CivicReach, an organization that provides artificial intelligence-powered phone answering for social service organizations, has joined spARK Labs by ARK Invest incubator. The company’s chief strategy officer, Jocelyn Howard, is a St. Petersburg native and will be working out of the incubator.

About CivicReach

CivicReach was founded by Chip Kennedy, a technologist who also runs a homelessness nonprofit with his family. The organization’s first product was a voice AI agent that allows people to have an actual conversation, rather than hearing a recording. This technology enables clients to get to the right place more efficiently.

CivicReach works with clients from around the country, including state, county, and city governments and community agencies. The organization has collaborated with Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, the City of Memphis, and the Virginia Community Action Partnership, among others. CivicReach’s clients serve more than 2.1 million people.

Local Connection

Howard explained that the spARK Labs by ARK Invest experience has provided an opportunity to help grow the company locally. Prior to joining the incubator, the CivicReach team formed a relationship with the St. Pete Innovation District, which oversees the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub.

Alison Barlow, CEO of the Innovation District, believes that CivicReach is a critical technology that helps government entities communicate and collaborate with their stakeholders, particularly citizens. Barlow sees the value and potential uses of artificial intelligence in this context.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.