Fairfax County and Smart City Works announced today that Dynmahex, an AI based platform that helps individuals and communities track and reduce their carbon footprint, was named the winner of the 2022 Pitch and Pilot: Fairfax County Innovation Challenge. The team was chosen after a month-long competition and will be considered for a pilot project to showcase their product in Fairfax County. 
 
The goal of the Challenge was to find, and ultimately pilot, one or more innovative solutions that improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable electricity, or accelerate the use of electric vehicles. More than 30 organizations entered. After consideration, five finalists were chosen, and they showcased their innovative ideas at the judging event held at George Mason University’s Innovation Exchange (MIX).  Dynamhex was chosen because its platform can help county owned facilities with carbon accounting and management, and also support residents to understand their individual carbon footprint and incentivize reduction actions.  
 
“We have the tools to get us moving in the right direction to affect climate change. However, we need stronger and less expensive options to help us cross the finish line. This is where things like this “Pitch and Pilot” and companies like Dyamhex come in. It is a way we can nurture innovation and lean into implementing cutting edge solutions to help us meet our ambitious goals while positively impacting economic growth, equity, and sustainability,” noted Rodney Lusk, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. 
 
Fairfax County, George Mason and Smart City Works partnered on the competition, which is part of a broad suite of clean energy strategies and technologies the county is undertaking to meet its ambitious but achievable carbon neutrality goals.  "Innovation challenges are a new and more and more widely used tool for local governments to help rapidly find and implement new technologies to solve some of their most pressing issues.  They are a win-win-win: helping communities, supporting start-ups, and fostering economic development. We are delighted to be partnering with Fairfax County, who has been a pioneer in this space, improving pedestrian safety, addressing COVID challenges, and now helping to decarbonize the local economy,”  Said David Heyman, Founder and President of Smart City Works.

“We are excited to partner with Smart City Works and work with this innovative company to bring new solutions to critical challenges. Pitch competitions such as this expand the technology base in Fairfax County, directly benefit county residents, and communities participate in reaching carbon neutrality goals,” said Rebecca Moudry, director of the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives.  
 
About the organizers

Fairfax County is the third largest metro region for technology employment; 1 in 4 jobs (25%) are technology related.  These businesses define cutting edge, delivering a full spectrum of high-end services and solutions to government, industry, healthcare, and consumer markets worldwide. Fairfax County is also a recognized leader in community climate planning and action with an ambitious Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan currently in the early stages of implementation. The county is addressing climate concerns from a variety of angles with a major focus on building energy use and transportation, which represent 49% and 44% of local greenhouse gas emissions respectively.   The Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives supports economic innovation, entrepreneurs and small businesses.  
 
Smart City Works, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers communities to solve urban challenges and improve economic growth through technology innovation. Working with partners in government, universities, businesses, and nonprofits, we lead the Northern Virginia Smart Region Initiative.  The Smart Region Initiative’s goal is to help establish Northern Virginia as a world center of excellence for urban technology innovation, and a destination for digital technology companies to build and grow their businesses. Smart City Works is a proud winner of and is supported by regional innovation and economic development grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce and GO Virginia.