EMBARGO UNTIL JUNE 4, 2024
Brussels, Belgium—In an era where trust in global democracy is declining, Go Vocal, formerly CitizenLab, is making waves with its civic technology platform that empowers residents to have a say on the topics that matter. With 5 million people already involved in over 20,000 policy decisions across 500 cities worldwide, Go Vocal is poised to amplify 50 million voices in public decision-making.
Founded in 2015 by student entrepreneurs Wietse Van Ransbeeck, Aline Muylaert, and Koen Gremmelprez as CitizenLab, the company has rebranded to Go Vocal to reflect its evolution into a comprehensive digital hub for local democracy. This rebranding signifies a shift from being merely an engagement tool to becoming a platform that facilitates deeper democratic participation. To further enhance its capabilities, Go Vocal is significantly investing in its artificial intelligence module, aiming to streamline the participation process for residents and governments alike. Today, Go Vocal serves 500 governments and organizations globally, including major cities like Copenhagen, Dublin, Vienna, and Seattle.
Go Vocal has a strong global track record. Every month, over 1,000 public servants leverage Go Vocal to enrich decision-making by incorporating the voices of their communities. This active participation reflects a thriving ecosystem where both officials and residents work together to shape their local environments. Some of these projects include:
One of the main barriers to participation is the time required to process community input and reporting. To address this challenge, Go Vocal successfully launched its Sensemaking tool earlier this year, saving governments at least 50% in analysis time. Now, Go Vocal is further investing in expanding its AI capabilities to facilitate online deliberations, transform textual contributions into visual representations, and create automated participatory processes that set industry standards, making participation more accessible for governments and residents alike.
"We envision a world where every democratic city brings its participatory democracy online, making participation and democracy more accessible to millions. Go Vocal aims to offer the most complete infrastructure to governments to help achieve just that," concludes Wietse Van Ransbeeck.
Go Vocal is a certified B Corp on a mission to make public decision-making more inclusive, participatory, and responsive. It has worked with over 500 governments worldwide, empowering public servants to cultivate a true culture of engagement with its comprehensive engagement platform and strategic guidance. It helps amplify the voices of community members, streamline the engagement process, and unlock deeper insights for more informed decision-making.
Press Room: