Think you know your neighborhood? You definitely don’t know it as well as Localize.city, a New York-based app that draws on the most up-to-the-minute data for any address in the five boroughs.
Founded in 2016 by duo Amir Winstok and Asaf Rubin, Localize.city takes the shape of a sleek app that offers insights on crime, schools, building violations, transportation and much more for any given address.
“A family that considers buying a specific real estate asset and is interested to know what it would be like to live in that house or apartment, cannot find full and practical answers on the web,” explained Rubin in a statement. “That is why people are forced to make the biggest transaction of their lives without really knowing what they are getting into. This is the biggest consumer problem the internet has yet to solve.”
People are forced to make the biggest transaction of their lives without really knowing what they are getting into. This is the biggest consumer problem the internet has yet to solve.”
The app draws on information from a wealth of resources, and uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to parse this knowledge and develop personalized insights. Punching in my address, for example, I was informed that several square blocks near my residence receive more direct sunlight during the summer than most of Manhattan. I was also told my landlord needs to fix my elevator (true).
Winstok and Rubin developed Localize.city after years of successful partnership. Previously, the pair spearheaded major projects at Taboola, Trusteer, Waze and Twitter before branching out on their own and launching Localize.city.
To date, the company has raised a total of $11 million in funding, with its most recent round being an $8 million Series A funding that closed May 9, 2018. The round was lead by investors Avigdor Willenz and Zvi Limon, both of whom lead the company’s $3 million seed round in 2016.
In a statement, president Steve Kalifowitz explained how tech like Localize.city solves highly specific but potent pain points in one of New York City’s biggest industries. “People pay a premium to live near a subway station, but only after they move, discover that it is going to be closed for renovations,” he said. “They choose an apartment for the breathtaking view, without knowing that there is already a building permit in the pipeline for a high-rise that will block it completely, or they rely on an elevator only to discover that it breaks down several times a month, and they will have to walk up to the fifth floor.”
Localize.city marks the continuation of a trend focused on hyper-local news and connectivity. Apps like Localize.city and Citizen, which offer fresh insights into city life, have consumers hooked.
“The results to date have been phenomenal,” said Kalifowitz. “A month from the launch, New Yorkers read more than 1 million insights that our Insight Engine created.”
