The Urban Future Lab is pleased to announce, for the sixth year, the Urban Future Prize Competition, which seeks to find the brightest climatetech startups and, through the generous support of The New York Community Trust, MUFG, and NYSERDA, award two winners with $50,000 cash prizes.
Donor Name: Urban Future Lab
State: New York
City: New York City
Type of Grant: Competition
Deadline: 06/06/2022
Size of the Grant: $50K
Details:
These awardees will also receive admission into the ACRE Incubator, New York’s longest-running and most successful climatetech program.
New York’s forward-thinking state and city governments, thriving tech sector, and massive market make it one of the top startup cleantech economies in the world. The city has become the ideal laboratory for creating sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing climate challenges.
Annually, as part of the Urban Future Competition, the Urban Future Lab hosts an event for climate entrepreneurs, technologists, government officials, business leaders, investors, and innovators in New York City.
The Prizes
The Urban Future Prize Competition seeks entrepreneurs who are building startups that contribute to a more resilient and sustainable planet. Two prizes of $50K each will be awarded to two companies who embody the drive and mission needed to address the greatest challenge of time.
The Future Environments Prize
Sponsored by The New York Community Trust
- Eligible startups for the Future Environments Prize address climate change through work in areas including, but not limited to:
- HVAC
- Buildings and Urban IoT and Sensor Networks
- Energy Efficiency
- Lighting
- Controls
- Urban Infrastructure and Resilience
- Cement, Steel, and Building Materials
The Future Vision Prize
Sponsored by The New York Community Trust
- Eligible startups for the Future Vision Prize address climate change through technology or business model innovation beyond buildings and urban design. Categories include, but are not limited to:
- Smart Grid
- Renewable Energy
- Grid Flexibility
- Energy Distribution and Storage
- Enabling Financing Solutions
- Circular Economy
- Transportation and Mobility
The ACRE Incubator
A $50,000 cash prize will be awarded to two grand prize winners. The Future Environments and the Future Vision Prize winners will also join the ACRE Incubator and gain access to a community of expert advisors, mentors, and investors who will help to scale their businesses and accelerate their paths to success. ACRE companies have raised more than $971 million in follow-on funding, created 1,000+ green jobs, and have a survival rate of close to 87% since the program’s inception in 2009.
- $50,000 Prize: $50,000 cash prize with zero-equity stake
- Membership: Entrance into New York City’s premier cleantech incubator
- Recognition: Global recognition and promotional media opportunities
- Opportunities: Introductions to key partners from the public and private sector
The Requirements
- Future Environments and Future Vision Prizes
- Applicants should be early-stage startups generating revenue that have raised under $5M and are able to clearly articulate the potential sustainability impact from their core product or service.
- Companies may be internationally based, however, we ask winners to maintain at least one full-time startup employee and one desk at our incubator in New York City. Founders derive the most value from being physically present when industry, investor office hours or events occur. Accommodations are made in accordance with COVID best practices and restrictions.
Funding Information
Two prizes of $50K each will be awarded to two companies who embody the drive and mission needed to address the greatest challenge of their time.
For more information, visit Urban Future Lab.
