Local Government AI Startup Hamlet Launches Public Stream to Demystify City Hall

A startup is using artificial intelligence to crack open the opaque world of local government. Hamlet, founded by Sunil Rajaraman, processes thousands of hours of city council meeting videos. The company turns them into searchable intelligence for businesses and now, the public.Initially focused on enterprise clients, Hamlet is expanding its mission. On Friday, it launched Hamlet TV, a free streaming channel. The goal is to help everyday citizens understand the consequential decisions made in their communities.

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The idea for Hamlet was born from personal experience. Rajaraman ran for city council in 2022. He lost, but the process revealed how difficult it was to track government decisions.He found posted meeting videos more valuable than official minutes. According to TechCrunch, Rajaraman said “the video doesn’t lie.” His company uses AI to transcribe, analyze, and summarize these lengthy recordings.This service quickly attracted real estate developers and political groups. They needed to monitor proceedings across multiple cities. Hamlet alerts them to relevant agenda items and synthesizes outcomes.

Hamlet TV Aims to Boost Civic Engagement with Curated Content

The new public-facing channel, Hamlet TV, streams on TikTok, YouTube, and Apple TV. It highlights key and sometimes surreal moments from meetings nationwide. The team uses humor to draw people into the often-dry procedural world.Rajaraman told TechCrunch they’ve processed meetings lasting over 15 hours. He believes showing the “funny stuff” makes people care more. The ultimate aim is strengthening democracy through transparency.One surprising clip featured a resident dressed as a cockroach addressing a pest problem. Rajaraman stresses the serious impact of these invisible meetings. He cited Tucson’s rejection of a major Amazon data center as a key example.

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The launch of Hamlet TV marks a push to make local government truly accessible. This local government AI tool seeks to turn passive video archives into active civic understanding. Democracy, the founder argues, works better when people are watching.

A quick knowledge drop for you

What does the company Hamlet do?

Hamlet uses artificial intelligence to analyze video recordings of local government meetings. It provides summaries, alerts, and searchable insights for businesses and now the general public.

Who founded Hamlet and why?

Sunil Rajaraman founded Hamlet in 2022 after an unsuccessful city council run. He started the company to solve the difficulty he faced in understanding local government decisions and processes.

What is Hamlet TV?

Hamlet TV is a new free streaming channel on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. It curates important and engaging clips from city council, school board, and planning commission meetings across the country.

How is the startup funded?

Hamlet has raised approximately $10 million in venture capital. Backers include Slow Ventures, Crosslink Capital, and Kapor Capital.

Who uses Hamlet’s enterprise service?

Real estate developers, political action committees, and advocacy groups are primary clients. They use it to track agendas and decisions across multiple municipalities efficiently.

What is the company’s long-term goal?

Rajaraman has stated he wants Hamlet to become the “Bloomberg” of local government intelligence. He also plans to provide the tool free to local journalists to aid their reporting.