Rabobank Backs AI Startup to Boost Democratic Engagement
Netherlands, Tuesday, 17 September 2024.
Dembrane, an Eindhoven-based ‘demtech’ startup, secures Rabobank’s support to develop AI solutions for enhancing democratic processes. The partnership aims to simplify public participation, offering tools to efficiently capture citizens’ perspectives on key issues.
A New Approach to Citizen Engagement
Dembrane’s innovative AI tool addresses the limitations of traditional citizen engagement methods such as surveys and user panels, which are often time-consuming and fail to provide a comprehensive view of public sentiment. Instead, Dembrane’s solution allows for large-scale surveying of citizen groups, distilling main conclusions, nuances, and sentiments. This enables the collection of classifiable quotes linked to specific questions, providing a more accurate and detailed understanding of public opinion.
How the Technology Works
The AI tool developed by Dembrane allows initiators to pose questions and engage citizens through QR codes or links that lead to recorded conversations. This process is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, making it easier for citizens to participate in decision-making processes. The AI analyzes the input instantly, identifying common sentiments and specific quotes, which helps in generating actionable insights for policy makers and organizations.
Financial and Strategic Support from Rabobank
Rabobank’s involvement goes beyond financial backing; the bank has provided a Rabo Innovation Loan to accelerate the development of Dembrane’s AI solutions. Furthermore, Rabobank has also become a client, planning to use Dembrane’s services to enhance its own decision-making processes. Michel Ziekman from Rabobank highlighted the bank’s commitment to innovation and the potential they see in Dembrane’s technology to transform citizen engagement.
Initial Applications and Future Potential
Dembrane is currently testing an alpha version of its tool and is open to a limited number of test users. Municipalities and construction companies have been identified as initial customers, showcasing the tool’s versatility in various sectors. Bram Delisse, Process & Team Lead at Dembrane, emphasized the goal of making public participation more accessible and efficient. The company’s long-term vision is to empower citizens and make democratic processes more inclusive.
Upcoming Event and Broader Implications
An event is scheduled for Thursday morning, October 24, aimed at entrepreneurs interested in Rabobank’s innovation loans. This event will provide a platform for Dembrane to showcase its technology and attract potential clients and collaborators. The collaboration between Dembrane and Rabobank is part of a broader trend of integrating technology into democratic systems, aiming for increased transparency and accountability in governance.