Section 1.1: A New Chapter for Dennis Crowley

Dennis Crowley, the co-founder of Foursquare, is now part of a new venture called LivingCities, collaborating with Matt Miesnieks and designer John Gaeta. Miesnieks previously sold his startup, 6D.ai, to Niantic, and Gaeta is recognized for his contributions to the Matrix Trilogy. This trio claims to have secured $4 million in initial funding, primarily from DCVC, with additional backing from Eniac Ventures, Anorak, and Matthew Ball.

Crowley reflects on his earlier experiences, stating, "In the early days of Foursquare, we aimed to create software that would revolutionize how people interact with physical spaces. We achieved this by gamifying real-life interactions." He acknowledges that while technology has advanced significantly over the past 13 to 14 years, the core idea that software can enhance our interactions with our surroundings remains relevant and largely unexplored.

Section 1.2: The Vision Behind LivingCities

The founding team remains tight-lipped about their specific plans, only revealing that they aim to create a "social layer" for users to engage with virtual environments that capture the essence of actual cities and landscapes. This "mirror-world" platform will incorporate elements of web3 technology, but they intend to steer clear of the excessive speculation often linked to cryptocurrencies.

Miesnieks emphasizes the company's commitment to developing a network that functions solely on the web and mobile web, potentially avoiding the pitfalls and expenses associated with app stores. He clarifies that the goal is not to compete with established augmented reality firms or mapping companies like Niantic or Snap.

"We believe that any new offering should leverage publicly available technology," Miesnieks states.

Section 1.3: Reflections on the Future

Just under a year ago, Crowley stepped down from his full-time role at Foursquare after more than a decade. TechCrunch reports that he and his co-founders initiated their new project by contemplating how new technologies could enhance human connections.

"What do we want to see in the world? What experiences have only recently become possible due to advancements in how we use our devices?" Crowley muses. "There has always been a compelling opportunity to fuse the digital and physical realms in a meaningful way."