APIs to third-party systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Derq SENSE: Real-time AI-powered video detection platform that detects, classifies, and predicts road user behavior and generates V2X messages for connected vehicle applications.
- Derq INSIGHT
Products and services
- Derq INSIGHT Real-time analytics and Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM) platform that monitors road safety and traffic performance, identifies root causes of safety events, pinpoints hotspots and trends, and recommends actions to reduce congestion and prevent collisions. Sold primarily to state DOTs, city/municipal transportation agencies, and regional transportation commissions.
- Derq INSIGHT 2026 Next-generation release of Derq INSIGHT featuring agentic AI (interactive agents, recommendation engine), enhanced near-miss analysis with root-cause analysis, Automated Incident Detection (AID) for fire, wildlife, debris, and low-visibility conditions, expanded safety/traffic insights, live alerts, customizable workflows, flexible APIs, and a reimagined user experience. Sold to state DOTs, municipal transportation agencies, and regional commissions.
- Derq SENSE Real-time edge detection and V2X (vehicle-to-everything) solution that detects and alerts on road user trajectories, classifies road users in challenging conditions, predicts road user intent, and generates V2X messages to support next-gen traffic detection and connected vehicle applications. Sold to state DOTs, municipal agencies, and telecom/ITS platform partners.
- Derq Video Detection System (VDS) AI-powered video detection hardware-plus-software edge sensor for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Performs passive detection in all weather and visibility conditions at extended ranges. NEMA TS2 compliant; integrates with legacy or modern signal controllers via NTCIP, BIU/SIU, or hardwire inputs; can retrofit legacy video detection systems. Sold to state DOTs and city transportation agencies.
- Derq Intelligent Transportation Systems Platform Overall hardware-agnostic, scalable AI-powered platform that integrates with existing infrastructure — from video sensors to traffic signals — to detect, track, and predict road user behavior in real time. Combines proprietary computer vision, machine learning, and sensor fusion techniques; integrates with traffic controllers and V2X technologies; offers flexible reporting via dashboards or APIs to third-party systems. Award-winning, patented technology with 20 patents; SOC 2 Type II compliant; live across the U.S., Canada, and the GCC.
Quantifiable outcome
- 33% year-over-year crash reduction in Sarasota, Florida
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Derq
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Derq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability11 records
Feature8 records
Derq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — expanded from investment (late 2024) to commercial collaboration in june 2026, integrating derq's ai safety intelligence into at&t's intelligent transportation platform (itp) for cities and agencies., core — flagship canadian deployment: 100-intersection sasmi rollout, one of the largest north american ai traffic safety deployments to date., core — exclusive canadian distribution partner enabling nationwide its deployments., core — strategic channel partner enabling oman / gcc expansion aligned with oman vision 2040., minor — ecosystem membership in the qualcomm smart cities accelerator program., core — selected for the inaugural presight ai-startup accelerator (one of 10 winners from 120 applicants across 17 countries). provides access to g42 ecosystem, ai infrastructure, government/private-sector clients., core — major state dot customer and co-deployment partner for advanced intersection safety monitoring., flagship — first joint solution integrating derq insight safety scores into econolite's centracs mobility atms (part of umovity tech suite); ongoing poc at pinellas county, fl., minor — pilot program host for detroit corktown deployment (michigan avenue corridor). and minor — tier 1 co-winners of usdot intersection safety challenge stage 1b (each $750k)..
- AT&Tflagship — expanded from investment (late 2024) to commercial collaboration in june 2026, integrating derq's ai safety intelligence into at&t's intelligent transportation platform (itp) for cities and agencies.Derq and AT&T announced a commercial collaboration on June 9, 2026 to integrate Derq's AI-powered transportation safety intelligence into AT&T's Intelligent Transportation Platform (ITP) for cities and agencies. Under the agreement, Derq's real-time detection (collisions, wrong-way driving, close calls, road hazards, traffic patterns) feeds into AT&T's ITP to support traffic management centers, emergency response coordination, and connected-vehicle applications. The collaboration builds on AT&T Ventures' late-2024 strategic investment in Derq.
- City of Montréalcore — flagship canadian deployment: 100-intersection sasmi rollout, one of the largest north american ai traffic safety deployments to date.The City of Montréal deployed Derq INSIGHT across 100 intersections as part of its citywide Safety and Mobility Analysis System at Intersections (SASMI). $2.5M / 10-year software license contract facilitated via Tacel Ltd. Borough Mayor Alan DeSousa and City Councilor Alexandre Teodoresco quoted; Karl Jeanbart (Derq COO) and Yassine Benamghar (Tacel VP) cited.
- Tacel Ltd.core — exclusive canadian distribution partner enabling nationwide its deployments.Strategic distribution partnership announced September 10, 2025 (Montréal). Tacel Ltd., founded 1979, is Canada's leading provider of intelligent transportation systems with 46 years of expertise. Tacel distributes Derq's AI-powered ITS technology (next-gen traffic detection, real-time safety insights, traffic performance monitoring, V2X) to Canadian municipalities. Mediated the $2.5M / 10-year contract with the City of Montréal for Derq INSIGHT across 100 intersections (SASMI).
- Modern Network Enterprises (MNE)core — strategic channel partner enabling oman / gcc expansion aligned with oman vision 2040.Partnership announced September 9, 2025 (Muscat, Oman) during COMEX 2025. MNE is a subsidiary of Tadoom, established 2004, providing Smart City, traffic, and street lighting solutions in Oman. Together they will deploy AI-powered mobility technologies and build a framework for nationwide ITS deployment under Oman's Vision 2040. Tariq Alfarsi is CEO of MNE.
- Qualcommminor — ecosystem membership in the qualcomm smart cities accelerator program.Derq joined the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program (announcement date August 2025), connecting the company with Qualcomm's smart-cities ecosystem for go-to-market and technology alignment.
- Presight (G42 Group)core — selected for the inaugural presight ai-startup accelerator (one of 10 winners from 120 applicants across 17 countries). provides access to g42 ecosystem, ai infrastructure, government/private-sector clients.Derq was selected on June 26, 2025 as one of 10 winners of Presight's inaugural AI-Startup Accelerator, joining an immersive bootcamp in Abu Dhabi. Finalists collectively raised over USD $150M, backed by accelerators including Microsoft, Google, Alchemist, and Techstars. Program offers commercial proof-of-concepts, strategic partnerships, and market expansion across UAE smart-cities and transportation sectors.
- Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) District 12core — major state dot customer and co-deployment partner for advanced intersection safety monitoring.Jointly with Econolite, Derq deployed an advanced intersection safety system at Caltrans D12 in Orange County across 52 signalized intersections. Combines Econolite's Autoscope Vision detection with Derq's real-time AI insights, cooperative perception, and data fusion. Supports Caltrans' goal of eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes by 2050.
- Umovity / Econoliteflagship — first joint solution integrating derq insight safety scores into econolite's centracs mobility atms (part of umovity tech suite); ongoing poc at pinellas county, fl.Collaboration announced April 24, 2024 at ITS America Conference & Expo in Phoenix, AZ. By linking Derq's INSIGHT (automated safety performance monitoring) with Econolite's cloud-based Centracs Mobility ATMS, the combined solution provides traffic managers real-time safety scoring and intersection-level insights. First proof of concept is operating in Pinellas County, Florida.
- Michigan Central / Newlabminor — pilot program host for detroit corktown deployment (michigan avenue corridor).Derq is working with Michigan Central, Newlab, and the City of Detroit's Office of Mobility Innovation in a Mobility Studio pilot program. Local Corktown businesses (Lager House, McShane's, Mercury Burger Bar) serve as installation sites for the AI traffic analytics system along the Michigan Avenue Corridor.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Mobility Lab; University of Hawaii; University of Michiganminor — tier 1 co-winners of usdot intersection safety challenge stage 1b (each $750k).Derq was the only private business named a Tier 1 winner of the USDOT Intersection Safety Challenge Stage 1B (January 7, 2025), alongside UCLA Mobility Lab, University of Hawaii, and University of Michigan. The challenge focused on intersection safety systems leveraging AI/ML.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Derq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Waycare Technologies: Waycare applies AI and predictive analytics to traffic management centers and DOT operations for crash prediction and incident management, with deployments at state DOTs and transit agencies — directly competing in the AI traffic safety analytics category.
- Iteris: Iteris is a U.S.-based intelligent transportation systems and traffic analytics company serving state DOTs and municipalities with video detection, ATSPMs, and intersection safety analytics — directly overlapping Derq's product offering, customer base, and procurement channels.
- NoTraffic: NoTraffic provides AI-powered traffic management and V2X intersection solutions to municipalities and DOTs in North America, Europe, and Israel, using computer vision and sensor fusion on existing infrastructure — competing head-to-head with Derq SENSE and Derq INSIGHT.
Broad incumbents
- Kapsch TrafficCom: Kapsch TrafficCom is a global ITS incumbent providing tolling, traffic management, connected vehicle, and smart urban mobility solutions to government agencies — overlapping with Derq's intersection safety and V2X offerings as part of a broader portfolio.
- Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic provides large-scale transportation and traffic management platforms to transit agencies and DOTs, including next-generation traffic management — a broad incumbent operating in the same public-sector transportation procurement environment as Derq.
- SWARCO: SWARCO is a European-headquartered ITS and traffic management incumbent offering signal controllers, V2X, and traffic management software to cities and road operators worldwide — comparable to Derq in product category but operating at much broader geographic and portfolio scale.
- Econolite (Umovity): Econolite, part of Umovity, is the dominant North American provider of traffic controllers, ATMS software (Centracs), and video detection systems (Autoscope) — both a partner and a competitor to Derq as it embeds AI into its ATMS and could internalize similar capabilities.
- Siemens Mobility (Intelligent Traffic Systems): Siemens Mobility offers the Sitraffic suite of urban traffic management, adaptive signal control, and connected vehicle solutions globally — competing with Derq at large municipal and metropolitan procurements as part of a much broader mobility portfolio.
Others
- Mobileye: Mobileye is an ADAS and autonomous driving technology company that supplies perception and mapping data to municipalities and fleet operators for roadway intelligence — an adjacent connected-vehicle and computer vision player rather than a direct ITS competitor to Derq.
Emerging players
- Vivacity Labs: Vivacity Labs uses AI video analytics to optimize traffic signal operations, active mobility, and road safety for UK and European cities — overlapping with Derq's computer vision and signal timing optimization capabilities in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Derq social profiles
Digital presenceDerq compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Derq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Derq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Derq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Derq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Derq
What does Derq do?
Derq sells an AI-powered intelligent transportation systems platform that combines proprietary computer vision, machine learning, and sensor-fusion software to detect, classify, track, and predict road-user behavior in real time across intersections. Its core products — Derq SENSE (edge detection and V2X messaging), Derq INSIGHT (real-time analytics, ATSPMs, hotspot mapping, and countermeasure recommendations), and the Derq Video Detection System (VDS) hardware-plus-software edge sensor — are sold primarily as multi-year software licenses and ITS deployment projects to state DOTs, city transportation agencies, and regional commissions in the U.S., Canada, and the GCC.
Is Derq a public or private company?
Derq is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Derq founded?
Derq was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Derq based?
Derq is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does Derq make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Multi-Year Software Licenses to Government/Municipal Agencies are the primary driver. The others are ITS Project Deployment Revenue, licensing & OEM Embedding and hardware Sales (Video Detection System).
Who are Derq's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Waycare Technologies, Iteris and NoTraffic. Broad incumbents are Kapsch TrafficCom, Cubic Transportation Systems, SWARCO, Econolite (Umovity) and Siemens Mobility (Intelligent Traffic Systems). Mobileye is listed as an others. Vivacity Labs is listed as an emerging player.
Does Derq have an API?
Yes. Derq offers flexible APIs that allow third-party systems to consume the platform's safety and traffic insights. The system generates a wide array of safety and traffic insights in real time through the Derq Dashboard or flexible APIs, and triggers connected vehicle alerts and operator notifications. APIs support integration with third-party traffic controllers and connected vehicle systems. Specific protocol/auth details, public documentation portal, and rate limits are not specified.
What industry is Derq in?
Derq's product category is Intelligent Transportation Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJAHAF, V2X Message & Data Exchange Platforms (SPaT/MAP, TIM, CAM/DENM Brokers), with a secondary code of TLAEAFAG, Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3823.