San Luis Potosí initiated a City Mart challenge on the use of technology “to empower, enhance and regulate street vending.” Adam and Adriana’s Plaza SLP project was selected and they are working with the city to pilot the concept in 2015.

Street vendors and informal businesses make up the majority of a city’s small businesses. They are vital to the local economy and the texture of urban life. But without a simple way to incentivize street vendors to participate and benefit from low-cost steps towards formalization, regulation remains limited.

Plaza SLP’s solution is a simple and scalable digital platform to facilitate communication between customers, vendors, and the city. The platform gives each vendor a basic content page where they can register their name and unique code to collect simple reviews from customers, highlight their stories, and apply for, maintain, and showcase municipal certifications and badges.