About us

Making spatial insights accessible

We are a team of urban planning and geospatial experts transforming how organizations and people access spatial insights. Our web platforms enable governments, researchers, and civil society to make decisions informed by geospatial data, without requiring GIS expertise.

Our mission

To make spatial insights accessible to everyone, enabling governments, policymakers, researchers and civil society to participate in data-informed decision-making.

Our vision

For communities to be equipped with actionable information to shape equitable and sustainable policy and solutions, addressing the most pressing challenges.

A hand-drawn diagram of a curb cut connecting a sidewalk to a road, the curb-cut effect

Meet the team

Urban planning & geospatial experts.

David Wachsmuth

David Wachsmuth

Co-Founder · President

Prof. David Wachsmuth is one of the world's leading experts on the impacts of short-term rental platforms, such as Airbnb, on cities around the world, and consults widely with municipalities and community organizations on designing appropriate regulations.

Kevin Manaugh

Kevin Manaugh

Co-Founder

Prof. Kevin Manaugh is one of the leading experts on the intersection between urban transport systems and social and environmental justice.

Maxime Bélanger De Blois

Maxime Bélanger De Blois

Co-Founder · General Manager & CTO

Maxime is a data and cloud engineer with deep expertise in geospatial analysis, database architecture, and full-stack development, with a strong command of Canadian urban data and geovisualization.

Samuel Kohn

Samuel Kohn

Director of Strategy and Growth

Trained in urban studies, Sam brings deep expertise in urban innovation and data governance, working closely with cities and communities of all sizes. He leads Curbcut's go-to-market strategy and business development, driving growth and impact.

Dominique Boulet

Dominique Boulet

Coordinator & Research Lead

Dominique is an experienced coordinator and researcher who ensures all solutions are accessible and user-centered for Curbcut's diverse audiences, with a strong focus on qualitative research and educational initiatives.

Nicholas Haley

Nicholas Haley

Lead Frontend Engineer

Nicholas sits at the intersection of design and engineering: equally comfortable sketching a user flow or architecting an API. Drawn to map and AI interfaces, he believes good products should be simple enough for anyone and scalable enough for everyone.

Nicholas Foisy

Nicholas Foisy

Full-Stack Developer

Nicholas is a computer programmer specializing in geospatial science, automation and open-source software.

Oussama Trabelsi

Oussama Trabelsi

Data Lead

Oussama is a PhD student in urban planning whose research focuses on housing crises in Canadian cities. He is experienced with urban data, spatial analysis, and quantitative methods to support evidence-based decision-making.

Jacob Hopper

Jacob Hopper

Data Engineer

Jacob is a data scientist who builds pipelines that turn messy, multi-source urban data into something usable. He applies his experience with GIS and geospatial databases towards work involving issues like zoning reform, housing policy, and smart cities.

Our story

2020

Incubation

A team of urban planning and geospatial experts incubate Curbcut in a McGill lab.

2021

First launch

Curbcut launches its first app at McGill University.

2022 – 2024

Awards & recognition

2022
Canadian Open Data Excellence
2023
Dobson Cup Winner
2024
Shiny Award Winner
2024

Incorporation

Curbcut incorporates as an independent company.

2025 – 2026

Product refinement

From an award-winning Shiny prototype to a production-grade national spatial insight platform.

Why Curbcut

01

Built for non-experts

Non-specialists explore geospatial data and uncover insights as easily as GIS professionals.

02

Proven interoperability

Our data bridge connects high-quality geospatial indicators from diverse sources, discoverable across space and time, no data engineering required.

03

High-speed performance

While most web mapping tools struggle under large data loads, Curbcut renders billions of data points instantly.

04

Mission-oriented

Our data curation and design are driven by public interest, enabling communities to make more sustainable, just and inclusive decisions.

Our values

Accessibility

We are committed to creating solutions that are intuitive, approachable, and user-friendly. We ensure clarity and openness in our tools and knowledge-sharing practices.

Equity

Our approach is rooted in fairness and social justice. Guided by responsibility, we aim to uplift communities and contribute to a more equitable society.

Ingenuity

Creativity and forward-thinking permeate everything we do, whether it's through inventive solutions, cutting-edge technology or tailored consulting services.

Expertise

Our work is grounded in reliability and rigor. We deliver accurate and up-to-date information through meticulous analysis and a commitment to data integrity.

Flexibility

We prioritize collaboration and adaptability, ensuring solutions align with evolving needs and deliver exceptional results, qualities our clients greatly value.

Trust

We foster trust through open collaboration and the delivery of accurate, reliable information, working together toward meaningful solutions.

Let's make spatial insight accessible.

Governments, researchers, civil society — wherever you're starting from, we'd love to hear what you're working on.