In this episode of Startup Explore, we sit down with Collin Barnwell, CEO and co-founder of Roundabout Technologies, a YC-backed startup building AI-powered traffic lights to make streets safer and more efficient.

Roundabout Tech’s system uses cameras and GPUs to create a 3D real-time map of intersections, simulating traffic 10 times a second to optimize light changes. Their technology helps cities reduce congestion, prevent accidents, and improve travel times - all without replacing existing infrastructure.

We discuss:
- How AI-powered traffic lights simulate and predict vehicle movement in real-time
- Key safety features: Dilemma Zone Protection and Dynamic All-Red Extensions
- How their system adapts to fog, rain, and poor visibility
- Handling emergency vehicles and ensuring software reliability
- Their first deployment in San Anselmo, California, and the results: 30% reduction in rush-hour wait times
- How Roundabout found its first city customer and built trust in a government market
- Collin’s background at Google and Verily, and what it’s like to go through Y Combinator
- The massive market potential - over 330,000 intersections in the U.S. alone
- Roundabout’s long-term vision for safer, smarter cities

If you work in city planning or transportation innovation - or just want to see how AI is shaping real-world infrastructure - this is a must-watch episode.

📩 Interested in pilot programs? Contact Collin via email: collin@roundabout.tech.

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Roundabout Technologies: https://www.roundabout.tech/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI-Powered Traffic Solutions
01:35 Understanding the Technology Behind AI Traffic Lights
03:43 Safety Features: Dilemma Zone Protection and All-Red Extensions
09:33 Adapting to Weather Conditions and Emergency Vehicles
12:33 Ensuring System Reliability and Accuracy
15:02 Integration with Existing Traffic Systems
17:07 Pilot Programs and Initial Metrics
19:03 Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations
20:12 Challenges in Securing First Customers
23:46 Founders' Background and Company Origins
25:48 Insights from Y Combinator Experience
27:52 Market Potential and Total Addressable Market
28:59 Competition Landscape in Traffic Management
32:03 Future Vision: Evolving Technology and Hiring Strategies
36:46 Personal Insights and Hobbies
38:19 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this episode of StartupExplore, I sit down with Luis Benavides, CEO and co-founder of Neighborbrite, a seed-stage startup using AI to transform landscape design.

Neighborbrite makes it simple for anyone to redesign their yard: upload a photo, choose a style, and instantly generate personalized, climate-aware designs. Luis shares how the company grew to half a million users and 10+ million designs, why focus on the right ICP matters, and how they’re building toward an “operating system for exterior home improvement.”

In this episode of StartupExplore, I talk with Peter Moot, CEO & Co-founder of Promi.ai — a YC-backed, seed-stage startup using AI to personalize pricing discounts for e-commerce retailers.

We dive into:
- How Promi helps merchants boost revenue while protecting margins
- The AI powering real-time discount personalization
- Peter’s journey from Uber to building Promi
- Lessons from YC and what’s next for Promi

In this conversation, Giedrius Daubaris, CEO and co-founder of Exante, discusses the innovative AI agents being developed for the contract to cash cycle. He explains how these agents streamline finance operations by automating complex billing, accounts receivable management, and enhancing cash flow. Giedrius emphasizes the importance of proactive contract management, the benefits of automated data extraction, and the unique agentic architecture that sets Exante apart in the competitive landscape. He also shares insights into the company's market traction, future features, and the journey of fundraising, while highlighting the significance of building trust in finance automation.

In this episode, Kieran Taylor, co-founder of Midship.ai, walks us through how his YC-backed startup is building AI tools tailored for financial auditors. He breaks down exactly how the product works — from automating test-of-detail procedures to preparing first-draft workpapers — and highlights key features like Excel integration, configurability, and audit trail visibility. We discuss the $200B+ audit market ripe for disruption, how Midship stacks up against legacy tools, and the long-term vision of moving from audit sampling to continuous transaction monitoring. Kieran also shares the backgrounds of his technical co-founders, the journey which led to start Midship, and what’s next for the team.

In this conversation, Philippe Noël, co-founder of ParadeDB, explores how their technology enhances PostgreSQL, starting with search and advanced analytics—just the beginning of a broader vision. He shares insights on reducing downtime, improving performance, and ParadeDB’s early success with Alibaba. The discussion covers technical challenges, deployment, and the competitive landscape, along with Philippe’s journey and the small team driving innovation.