Design question

As cities began to simulate different futures before committing any resources, a new opportunity for OpenTwin emerged. While local governments tested traffic patterns before breaking ground, or modeled climate impacts before choosing interventions, or visualized community effects before approving land developments, local entrepreneurs started asking, "Could I use this technology, too?" and community organizations started noticing, "We know things that this model doesn't capture."

Design response

That's when it clicked: the real potential wasn't in city halls—it was in the other 99% of urban stakeholders who typically have no access to simulations in the places where they work and live. After a decade focused almost exclusively on city governments, the original ambition evolved toward building for everyone. In late 2024, OpenTwin was founded to create the world's first AI-native, open-world simulation platform designed for community laypersons. In parallel, United Cities Foundation pivoted to enablement for communities creating their own simulations. This new vision required a deep dive into the needs of employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and others to understand how non-municipal stakeholders might use digital-twin simulation technology. OpenTwin called upon Fraîche to establish its first, foundational base of qualitative research and design insights.