Geospatial Big Data Firm Joins UAlbany’s START-UP NY Program

BuildingFootprintUSA to Invest in 17 Hires Over Five Years

Karl Urich is the co-founder and president of BuildingFootprintUSA. (Photo courtesy of BuildingFootprintUSA)

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 11, 2019) – The University at Albany’s START-UP NY program has accepted an Albany-based startup specializing in next-generation location intelligence data.

DataFoxtrot LLC doing business as BuildingFootprintUSA develops highly accurate spatial data in the form of building outlines or “building footprints” enriched with added information on building attributes.

The company intends to hire 17 employees over the next five years and invest $300,000 in the Capital Region through non-personnel expenses. The hires will expand BuildingFootprintUSA’s team of four full-time and 17 part-time employees, according to co-founder Karl Urich.

He said the current team also includes more than a dozen local part-time college and high school interns as well as five graduate students from UAlbany.

“Our decision to apply for the University’s STARTUP-NY program reflected our goals to build our company in Albany, connect with institutions like the University at Albany and invest in the region’s talent pool,” said Urich, president of BuildingFootprintUSA.

BuildingFootprintUSA uses geographic information system (GIS) software and machine learning technology to research, develop and enrich building footprint data. The startup’s data products help companies solve business problems ranging from risk management and catastrophe modeling to mobile network and utility planning.

Urich co-founded BuildingFootprintUSA along with David Moss, Matt Hoff and Scott Robinson. The team established operations on 200 Great Oaks Blvd in Albany in 2017.

As a START-UP NY participant sponsored by UAlbany, BuildingFootprintUSA will pursue partnerships with the University, particularly with faculty researchers and students focusing on geography and planning, computer science and informatics, according to Matt Grattan, director of economic development at the University.

“The START-UP NY program continues to act as a magnet for technology and innovation-oriented businesses to partner with the University at Albany,” Grattan said. “We are eager to explore collaborative opportunities with BuildingFootprintUSA as well as to create more opportunities for our students through internships and job placements.”

Launched by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2014, START-UP NY is an innovative tax incentive program that partners new, growing and relocating businesses with New York State’s large network of public and private colleges and universities.

Through the use of tax incentives which significantly reduce state and local taxes for participants, the program encourages businesses to create new jobs while establishing a meaningful, mutually beneficial partnership with its college or university sponsor. These partnerships enable companies to access faculty, industry experts, equipment and advanced research facilities associated with the schools; and create new opportunities for students to receive first-hand experience and internships with START-UP NY businesses.

Dozens of colleges and universities across New York State are participating in START-UP NY, with more than 650 approved zones that represent over 6 million square-feet of eligible space for new or expanding businesses to operate on or near campuses. Each college and university’s approved START-UP NY plan is available at www.startup.ny.gov. 

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