Smartify and the Soul of the Smart City

The phrase “Smart City” has been floating around for years — often sounding more like a buzzword than something you can touch, feel, or witness in action. But for those who live and work in places like New York City, Paris, or Seoul, the transformation is already happening around us. The integration of technology into our urban fabric isn’t just about traffic flow sensors or AI-run public services — it’s about using innovation to improve the way we live, work, and connect.

That spirit was front and center at the Smart City NYC event this week — a gathering of global minds sharing how cities are actively applying technology to solve real-world problems. From crowd management at the Olympics in Paris to New York’s AI-driven public infrastructure planning in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, the message was clear: the future city is a thoughtful, tech-enabled one.

And in that vision, Smartify has been quietly — and powerfully — leading by example.

Born in Crisis, Built for Community

Smartify and New York City’s modern Smart City initiatives share a unique origin story: both were forged in the fire of the 2020 pandemic. In a moment of global uncertainty, when small businesses were struggling to stay visible, stay connected, and stay alive, Smartify emerged not just as an advertising platform, but as a relationship builder — a true part of the city’s evolving infrastructure.

We didn’t just put up screens and call it a day. We partnered with immigrant-run bodegas, long-standing neighborhood shops, and nonprofits who needed a new way to communicate. We helped them reach their customers, generate revenue, share their stories, and stay rooted in the communities they serve. That wasn’t a marketing tactic — that was survival. And it laid the foundation for a model of digital out-of-home media that’s deeply human, responsive, and enduring.

More Than a Media Network

Today, Smartify is an urban panel and retail media network, yes — but to call it that alone would miss the point. What sets us apart is that we invest in the relationships behind the screens. We help businesses not just advertise, but attract foot traffic, build local visibility, and become part of a broader citywide narrative.

This goes beyond advertising. It’s about education. It’s about equity. It’s about giving the small business community — a pillar of New York’s cultural and economic life — a bigger platform to thrive in the tech-forward city of tomorrow.

We’ve collaborated with NYC’s most future-facing thinkers, who see Smartify not just as a vendor, but as a model of what responsible, applied urban technology looks like. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with DOOH partners like Screenverse, helping to shape what it means for our entire industry to be part of the Smart City ecosystem.

Tech with Soul

Too often, smart city discourse is dominated by systems, sensors, and servers — with little space left for the soul of a city: its people. We believe the human dimension of technology is not just important — it's essential.

Smartify’s approach isn’t exclusionary. We don’t just work with the biggest retailers or glossiest brands. Our network uplifts diverse, independent, immigrant-owned small businesses, the places that make New York, New York. That means we don’t just enable communication — we amplify local voices. We don’t just talk about community — we help build it.

Setting the Industry Standard

As New York positions itself as the global capital of applied technology — second only to Silicon Valley in innovation — Smartify is proud to be at the table, not just as a participant, but as a leader in the Digital Out-of-Home space.

We are working to make sure that our industry continues to invest in impact — not just impressions. That our platforms are tools for empowerment, not just monetization. And that when people talk about Smart Cities, they remember that the “smart” part only matters if it makes life better for everyone — from global dignitaries to corner store owners.

This is just the beginning.