Urban Future Lab

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.

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

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

• Climatetech incubator
• Clean energy startups
• Accelerator programs
• Carbon capture technology
• Offshore wind innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Donations: As a nonprofit, UFL accepts donations to support programs driving innovation in climatetech, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
4. Government Grants: Funding from entities including NYSERDA, NYCEDC, Department of Energy, and Innovate UK supports program operations and startup support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and past.

• Brooklyn Army Terminal (BATWorks)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025UFL 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.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lead partner of Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH), working to scale novel technological solutions for the rapidly growing US offshore wind industry.
• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020UK 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 EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent 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 LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Carbon to Value Initiative with Fraunhofer USA. Collaboration aims to catalyze carbontech ecosystem through joint accelerator programming and network access.
• Fraunhofer USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Carbon to Value Initiative with Greentown Labs. Provides technical expertise and validation support for carbontech startups.
• bpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in OWIH initiative alongside Equinor, supporting innovation in US offshore wind sector.
• National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator in OWIH, providing research and development expertise for offshore wind innovation.
• New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting OWIH and part of BATWorks consortium for climate innovation hub at Brooklyn Army Terminal.
• NYSERDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York State Energy Research and Development Authority supports OWIH and originally co-founded ACRE incubator in 2009.
• SecondMusecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GROW+TOGETHER accelerator, pioneering merger of hardtech clean energy startups with Northeast US manufacturing industry.
• New York Power Authority (NYPA)pastStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated 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

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urbanfuturelab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Future Lab