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Entrepreneurship often begins with an idea, but sometimes, it starts with an unexpected friendship. ForÌý ²¹²Ô»åÌý, two ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder students from opposite sides of campus, their journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned—it happened by chance. Kyle, originally from Australia, found himself in Colorado after finishing high school and eventually landing at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder without a clear plan. Wade grew up in North Carolina and chose ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä on the recommendation of his rock climbing mentor.

Despite majoring in completely different fields, Kyle in Computer Science and Wade in Information and Data Science, the two quickly became close after a concert at the University. What started as a shared taste in music quickly grew into a strong friendship, leading to their current venture,Ìý: a startup aimed at solving a problem as common as it is frustrating—potholes.

The idea wasn’t new to Kyle, who had brainstormed solutions for everyday issues with his dad for years. One of those ideas involved using cameras on buses to detect potholes and relay the data to cities for faster repairs. A year ago, Kyle realized he finally had the technical skills to build the software, and after mentioning it to Wade, the two decided to turn the idea into reality. With Kyle handling the programming and Wade managing outreach, logistics, and networking, they formed a natural business duo, one that has been making steady progress ever since.

Arterial: Using AI to Revolutionize Road Maintenance with Real-Time Data

Arterial is focused on efficiency- using AI-powered dash cameras to detect potholes, road cracks, and infrastructure issues before they become major problems. Their system is designed for easy integration into municipal vehicles like garbage trucks and parking enforcement cars, allowing these vehicles to passively scan the roads as they go about their daily routes. The AI they developed automatically detects damage, from minor cracks to major potholes, as well as other issues like fallen signs or broken curbs.

This data is stored and processed through a custom-built dashboard, where city maintenance departments can access a live, interactive map pinpointing problem areas. The system allows users to track the progression of potholes, determining if they are growing rapidly and need immediate attention. The platform also automates work orders, estimating costs and labor needs before routing tasks to contractors or internal repair teams. To further streamline operations, the system provides optimized repair routes, ensuring that crews fix as many issues as possible in a single trip.

Beyond logistical benefits, the startup offers cities something they have not had before: usable, real-time insights into road health. Cities typically lack access to this kind of structured data, and when they do receive it, it is often in an unstructured, raw format that is difficult to act upon. Their platform solves this by categorizing potholes on a severity scale and presenting the information through visual tools like heat maps and health audits. Rather than relying on subjective citizen reports, municipalities can now track and measure road conditions with objective data. The platform allows cities to do more than just count potholes filled—it provides measurable proof of improvements in road quality over time.

From Idea to Implementation

The concept for the project took root over a year ago, but turning it into a viable business required guidance, something Wade and Kyle found at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Initially, Kyle was seeking advice on his automation consulting company. His search for information quickly turned into a valuable mentorship opportunity, connecting them with experienced advisors who helped guide their next steps.

Currently, the duo is just a month away from launching their first pilot program. The major technical components: hardware, AI, and software, are all nearing completion. Their camera system is fully functional, their AI model has been trained on over 55,000 frames of labeled data and has achieved 95% accuracy, and their dashboard is built. The final step is perfecting location tracking to ensure that every pothole detected is precisely mapped to a geographic coordinate. Once that is complete, they will be ready to go to market.

Competing for the Future: ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s New Venture Challenge and Beyond

As their startup nears its next phase, Wade and Kyle are preparing to compete in ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä’s New Venture Challenge, a highly competitive entrepreneurial competition. Preparing for the challenge has already connected them with new mentors, including one of Kyle’s current employers, who has provided crucial insights into refining their pitch and business strategy. He has helped them frame their investor deck, fine-tune co-development proposals, and prepare for events like Techstars, where they will be pitching soon in North Carolina.

Kyle and Wade see the New Venture Challenge as an opportunity to sharpen their business model even further. Even if they do not win, the workshops and networking opportunities alone make it worth the effort. With a product that is nearly market-ready, a strong support network, and a clear plan for scaling, Wade and Kyle’s pothole-detecting AI may soon be a game-changer for cities looking to modernize road maintenance.

A Vision for Smarter, Scalable Road Monitoring

With their startup on the verge of launching its first pilot program, Wade and Kyle are already looking ahead. Their long-term vision goes beyond outfitting municipal vehicles with their AI-powered cameras. While their proprietary cameras provide an affordable and effective solution, their goal is to integrate their technology directly into vehicles that already have built-in dash cameras.Ìý

Beyond the business potential, Kyle and Wade also see personal value in growing the startup. They relish the opportunity to work on a project he built from the ground up, applying cutting-edge technology to solve real-world problems. The ability to learn and innovate within a company they co-founded is what excites them the most. More than just a business, it’s a challenge that allows them to grow, experiment, and make a tangible impact.

The Myth of the "Small Business Fairy"

Many people assume that becoming an entrepreneur requires a moment of divine inspiration, what Wade jokingly refers to as the "small business fairy" visiting you in middle school and declaring that you’re destined to be a business owner. But in reality, that’s not how it works. Kyle and Wade believe that entrepreneurship isn’t an inherent trait or a preordained path; it’s something you figure out along the way. They’ve met plenty of people with great ideas who hesitate to take the first step, often because they believe starting a business is an overwhelming, nearly impossible task. In truth, they argue, while building something from the ground up does require effort, research, and a willingness to ask for help, it’s not the impossible feat that social media and popular narratives make it out to be. The biggest hurdle isn’t failure—it’s intimidation. They emphasize that Boulder, in particular, offers a wealth of resources for those willing to try, making it a shame that more people don’t take the leap. Their own journey is proof that diving in, surrounding yourself with the right mentors, and simply being willing to start can turn an idea into a viable, even profitable, reality.