Urban Future Prize Competition
Climate change: solve it with us.
Applications for the 2026 Urban Future Prize Competition are now open.
The Competition
The Urban Future Prize Competition
For the tenth consecutive year, the Urban Future Lab is proud to present the Urban Future Prize Competition, which identifies and supports top climatetech startups. Thanks to the generous support of MUFG Bank, The New York Community Trust, NYSERDA, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, two winners will each receive a $50,000 cash prize and admission into the ACRE Incubator—New York’s longest-running and most successful climatetech program. Additionally, for the first time in the competition’s history, the runner-up teams in each track will also receive $10,000 cash prizes and admission into the program.
Building on the record-breaking number of applications to the 2025 Urban Future Prize Competition—and the growing urgency for solutions to help us adapt to our new climate reality—we are excited to announce two distinct prize tracks for this year: the Climate Mitigation Prize and the Climate Adaptation Prize. These tracks reflect our commitment to addressing the climate crisis through both reducing emissions and building resilience to its impacts.
The Climate Mitigation Prize seeks startups developing technologies or business models to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the root causes of climate change. The Climate Adaptation Prize is for startups developing solutions that help communities and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of climate change.
New York’s dynamic tech sector, supportive policies, and large market position it as a global hub for climatetech innovation and sustainability solutions.
Prizes
The Prizes
The Urban Future Prize Competition seeks entrepreneurs who are building startups that contribute to a more resilient and sustainable planet. Two non-dilutive prizes of $50K each will be awarded to two companies that best embody the drive and mission needed to address the greatest challenge of our time. In addition, two non-dilutive $10,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded in each track.
Climate-sector Agnostic
The Climate Mitigation Prize
Sponsored by MUFG Bank and The New York Community Trust
The Climate Mitigation Prize focuses on solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Startups with technologies or business models designed to mitigate climate impacts are encouraged to apply. We will also consider the impact of your solution on vulnerable communities.
Eligible solutions include, but are not limited to:
Renewable Energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, tidal/wave, nuclear, hybrid, other)
Smart Grid and Grid Flexibility
Energy Distribution and Storage
Circular Economy
Transportation and Mobility
Buildings, Energy Efficiency, and Building Materials
Climate Finance
Industrial Decarbonization
Artificial Intelligence and Compute Infrastructure (AI energy impact, data center + edge)
Robotics, Automation, and Advanced Materials
Climate-Adaptation Focused
The Climate Adaptation Prize
Sponsored by MUFG Bank and The New York Community Trust
The Climate Adaptation Prize focuses on solutions that help communities and ecosystems adapt to and build resilience against the impacts of climate change. Startups with technologies or business models designed to strengthen adaptation and resilience are encouraged to apply. We will also consider the impact of your solution on vulnerable communities.
Eligible solutions include, but are not limited to:
Insurance Innovation
Risk Modeling and Analysis
Water Security
Heat Resistant Material Innovations
Urban Infrastructure and Resilience
Extreme Weather Vulnerability Solutions
Advanced Warning Solutions
Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystem Resilience
Public Health
Food Security
Adaptation Financing Solutions
Urban Future Prize Competition Stats
23
Awardees since 2017
$1M
In Prizes awarded
$515M
Amount raised in private capital by awardees
515x
Multiple on non-dilutive capital awarded
The ACRE Incubator
New York’s leading climatetech incubator.
A $50,000 cash prize will be awarded to each of two grand prize winners and a $10,000 cash prize will be awarded to each of two runner-up winners. The Climate Mitigation Prize and Climate Adaptation Prize winners and runners-up 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 $3.2 billion in follow-on funding, created over 2,800+ green jobs, and have a survival rate of close to 90% since the program’s inception in 2009.
Urban Future Prize Winner Benefits
01.
$120K in Cash Prizes
Two $50,000 cash prizes for our first place winners and two $10,000 cash prizes for our runners-up with zero-equity stake, so you can focus on your company’s next steps.
02.
ACRE Incubator Membership
Acceptance and membership into New York City’s premier climatetech incubator, with incubator specific benefits and unmatched startup support.
03.
Recognition and Opportunities
Ecosystem recognition, media opportunities, and access to introductions to key partners in the public and private sectors.
Urban Future Prize Competition Jurors
The Jurors
Urban Future Prize finalists will be invited to pitch to an esteemed jury of climate investors. Stay tuned and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when the jurors are announced. Past jurors have included investors from leading funds such as Lowercarbon Capital, Energy Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy, and Fifth Wall.
Pitch Event
The Urban Future Summit
Join us at the Urban Future Prize Competition’s annual pitch event.
The Urban Future Prize Competition culminates with the Urban Future Summit, an event for climate entrepreneurs, technologists, government officials, business leaders, investors, and innovators in New York City. This year, on October 22nd, the Urban Future Summit will feature pitches from finalists of the 2026 Urban Future Prize Competition; an industry panel discussion; and showcase the successes of past participants of the Prize Competition. We will also highlight the commitment of our sponsors as leaders who take constructive measures to improve and benefit our planet.
Competition Timeline
Competition Sponsors
Join a community of innovators.
Past winners, competitors, and finalists - all changing the climatetech world, one innovation at a time.
“Right now, we’re deploying with organizations in three countries — the US, Singapore, and Japan. Over the next 12 months, we aim to partner closely with our existing customers, win their trust, and scale across these markets. We’re excited to be part of a strong portfolio of companies and a supportive ecosystem to make that happen.” – Tiffany Yeh, MD, Co-Founder & CEO, Eztia, 2025 Winner
"So much about Urban Future Lab aligns with who we are and what we’re about, and it’s incredibly validating to work with a group like this. Their resources in design, go-to-market, and fundraising will help us scale what we’ve already built in New York City and expand into other cities like Toronto, Chicago, and Philadelphia." – David Hammer, Co-Founder, PopWheels, 2025 Winner
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