Smart Cities: Why API-First Loses to Vertical Integration
API-first platforms assume municipal buyers behave like tech companies. They don't. Vertical integration—bundling sensors, software, and service contracts—wins in Indian smart cities because municipalities need outcomes, not integrations. The moat is operational lock-in, not data portability.
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Amit Tyagi
Founder, AletheiaAI & GP, Fitoor Capital
Veteran of India's startup ecosystem. Writing about fundraising, investor psychology, and what it takes to build fundable startups in India.
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