URBAN-X Accelerator Program (Cohort 14 Spring 2024)

Our accelerator is unique in that our mentors are experts in urbantech challenges and deeply understand regulated industries and government procurement. There’s no issue we aren’t equipped to help startups solve.

Applications for Cohort 14 are now open.

FUNDRAISING GUIDANCE.

It doesn’t just end at URBAN-X. We work with other investors to help startups reach their next critical milestone after our program ends. The right investors provide critical support in sales, marketing and product development. Our investor partners have extensive history backing reputable startups working on city problems.

Occasionally, our partners take further interest in startups and extend additional investments upon program completion and when it makes sense, we’ll syndicate deals on angel.co via the Urban.Us syndicate.

FOLLOW-ON FUNDING.

Most of our startups go on to secure high rates of investment and, on average, raise more than startups in other accelerators. We attribute this to our network of investors, that is highly interested in our investment thesis. Specifically, investors that we work with embrace companies that are working in regulated industries, developing hardware or selling to local governments. URBAN-X is also closely affiliated with BMW iVentures and is operated in partnership with Urban.Us - two funds that have the capacity to offer follow-on investments post-program.

EXPERTS-IN-RESIDENCE.

Our Experts-In-Residence (EIRs) provide startups deep knowledge in specialty areas like UX and UI, mechanical and electrical engineering, software development, growth hacking, communications, urbanism and design.

URBANTECH HUBS.

Another differentiator of the URBAN-X accelerator program is the unique global network. We know that NYC includes some of the best investors, mentors and the biggest urbantech market in the world but we also know that the Bay Area is home to a large number of mentors and investors and we’ll make sure you have a chance to meet them. We’ll also travel to Munich - home of MINI and BMW. Here you’ll meet with some of the best design and engineering talent in the world and you’ll gain knowledge on how to fast track product and business development opportunities. Apart from that, we’ll ensure you’re meeting with the large companies and global cities that best align with your solution.

PARTNERSHIPS AND PERKS.

The right programs and software can have transformative benefits for startups. URBAN-X partners include HERE, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Hubspot, Intercom, IBM, foundersuite, ReachNow and CitiBike. We also offer connections to potential pilot spaces, including at A/D/O and in Downtown Brooklyn.

DEMO DAY & INVESTOR DAY.

At the end of every Cohort program is Demo Day - a powerful platform for startups to showcase market-ready prototypes and solutions to an audience of investors, thought leaders, press and influencers.

We also hold Investor Days in New York and Silicon Valley - a valuable time for startups to meet one-on-one with investors. Startups meet with an average of 15 investors during Investor Days.

MEDIA & COMMS TRAINING.

We provide guidance to startups to create, implement and manage effective strategies for communications with mentors, customers, and investors. We also provide media training to founders on how to talk about their company to media.

AN OPTIMIZED NETWORK.

We work with founders, investors and advisors who have built many of today’s most transformative, urban-focused startups. Startups meet with founders and partners who can provide the most critical insights needed. We are uniquely positioned to offer pilot opportunities for startups working in areas like mobility, food and waste, govtech, the built environment, water and energy.

ONE-ON-ONES.

Weekly check-ins with the URBAN-X leadership team are an invaluable part of our accelerator program. During these meetings, we provide essential assistance in areas where startups needs the most help. Together we tackle some of the hardest parts of early-stage company building like time allocation, milestone and goal setting, and prioritization of resources.

THE URBANTECH STARTUP PLAYBOOK.

Our partner, Urban Us has created a playbook for startups working on city problems. The playbook explores topics ranging from selling to local government, working with regulators, and getting your solution to market in real estate and mobility. The startup playbook builds on curriculum we’ve developed with the National Science Foundation’s iCorps program and has been tested with the first urbantech startup class at the University of Chicago Booth School.

LIFE AT URBAN-X.

The URBAN-X program is fully online.

During the five-month program, startups are immersed in customer development and product development, all in preparation for fundraising. We work with teams to help them level-up, package their product as a full solution, and craft their vision into a narrative that investors, media, and new team members can believe in.