gener8tor Founder Series: Gavin Baum-Blake from City Detect

In this week’s gener8tor Founder Series Spotlight, we sat down with Gavin Baum-Blake, Co-Founder & CEO of City Detect, to learn how his team is helping cities across the country fight blight and improve communities through the power of AI.

City Detect equips city vehicles like trash trucks and street sweepers with mounted cameras, then uses computer vision and machine learning to identify issues such as graffiti, illegal dumping, and overgrown lots. The platform gives municipalities actionable data they can use to create cleaner, safer, and more beautiful neighborhoods.

🚀 Traction & Growth
Since launching commercially in 2023, City Detect has raised a $2.5M seed round and grown from $440K ARR, targeting $1M+ by the end of 2025. The fully remote team, headquartered in Alabama, now works with cities nationwide to help local governments stretch their resources and better serve residents.

⚡ The Role of gBETA Bronze Valley
Gavin credits the gBETA Bronze Valley Accelerator Powered by gener8tor as a catalyst in City Detect’s journey. The program provided early mentorship, investor connections, and their first institutional backer—support that helped accelerate the company’s path from idea to implementation in real-world cities.

💡 Advice for Founders
When asked about his biggest lessons learned, Gavin emphasized the importance of persistence and building meaningful relationships. “Government partnerships don’t happen overnight,” he shared. “But when you focus on trust and measurable impact, the opportunities are limitless.”

🌆 What’s Next
City Detect is continuing to expand its reach, helping municipalities proactively address urban challenges and improve quality of life for residents. Gavin’s ask to the community? If you know decision-makers in local government who want to make their city cleaner and safer, reach out to City Detect.

Watch the Full Video Here: