Urban Future Lab
Urban Future Lab is a non-profit climatetech innovation hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn, operating five incubator and accelerator programs (ACRE, Carbon to Value, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, Innovate UK, Clean Start) plus a manufacturing accelerator that support clean energy startups without taking equity.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Urban Future Lab does
Urban Future Lab (UFL) is a non-profit climatetech innovation hub and the longest-running climatetech incubator in New York City, operating as an integral part of NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Sustainable Engineering Initiative. Founded in 2009 by NYU Polytechnic (now NYU Tandon) and NYSERDA as NYC ACRE and rebranded under its current name in 2012 with NYCEDC funding, UFL supports climatetech startups across clean energy, carbon capture, sustainable urban infrastructure, transportation electrification, and circular economy verticals. The organization provides office space, fundraising assistance, customer introductions, mentor access, marketing and design support, and regulatory navigation without taking equity from member companies. Its primary customers are market-ready climatetech startups that have raised less than $5M in private funding, supplemented by mid-career professionals seeking clean-energy credentials.
UFL operates five interconnected programs plus an annual competition and a manufacturing-focused accelerator: ACRE (the flagship 2-3 year incubator), Carbon to Value Initiative (carbontech, co-run with Greentown Labs and Fraunhofer USA), Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (US offshore wind, led with Equinor and bp), Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme (six-month US market entry for UK startups), and Clean Start (NYU certificate program for clean-energy careers). The Urban Future Prize Competition serves as the primary application pipeline into ACRE, and the GROW+TOGETHER accelerator (funded by a 2024 DOE EPIC grant) connects hardtech clean energy startups with Northeast U.S. manufacturers. The organization works with sponsors and partners including ABinBev, BASF, BHP, BP, Equinor, Shell, Toyota, Wells Fargo, Breakthrough Energy, JPMorgan Chase, MUFG, Mitsubishi Corporation, Con Edison, NYSERDA, NYCEDC, the DOE, and Innovate UK.
UFL's business model is a hybrid nonprofit combining ACRE membership fees ($450/month base membership plus $450/month per additional desk), corporate sponsorships, government grants, and donations. The no-equity founder-first model distinguishes it from equity-taking accelerators such as Y Combinator. To date UFL has supported 200+ startups that have collectively raised $4.2B+ in venture capital, project finance, and grants, created 5,700+ jobs, achieved a 92% company survival rate, and produced 20 exits. The organization operates from two Brooklyn locations: headquarters at 370 Jay Street on the NYU Tandon campus and a second site at the Brooklyn Army Terminal through the BATWorks consortium, and is led by a 17-person team including Managing Director Frederic Clerc and COO Jeannette Williams.
Urban Future Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urban Future Lab
- Legal name
- Urban Future Lab
- Website
- https://ufl.nyc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Urban Future Lab is a non-profit climatetech innovation hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn, operating five incubator and accelerator programs (ACRE, Carbon to Value, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, Innovate UK, Clean Start) plus a manufacturing accelerator that support clean energy startups without taking equity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urban Future Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climatetech Incubator and Accelerator Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)
Keywords
Where Urban Future Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Urban Future Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: ACRE incubator charges membership fees: $450/month base membership for hot-desk and access to support services. Additional physical desks cost $450/month each. This revenue model allows UFL to not take equity from startups.
- Sponsorships & Corporate Partnerships: UFL works with corporate sponsors including ABinBev, BASF, BHP, BP, Equinor, Shell, Toyota, and many others who fund tailored programming in support of climate commitments and technology goals.
- Donations: As a nonprofit, UFL accepts donations to support programs driving innovation in climatetech, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
- Government Grants: Funding from entities including NYSERDA, NYCEDC, Department of Energy, and Innovate UK supports program operations and startup support services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | ACRE Base Membership - Hot desk with full support services |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Additional Physical Desk |
| Other | Annual | Competition Entry (Urban Future Prize) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Urban Future Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Future Lab is a non-profit climatetech innovation hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering that supports market-ready startups across clean energy, carbon capture, offshore wind, and sustainable urban infrastructure. Through its ACRE incubator, Carbon to Value Initiative, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, Innovate UK Global Incubator, and Clean Start programs, UFL delivers shared office space, fundraising assistance, customer and industry introductions, mentorship, and marketing/design support without taking equity from member companies. The Urban Future Prize Competition serves as the primary pipeline into the ACRE incubator.
Product overview
Urban Future Lab operates as a non-profit climatetech innovation hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, offering a suite of five interconnected programs that support climate solution startups from incubation to commercialization. The core ACRE Incubator provides comprehensive support services including fundraising assistance, customer introductions, and office space for 2-3 years. Specialized accelerator programs include the Carbon to Value Initiative for carbontech startups, the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub for offshore wind solutions, and the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme for UK market entry. Professional development is delivered through Clean Start, while the Urban Future Prize Competition serves as the primary pipeline for the incubator. The GROW + TOGETHER program connects hardtech startups with Northeast US manufacturers. The organization does not take equity from member companies, distinguishing its founder-first approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACRE (Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy) Flagship climatetech incubator program and the longest-running in New York City. Supports startups for 2–3 years with fundraising assistance, commercial pilots, customer introductions, hiring, marketing, design support, and office space. Open to climatetech startups that have raised less than $5M in private funding, with primary pipeline via the annual Urban Future Prize Competition and rolling admissions.
- Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V) Multi-year carbontech accelerator that drives commercialization of technologies capturing and converting CO2 into valuable products or services. Targets startups at TRL 4–7 working on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), with cohort selection via the Carbontech Leadership Council.
- Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH) Innovation hub working with innovators to scale novel technological solutions for the US offshore wind industry, providing mentorship, advisory services, workshops, and industry connections. Operated as a partnership with Equinor, bp, NOWRDC, NYCEDC, and NYSERDA, with programming at the Brooklyn Army Terminal BATWorks.
- Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme Six-month market entry accelerator helping UK climatetech startups (under 500 employees) establish a presence in the US market through New York. Provides mentorship, a cohort curriculum, and connections to US funding and partnerships, with 8 businesses per cohort and support from Innovate UK EDGE Innovation & Growth Specialists.
- Clean Start NYU certificate program delivered in collaboration with the Center for Global Affairs and Urban Future Lab, designed to help mid-career professionals develop the technical, analytical, and systems thinking skills required for careers in the clean energy economy. Includes hands-on learning, mentorships, and capstone projects.
- Urban Future Prize Competition Annual competition identifying climatetech startups with promising climate solutions. Winners and runners-up receive non-dilutive cash awards and admission to the ACRE incubator; no cost to apply or participate.
- GROW + TOGETHER Accelerator merging hardtech clean energy startups with the manufacturing industry in the Northeast US, supported by a $3M DOE EPIC award. Facilitates startup–manufacturer matchmaking and pilot partnerships.
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% company survival rate vs 20% national average
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Urban Future Lab
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Urban Future Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Urban Future Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and past.
- Brooklyn Army Terminal (BATWorks)coreUFL part of BATWorks consortium (with LACI and Cambridge Innovation Center) to anchor Climate Innovation Hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal for manufacturing and climate tech prototyping.
- EquinorcoreLead partner of Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH), working to scale novel technological solutions for the rapidly growing US offshore wind industry.
- Innovate UKcoreUK government program for which UFL serves as US landing pad. Provides Global Incubator Programme for UK climatetech startups to enter US market.
- NYU Tandon School of EngineeringcoreParent institution of Urban Future Lab. UFL is an integral part of NYU Tandon's Sustainable Engineering Initiative, providing resources, infrastructure, and academic ecosystem support for climatetech startups.
- Greentown LabscoreCo-founder of Carbon to Value Initiative with Fraunhofer USA. Collaboration aims to catalyze carbontech ecosystem through joint accelerator programming and network access.
- Fraunhofer USAcoreCo-founder of Carbon to Value Initiative with Greentown Labs. Provides technical expertise and validation support for carbontech startups.
- bpcorePartner in OWIH initiative alongside Equinor, supporting innovation in US offshore wind sector.
- National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC)coreCollaborator in OWIH, providing research and development expertise for offshore wind innovation.
- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)coreSupporting OWIH and part of BATWorks consortium for climate innovation hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal.
- NYSERDAcoreNew York State Energy Research and Development Authority supports OWIH and originally co-founded ACRE incubator in 2009.
- SecondMusecorePartner in GROW+TOGETHER accelerator, pioneering merger of hardtech clean energy startups with Northeast US manufacturing industry.
- New York Power Authority (NYPA)pastCollaborated on NYPA Innovation Challenge to source and select startups for piloting EV charging and energy storage technologies.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Urban Future Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Urban Future Lab social profiles
Digital presenceUrban Future Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urban Future Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Urban Future Lab subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Urban Future Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urban Future Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Urban Future Lab
What does Urban Future Lab do?
Urban Future Lab is a non-profit climatetech innovation hub at NYU Tandon School of Engineering that supports market-ready startups across clean energy, carbon capture, offshore wind, and sustainable urban infrastructure. Through its ACRE incubator, Carbon to Value Initiative, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, Innovate UK Global Incubator, and Clean Start programs, UFL delivers shared office space, fundraising assistance, customer and industry introductions, mentorship, and marketing/design support without taking equity from member companies. The Urban Future Prize Competition serves as the primary pipeline into the ACRE incubator.
Is Urban Future Lab a public or private company?
Urban Future Lab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Urban Future Lab founded?
Urban Future Lab was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Urban Future Lab based?
Urban Future Lab is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Urban Future Lab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships & Corporate Partnerships, donations and government Grants.
Does Urban Future Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urban Future Lab.
What industry is Urban Future Lab in?
Urban Future Lab's product category is Climatetech Incubator and Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAJ, Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities), with a secondary code of BPADALAL, Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure.