This startup uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to improve access to public information in Vermont. Their platform helps users quickly find and understand relevant government data and documents.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Accessing and understanding local government information in Vermont can be time-consuming and difficult, requiring residents and officials to sift through numerous documents and meeting minutes. This lack of easy access hinders civic engagement and makes it challenging to stay informed about local issues.
Solution
Local Minutes is a platform that uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to streamline access to public information from Vermont municipalities. By indexing meeting minutes, agendas, and other publicly available documents, Local Minutes provides a conversational interface that allows users to ask questions and receive answers based on verified sources. The platform utilizes large language models (LLMs) to process information and provide summaries, with citations directing users to the original documents for verification. This technology lowers the barrier to civic engagement by making local government information more accessible and understandable.
Target Audience
The primary users are Vermont residents seeking to stay informed about local government, as well as municipal staff and elected officials looking for a resource to access and share information.
Features
- Conversational interface powered by large language models for easy question answering
- Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to ensure responses are based on verified source documents
- Citations provided for all answers, linking directly to the original source material
- Indexing of meeting minutes, agendas, and other publicly available documents from Vermont municipalities
- Highlights section featuring notable updates and successes from across Vermont
- Coverage of 92 out of 247 Vermont municipalities, with plans to add more