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Draft:Urban-X

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  • Comment: Virtually all of the "cohorts" are supported by press releases or puffery, not reliable, independent sources. Please read WP:RS, remove content with no independent sourcing, and resubmit. CopyleftEverything (talk) 02:32, 11 June 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: Needs the press releases and interview pieces removed and real reporting added. Stuartyeates (talk) 08:08, 28 January 2026 (UTC)


Urban-X was a startup accelerator program that operated from 2016 to 2025, focusing on early-stage companies developing technology for urban infrastructure and environments. The program was headquartered at Newlab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.:[1]

History

[edit]

Urban-X was established in 2016 through a partnership between MINI, the automotive division of BMW Group, and Urban.US[2], a venture capital firm specializing in urban technology investments.[3] It was originally headquartered in A/D/O in Greenpoint, New York City[4][5][6][7] before moving to Newlab[8]. The accelerator was designed to support startups addressing urban challenges across sectors including transportation, construction, energy, and infrastructure.[9][10]

The program announced its closure in early 2025, with operations concluding at the end of 2025. During its existence, Urban-X partnered with several venture capital firms including SOSV, Third Sphere, and JVP.[1][11]

Program

[edit]

Urban-X operated a 20-week accelerator program for selected startups. Initially, participants received $100,000 in seed funding[12][13], though this funding component was discontinued in Fall 2022. The program provided mentorship through what it termed "Experts-in-residence,"[14] workspace access, and connections to potential partners and customers.

Additionally, Urban-X ran a Mini Impact Program, a condensed four-week initiative for early-stage international startups, combining three weeks of remote participation with one week on-site in New York.[15]

Portfolio

[edit]

Over its nine-year operation, Urban-X ran 15 main accelerator cohorts and 3 Mini Impact Program cohorts.[1] Cohorts were typically selected from pools exceeding 100 applicants.[16] While initially focused on companies based in the United States, the program began accepting international startups in 2022.[1]

Portfolio companies typically fit into one or more of seven verticals[17]

  • Built Environment & Real Estate
  • Public Health & Safety
  • Infrastructure & Industry
  • Energy & Grid
  • Govtech & Civil Solutions
  • Transportation & Mobility
  • Food, Waste, & Water

Urban-X Accelerator Cohorts

[edit]
Cohort 01: March 2016 – June 2016
Company Name Sector
Ambrosia Food, Waste, & Water
Beyond Public Health & Safety
Farmshelf[18] Food, Waste, & Water
Multimer Built Environment & Real Estate | Public Health & Safety
Numina Public Health & Safety
Samocat Transportation & Mobility
Stae Govtech & Civil Solutions
Cohort 02: March 2017 – July 2017[19]
Company Name Sector
Aō-Air Public Health & Safety
Citiesence Govtech & Civic Solutions
Contextere Infrastructure & Industry
Envairo Built Environment & Real Estate
Revmax Transportation & Mobility
Sencity Built Environment & Real Estate | Public Health & Safety
Upcycles Transportation & Mobility
WearWorks Public Health & Safety
Cohort 03: September 2017 – February 2018[20]
Company Name Sector
Blueprint Power Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Good Goods Built Environment & Real Estate
Lunewave Transportation & Mobility
Near Space Labs Built Environment & Real Estate | Govtech & Civic Solutions
Qucit Govtech & Civic Solutions
Roadbotics Infrastructure & Industry | Transportation & Mobility
Upshift Transportation & Mobility
Versatile Natures Built Environment & Real Estate | Infrastructure & Industry
Cohort 04: May 2018 – September 2018[21]
Company Name Sector
Avvir Built Environment & Real Estate | Infrastructure & Industry
Campsyte Built Environment & Real Estate | Public Health & Safety
ClearRoad Infrastructure & Industry | Govtech & Civic Solutions
Ometry Govtech & Civic Solutions
Park and Diamond Public Health & Safety
Rentlogic Built Environment & Real Estate
Sapient Industries Energy & Grid
Cohort 05: December 2018 – April 2019[22]
Company Name Sector
Borrow Transportation & Mobility
Buildstream Built Environment & Real Estate | Infrastructure & Industry
Circuit Transportation & Mobility
Green-Q Food, Waste, & Water | Govtech & Civil Solutions
Thrilling Food, Waste, & Water
Toggle Built Environment & Real Estate | Infrastructure & Industry
Treau Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Cohort 06: June 2019 – September 2019[23]
Company Name Sector
3AM Innovations Infrastructure & Industry
cove.tool Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Octopus Energy Energy & Grid
Food for All Food, Waste, & Water
Hubbster Public Health & Safety
Pi-Lit Infrastructure & Industry
Varuna Food, Waste, & Water
Cohort 07: December 2019 – April 2020[24]
Company Name Sector
Chargelab Energy & Grid | Transportation & Mobility
EVA Energy & Grid
Firmus Built Environment & Real Estate | Infrastructure & Industry
Hades Infrastructure & Industry
Metalmark Public Health & Safety
Therma Food, Waste, & Water
Unety Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Cohort 08: June 2020 – October 2020[25]
Company Name Sector
Adiona Infrastructure & Industry
Aquagenuity Food, Waste, & Water | Public Health & Safety
Climate Robotics Infrastructure & Industry | Food, Waste, & Water
Mobilyze Transportation & Mobility
Resonant Link Energy & Grid
Xtelligent Infrastructure & Industry
Cohort 09: January 2021 – May 2021[26]
Company Name Sector
Builders Patch Built Environment & Real Estate
Domatic Energy & Grid
Dorothy Public Health & Safety
Oneroof Built Environment & Real Estate
Oonee Infrastructure & Industry | Transportation & Mobility
Origen Energy & Grid
Singularity Energy & Grid
Urbio Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Cohort 10: August 2021 – January 2022[27]
Company Name Sector
Climatebase Govtech & Civil Solutions
LimeLoop Infrastructure & Industry | Transportation & Mobility
Partsimony Infrastructure & Industry | Transportation & Mobility
Phuc Labs Infrastructure & Industry
Plentify Energy & Grid
Cohort 11: September 2022 – February 2023[28]
Company Name Sector
DirtSat Built Environment & Real Estate
Dollaride Transportation & Mobility
Dynamic Air Cooling Built Environment & Real Estate
Enerdrape Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
MIMiC Systems Built Environment & Real Estate
Cohort 12: March 2023 – August 2023[29]
Company Name Sector
Carbon Blue Infrastructure & Industry
ClimateView Infrastructure & Industry
Dryad Govtech & Civic Solutions
factoRee Infrastructure & Industry
FunForm Built Environment & Real Estate
Gentian Built Environment & Real Estate
itselectric Transportation & Mobility
Novele Energy & Grid
Seam Social Labs Govtech & Civic Solutions
Urban Dashboard Built Environment & Real Estate
Cohort 13: September 2023 – February 2024[30]
Company Name Sector
Algorna Built Environment & Real Estate
Blip Energy Built Environment & Real Estate | Energy & Grid
Enspi Energy & Grid
HubOn Transportation & Mobility
Upward Built Environment & Real Estate
Vy-Carb Infrastructure & Industry
Cohort 14: March 2024 – August 2024[31]
Company Name Sector
Vertify Analytics Built Environment & Real Estate
Lectrium Transportation & Mobility
Rego Food, Waste, & Water
Velo.ai Transportation & Mobility
Popwheels Transportation & Mobility
Chargely Transportation & Mobility
Virtus Solis Energy & Grid
Cohort 15: September 2024 – February 2025[32]
Company Name Sector
OneSix Energy Energy & Grid
Arbon Infrastructure & Industry
vsNew Transportation & Mobility
Expand Power Energy & Grid
Encode Energy Transportation & Mobility
Wild Energy Transportation & Mobility

Urban-X Mini Impact Program Cohorts

[edit]
Cohort 1: 2022[33]
Company Name Sector Country
Dulang Food, Waste & Water Indonesia
FabBRICK Built Environment & Real Estate France
Humfree Transportation & Mobility Singapore
Wiseair Public Health & Safety Italy
Cohort 2: 2023[34]
Company Name Sector Country
Circleback Food, Waste & Water Germany
Ecomilhas Transportation & Mobility Brazil
Eneryou Govtech & Civic Solutions Mexico
Gravity Wave Food, Waste & Water Spain
Raiz Food, Waste & Water Portugal
Regenize Food, Waste & Water South Africa
Cohort 3: 2024
Company Name Sector Country
Automicle Transportation & Mobility Netherlands
eMotion Fleet[35] Transportation & Mobility Japan
Kestrix Built Environment & Real Estate United Kingdom
Safer Places Infrastructure & Industry Italy
sinCarbono Infrastructure & Industry Mexico
Zerocircle Food, Waste & Water India

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Andrews, Jonathan (2025-01-20). "Start-up accelerator URBAN-X to close". Cities Today. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  2. ↑ Weston, Amanda (2019-09-20). "URBAN-X Invests in Startups Fighting Climate Change by Reimagining City Life". Worth. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  3. ↑ "How MINI's startup accelerator URBAN-X is reimagining city life". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  4. ↑ Pagliacolo, Elizabeth (2019-09-01). "With its Start-up Accelerator Urban-X, BMW Mini is Betting Big on the Future". Azure Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  5. ↑ McKeough, Tim (2016-10-04). "A Free Place for Designers to Work". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  6. ↑ Dale, Brady (2017-03-02). "BMW's Mini Drives Urban Tech's Future With New Greenpoint Spot". Observer. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  7. ↑ Hilburg, Jonathan (2018-02-09). "URBAN-X's latest startups bring AI to urban roads, floating cameras to the skies". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  8. ↑ Staff, Brooklyn Eagle (2021-04-14). "Urban high-tech startup accelerator moves to Navy Yard". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  9. ↑ McDonough, Annie (2020-02-20). "Talking urban innovation with Urban-X's Micah Kotch". City & State NY. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  10. ↑ "URBAN-X takes its smart city accelerator on a world tour | Smart Cities Dive". www.smartcitiesdive.com. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  11. ↑ "URBAN-X - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding". Crunchbase. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  12. ↑ "URBAN-X Urbantech Startup Accelerator Program by URBAN-X". www.allthingsurban.net. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  13. ↑ Hilburg, Jonathan (2018-04-16). "URBAN-X accelerator wants to transform cities, ten start-ups at a time". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  14. ↑ Mayes, Kima (2021-02-09). "URBAN-X Accelerator Program 2021: Get $100,000 initial funding". AlphaGamma. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  15. ↑ Staff, News (2022-12-21). "URBAN-X Goes Global With European, Asian Investments". GovTech. Retrieved 2026-04-16. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  16. ↑ VCWire (2024-09-18). "URBAN-X By MINI Announces Cohort 15". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  17. ↑ World, Automotive (2021-08-18). "URBAN-X: The venture accelerator founded by MINI". Automotive World. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  18. ↑ Zelniker, Nicole. "Startup Farmshelf aims to let restaurants, homeowners grow their own veggies". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  19. ↑ Joyner, April (2017-03-09). "Meet the latest cohort of Urban-X startups". Technical.ly. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  20. ↑ Edelson, Zachary. "Startup Accelerator URBAN-X Welcomes Its Next Round of Entrepreneurs". Metropolis. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  21. ↑ "URBAN-X chooses 7 startups to join newest accelerator cohort | Smart Cities Dive". www.smartcitiesdive.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  22. ↑ "URBAN-X graduates 5th cohort of city-focused startups | Smart Cities Dive". www.smartcitiesdive.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  23. ↑ "URBAN-X launches 6th startup cohort | Smart Cities Dive". www.smartcitiesdive.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  24. ↑ Staff, News (2019-12-09). "URBAN-X 7th Cohort Aims at EVs, Drones, Sewer Infrastructure". GovTech. Retrieved 2026-04-16. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  25. ↑ Bhatia, Sanuj (2020-06-25). "Urban-X announces Startup Cohort 08, Launches First-Ever Fully Remote Program » IMPACT[X] MEDIA". IMPACT[X] MEDIA. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  26. ↑ Shieber, Jonathan (2021-01-28). "Urban-X launches its latest cohort as the world catches up to the accelerator's climate thesis". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  27. ↑ "Tenth cohort of start-ups driving urban innovation named". Smart Cities World. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  28. ↑ "Urban-X platform unveils 11th cohort of city innovators". Smart Cities World. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  29. ↑ Staff, News (2023-03-30). "New URBAN-X Cohort Tackles Wildfires, Community Feedback". GovTech. Retrieved 2026-04-16. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  30. ↑ George, Violet (2023-09-11). "URBAN-X And JVP Launch New Cohort Of Urban Innovators Building Critical Climate Tech". Carbon Herald. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  31. ↑ Descant, Skip (2024-03-18). "New URBAN-X Cohort Looks to Cycling and Electrified Transportation". GovTech. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  32. ↑ VCWire (2024-09-18). "URBAN-X By MINI Announces Cohort 15". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  33. ↑ Staff, News (2022-12-21). "URBAN-X Goes Global With European, Asian Investments". GovTech. Retrieved 2026-04-16. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  34. ↑ VCWire (2023-12-01). "URBAN-X by MINI Announces Startups of 2023 MINI Impact Program". Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  35. ↑ EDOA.corp. "Focus on 白木秀司 | すべては現場から始まる ― 脱炭素と経済性を両立する「商用EV」普及の最前線". Focus on[フォーカスオン] (in jp). Retrieved 2026-04-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)