SOLAR ENERGY WILL POWER NEW TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS; SHOFUR EXPANDING BUS SERVICE TO DALLAS; VALIFY RAISES $2M IN SERIES A FUNDING
Every day Dallas Innovates staffers scour websites looking for the most interesting, important, and unusual stories about innovation and creativity. Here are three we thought you’d like:
Toyota’s new headquarters in Plano will redefine the company’s commitment to the environment. The campus will draw about 25 percent of its electricity from a 7.75 megawatt solar panel system, and is expected to be one of the largest solar-generating systems in Texas. The two-phase system is expected to be completed by the end of 2017, and is a major step in Toyota’s 2050 Environmental Challenge. Learn more about Toyota’s goals here.
Technology startup Shofur has expanded its bus service, and Dallas is the first stop. The transportation company plans to be the Uber of the motor-coach industry, and will offer a route from Dallas to Houston beginning July 14. Shofur is geared toward “super commuters,” people who live in one metropolitan area, but work in another. To make the long ride more comfortable, Shofur provides amenities including Wi-Fi, reclining seats, power outlets, and seat selection. Prices vary depending on departure time, and riders can book tickets on the website or mobile app.
Frisco health care software company Valify has raised $2 million in Series A funding. Co-founder and chief executive Chris Heckler said the software helps hospitals identify areas for potential savings that are trickier to spot. These funds allow for increased research and job growth as the company doubles its 16 person staff. Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White and Irving-based Christus Health are just two of the 345 hospitals that benefit from this software. Learn more about the software here.
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R E A D N E X T
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Toyota customers can compare and buy policies online boosted by AI, with opt-ins for usage-based data tracking of their connected vehicles. Another reason for the opening? TIMS covers more than your Rav4. The agency has expanded to offer insurance products for home, renters, RVs, even pets.
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How did these Plano teens spend their summer vacation? Making an impact in their community AND learning valuable marketplace skills at three North Texas nonprofits.
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The North Texas nonprofit will receive a half-million dollars from the Toyota USA Foundation to help increase the number of girls entering into a college-level STEM degree program.
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The "S-AM" hybrid electric minivans—short for "Sienna Autonomo-MaaS"—will be tested in a six-month pilot program in Dallas, Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay areal, and other locations. Aurora intends to deploy the vehicles on ride-hailing networks in late 2024.
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Martin UAV pushes tech boundaries in unmanned aircraft systems for defense and commercial use. The V-BAT 128, which has increased power, payload, and endurance, takes only 30 minutes for two people to assemble. It can be transported in a bed of pickup or inside a Black Hawk.
