The Urban Future Lab is excited to announce the commencement of the 8th annual Urban Future Prize Competition, aimed at identifying and supporting the most innovative climate tech startups.

With the generous backing of The New York Community Trust, MUFG Bank, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, this competition offers two winners the opportunity to secure $50,000 cash prizes.

About the Competition

Purpose: The Urban Future Prize Competition seeks to spotlight outstanding climate tech startups and provide them with crucial financial support.
Supporting Partners: The New York Community Trust, MUFG Bank, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering have come together to empower the next generation of climate innovators.
Additional Opportunity: In addition to the cash prizes, winners will gain entry into the ACRE Incubator, New York’s premier climate-tech program.

Future Resilience Prize

New Focus: This year, the competition introduces the Future Resilience Prize, dedicated to climate adaptation and resilience solutions.
Rationale: While much attention and funding have been directed towards climate mitigation efforts, there remains a significant gap in supporting climate adaptation initiatives. The Future Resilience Prize aims to address this gap by spotlighting innovative solutions and catalyzing private investment in resilience efforts.
Impact: By focusing on vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate change, the competition aims to ensure that winning solutions have a tangible positive impact on those most in need.

New York: The Climate-Tech Hub

Innovative Environment: New York’s progressive state and city governments, vibrant tech sector, and expansive market make it a global leader in climate-tech innovation.
Ideal Setting: The city’s dynamic ecosystem serves as the perfect testing ground for developing sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing climate challenges.

Competition Tracks

Climate Sector-Agnostic: The Future Solutions Prize welcomes startups from all climate sectors to showcase their innovative solutions.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience: The Future Resilience Prize focuses specifically on climate adaptation and resilience solutions, with a keen focus on their impact on vulnerable communities.

Benefits of Participation

Financial Support: Two non-dilutive prizes of $50,000 each will be awarded to the most promising startups, providing vital capital for further growth and development.
Incubator Membership: Winners will gain acceptance into New York City’s premier climate-tech incubator, offering tailored support and resources to accelerate their progress.
Ecosystem Recognition: Participants will receive recognition within the climate-tech ecosystem, along with media exposure and introductions to key stakeholders in the public and private sectors.