Tulane Ventures Startup Spotlight
Interview with Matt Wisdom, Founder of Civilized AI
Tulane Ventures, alongside Benson Capital and Austin's Capital Factory, recently announced a seed investment in Civilized AI, a startup company based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tulane Ventures Seed Fund supports early-stage ventures in Louisiana across the health, energy, and technology sectors. Civilized AI joins its growing portfolio of six additional previously announced investments since the fall of 2024.
Founded by Matt Wisdom, Civilized AI helps city and municipal governments enhance the services they provide to residents by improving communication and accessibility. The technology platform benefits residents by enabling them to receive services and updates more efficiently. It also allows government workers to use technology in their day-to-day roles to increase productivity.
In his second startup venture, Matt leverages the experience he gained from building TurboSquid, a leading platform where 3D artists can share and sell their designs. Matt founded TurboSquid in 2000, and it quickly became one of the world’s largest marketplaces for 3D models. Shutterstock acquired TurboSquid for $75 million in 2021. Based in New Orleans, TurboSquid employed 100 people worldwide at the time of the acquisition.
Civilized AI builds on that same talent and vision for developing technology solutions that meet real-world needs. TurboSquid’s clients include artists, major media corporations, and government agencies seeking access to pre-built 3D models, while also giving artists a platform to sell their work. With Civilized AI, Matt is once again connecting people through technology, helping citizens and government agencies interact more effectively and deliver services using modern digital tools.
We recently spoke with Matt Wisdom about founding his AI startup Civilized AI, the future of artificial intelligence in city services, and his early connection to Tulane University. Read the Q&A here:
What was your aha moment for starting Civilized AI?
We came up with an idea to put QR codes on damaged infrastructure and construction sites so people could find out when something like a pothole might be fixed, then be able to ‘chat’ with the city to learn the plans.
We began developing software to report a growing pothole that multiple people had complained about. It was extremely difficult to report it using old software; however, by using AI in our platform, we could enable the user to explain it clearly in just a few sentences, as if the person reporting the pothole were an expert or engineer. This was a new paradigm, and we realized we could create a solution to help people use artificial intelligence as a reporting tool. This would enable city workers to understand issues and communicate more effectively with city repair services or contractors—a win for both sides.
What support or resources do you need to expand to cities nationwide?
We want to connect with people in cities and counties who work in IT and communications and are seeking new ways to enhance their community services. We are also eager to engage with mentors in Tulane Innovation Institute’s Green Wave Innovation Network, especially visionaries among Tulane alumni with ties to city government.
Tell us about your Tulane “abroad experience” while you were an undergraduate at Brown.
I wanted to start a company working in 3D and software with friends in New Orleans when I was a senior at Brown University, and Tulane made that happen and supported my entrepreneurial pursuits. Brown considered it a “semester abroad”, and for me, it was a dream. Major lesson learned… go south for the winter! I met tons of friendly people and had a great time while starting to build my company that would eventually be based in New Orleans. One of my all-time best decisions!
Why do you think more startups should establish all or part of their operations in New Orleans?
There are so many smart people here who march to a different beat, and startups are all about bringing something new to the world. Invention and a willingness to do something different are key. New Orleans is an inspiring place to build a startup company.
How does the Louisiana venture funding landscape look now compared to when you started Turbo Squid?
It’s night and day! There are so many more funders with so much more money and interests in a variety of sectors. It was a miracle we got $5M in our series A back then. Investors in New Orleans now know what it’s like to raise money, and they are supportive and eager to propel you forward.
What advice would you give university students who are considering starting a business after graduation?
It’s the best time in the world to build something! We’ve never seen anything like this. You’ll never be able to take more risk than now. Get in the game, find a problem that you want to beat, and go for it. Bet everything you can on the paradigm shift, and make sure AI is central to your plans. For all the hype, people overwhelmingly underestimate what is happening.
