Public Innovation

What Public Innovation does

Public Innovation is a place-based, impact-focused civic incubator founded in 2012 in Sacramento, California, by Ash Roughani (Founder + Product Manager) and Thomas Hopkins (Co-Founder + Lead Technologist). The organization builds civic technology, delivers citizen-experience design and consulting services, and incubates social entrepreneurs through workspace, mentorship, and seed risk capital. Its core platform is CivicExchange (my.publicinnovation.org), a secure, authenticated engagement portal that connects public servants, social impact leaders, aspiring changemakers, technical and creative professionals, engaged citizens, and funders around shared civic projects. Complementary programs include CivicMeet Sacramento (monthly meetups), Code for Sacramento (a Code for America Brigade co-launched with Hacker Lab), the Public Innovation Labs incubator, an Impact Incubator, and storytelling/video services that document civic problem-solving.

The underlying technology stack centers on web and mobile application development, user-experience consulting (visual design, interaction design, information architecture, usability testing, user research), crowdsourcing tools including SMS voting and ideation platforms, and custom APIs that integrate back-office systems. CivicExchange is built using an agile, build-measure-learn cycle and serves both as a collaboration environment and as an organizing mechanism for in-person events. The organization distributes services through direct service agreements with public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses; through reseller/referral partnerships with peer civic startups; and through self-serve access to CivicExchange.

The business model combines fee-for-service consulting (targeting 85% earned income by 2018), corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, individual and corporate donations (some routed through an internal Social Innovation Fund), and channel revenue from resold partner products. Public Innovation was bootstrapped for its first 17 months with no external funding and subsequently sought $250,000 in seed capital that does not appear to have closed. The organization has filed for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operated under a fiscal sponsor taking 10% of revenues during the transition. In February 2014 the company publicly acknowledged that its initial business model was not scalable and rebranded as Delivery Unit (deliveryunit.co) while continuing the Public Innovation mission.

Name

Public Innovation

Legal name

Public Innovation

Website

https://publicinnovation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public Innovation is a Sacramento-based nonprofit civic incubator founded in 2012, operating CivicExchange platform and programs such as Code for Sacramento and CivicMeet to deliver civic technology, citizen-experience design, and social-entrepreneurship incubation services to public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses in the Sacramento region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Technology Consulting and Social Entrepreneurship Incubation

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Civic technology consulting
• Social entrepreneurship incubation
• Citizen experience design
• Public sector innovation
• Community engagement platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service: Primary earned income source comprising civic technology development, citizen experience design, social innovation/entrepreneurship incubation, organizational development consulting, and storytelling/video production services delivered to public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses.
2. Channel Partnerships: Reseller and referral partnerships with other civic startups to market and sell their products and services. Revenue share from reseller arrangements (larger percentage) and referral arrangements (smaller percentage).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Marketing sponsorship opportunities offered to private sector companies aligned with Public Innovation's mission, helping offset costs of specific projects and events.
4. Foundation Grants: Philanthropic funding from foundations interested in the hybrid model combining place-based project incubation with civic technology. Targeted for specific programs and projects.
5. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations committed to corporate social responsibility and regional impact. Initially directed to seed capital fund, later to Social Innovation Fund for project funding.
6. Seed Capital: Initial investment of $250,000 sought to fund Phase One operations (January 2014 - December 2015). Expected to come from board members or foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Public Innovation is a place-based civic incubator that designs, builds, and tests improvements to the citizen experience and back-office processes for public agencies, nonprofits, and social enterprises. Its core offerings include custom civic technology development (web and mobile applications, APIs, crowdsourcing tools), citizen experience design and UX consulting, social entrepreneurship incubation through the Impact Incubator, intrapreneurship development for civic leaders, and storytelling/video production. The CivicExchange platform serves as the digital connective tissue linking participants, programs, and projects across the Sacramento civic innovation ecosystem.

Product overview

Public Innovation operates as a place-based civic incubator offering a suite of interconnected programs and services designed to build a civic innovation and social entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Sacramento region. The core platform is CivicExchange, a digital engagement portal that connects change agents and enables collaboration. This is complemented by in-person programs including CivicMeet Sacramento (monthly meetups), Public Innovation Labs (incubator for civic tech projects), and the Impact Incubator (for social entrepreneurs). Service offerings span civic technology development (web/mobile apps, UX design, APIs), citizen experience design, storytelling/video production, and organizational development through the Civic Entrepreneurship Network. The organization follows a digital-by-default philosophy using social media and media partnerships for distribution, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a fiscal sponsor during the initial seed phase.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CivicExchange A secure, authenticated online engagement platform enabling frictionless collaboration to drive civic action. Users create profiles, express interest in programs and projects, and connect with other change agents based on shared interests. Also serves as an organizing mechanism for in-person events.
• Public Innovation Labs A civic innovation incubator that designs, builds, and tests improvements to the citizen experience and back-office process innovations for public agencies and social enterprises.
• Civic Technology Services Custom web and mobile application development ranging from basic websites to fully integrated cross-platform applications for public agencies, nonprofits, and businesses. Includes user experience consulting (visual design, interaction design, information architecture, usability testing, user research, content strategy) and crowdsourcing tools such as ideation platforms and SMS voting.
• Citizen Experience Design Human-centered design services that help public agencies provide constituent experiences. Includes service design, ethnographic research, and prototyping to minimize citizen touchpoints across multiple agencies and levels of government.
• Impact Incubator An incubation space for developing social entrepreneurs and their ideas through business development activities, workspace, mentorship, and risk capital to help changemakers craft and test business models driving social impact. Leverages the Social Innovation Fund, crowdfunding, and social impact bonds.
• Civic Entrepreneurship Network A network supporting knowledge sharing and change management within government and social impact organizations, providing services and education to improve organizational culture throughout the Sacramento region.
• CivicMeet Sacramento A monthly meetup bringing together civic innovators from diverse backgrounds including business, nonprofits, education, technology, and government to co-design solutions to public problems.
• Storytelling Services Video production and multichannel marketing and communications campaigns that highlight and reward creative problem solving, tracking quality of life indicators to articulate the value proposition of civic entrepreneurship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieve 85% earned income of total revenues by Year 5 (2018)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Code for SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCode for Sacramento is a Code for America Brigade that Public Innovation and Hacker Lab collaboratively launched. It brings together civic technologists who work to improve their communities on a weekly basis through hackathons and civic projects. This is a flagship project for the civic innovation ecosystem.
• CivicMeet SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly meetup for civic innovators from diverse backgrounds including business, nonprofits, education, technology, and government. The concept was first conceived at a CivicMeet Sacramento event and represents a core community-building activity for the ecosystem.
• Hacker LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacramento-based tech hub and co-working space that collaborated with Public Innovation to launch Code for Sacramento. Provides physical space and community for civic hackers.
• Fiscal Sponsor (TBD)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAn organization with 501(c)(3) status that will temporarily accept tax-deductible donations until Public Innovation receives its own tax-exempt status. Provides administrative functions including payroll, benefits, and accounting. Receives 10% of revenues until independence.
• Public Agencies (Various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCities, counties, state agencies, special districts, and school districts in the Sacramento region targeted for civic technology projects and partnerships. Over 22 cities and 6 counties in the SACOG region identified as potential partners.
• Peer Organizations (Various)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector backbone organizations and issue-specific nonprofits with similar goals of improving quality of life. Positioned as complementary rather than competitive relationships within the civic innovation ecosystem.
• Higher Education/Professional AssociationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversities and professional associations with expertise that can inform Public Innovation's work. UC Davis Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship specifically referenced for innovation expertise.
• Media/Press PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia organizations interested in sharing stories of civic progress. Sacramento Press mentioned as potential video content partnership. Helps distribute stories of innovators and their projects.
• Code for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCode for America supports civic technology nationally through Fellowship, Brigade, Peer Network, and Accelerator programs. Public Innovation participates in the Brigade program through Code for Sacramento.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• OpenGov: Government technology vendor providing budgeting, procurement, and transparency software to public agencies. Directly competes with Public Innovation's civic tech solutions in the government engagement space.
• SeeClickFix (CivicPlus): Citizen engagement platform (now part of CivicPlus) that helps residents report non-emergency issues to local government. Comparable as a civic engagement / citizen experience technology provider serving public agencies.
• GovLoop: Online community and knowledge network for government employees focused on innovation and best practices. Compares to Public Innovation's Civic Entrepreneurship Network and community-building programs.
• Accela: Provider of government technology SaaS used by agencies for permitting, licensing, and citizen engagement. Comparable as a civic tech vendor serving public agencies, though commercially structured as a for-profit software company.
• Tyler Technologies (Socrata): Major govtech vendor that acquired Socrata, a civic open-data and citizen engagement platform. Competes for the same government innovation budgets and offers comparable citizen experience solutions at far larger scale.
• Living Cities: Cross-sector collaborative of foundations and financial institutions working to close racial income gaps in U.S. cities. A broader, more established civic innovation and place-based impact organization with comparable cross-sector coalition-building.

Direct peers

• Code for America: National nonprofit advancing civic technology through Fellowship, Brigade, Peer Network, and Accelerator programs. Public Innovation participates in the Brigade program through Code for Sacramento, making it the most direct, closest-mission comparable peer.
• New Urban Mechanics: Government civic innovation team operating across Boston and other cities, focused on prototyping resident-facing services and open data. Highly comparable to Public Innovation's citizen experience design and civic tech development mission.
• The Center for Civic Innovation: Atlanta-based civic incubator that supports civic entrepreneurs and social innovators developing solutions to community problems. Closely mirrors Public Innovation's hybrid incubator + community-support model.

Regional players

• Civic Innovation Toronto: Toronto-based civic innovation initiative that supports civic tech projects and community engagement. Operates a similar civic innovation ecosystem-building model but in a different geography (Canada).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deliveryunitco
• GitHubgithub.com/publicinnovation/openorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/PublicInnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ashroughani

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Innovation