Cities Forum
Cities Forum is a London-based non-profit advisory that provides strategic consulting, project delivery, and matchmaking services to municipal governments, national ministries, private companies, and multilateral institutions on sustainable urban development and smart city initiatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cities Forum does
Cities Forum is a London-based non-profit advisory organization founded in 2018 that provides strategic consulting services to municipal governments, national ministries, private companies, and multilateral institutions on sustainable urban development. Its stated objectives are to provide strategic advice to governments, cities, and organizations; to drive sustainable growth in cities; to facilitate matchmaking between cities and solution-providing companies; and to highlight best practices and enable cross-city learning. The organization does not sell a proprietary technology product; its deliverables are professional services — strategic advisory, project consulting, and event organization — delivered through direct engagements, study tours, and training programs.
Its core technology footprint is minimal: there is no proprietary platform, API, SDK, or app, and the organization is explicitly described as a non-profit advisory rather than a technology company. Digital touchpoints consist of a content website, email newsletter, and a multi-platform social presence (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram) used for thought leadership and inbound demand generation. Its primary distribution channels are direct consulting engagement and event participation, with self-serve inquiry forms serving as a top-of-funnel entry point.
The business model is professional services. Three revenue streams are identified — strategic advisory services, event organization (including co-hosted forums such as 5G Forum Malaga), and project consulting — delivered on a quote-based, project-scope pricing model. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization operates from a single headquarters at 71-75 Shelton Street, London, and claims global reach evidenced by named partner cities in Europe and Latin America (Berlin, Rome, Quito), engagement with a multilateral development bank (IADB), and participation in international events. Customer segments are primarily vertical: government and city administrations as the lead segment, with private companies, associated expert consultants, and international organizations as secondary segments.
Cities Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cities Forum
- Legal name
- Cities Forum
- Website
- https://citiesforum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cities Forum is a London-based non-profit advisory that provides strategic consulting, project delivery, and matchmaking services to municipal governments, national ministries, private companies, and multilateral institutions on sustainable urban development and smart city initiatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cities Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Development Consulting
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory (BPAJANAL)
Keywords
Where Cities Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cities Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Advisory Services: Cities Forum provides strategic advice to government, cities, and organisations to help them achieve sustainable development goals. This appears to be the primary revenue-generating activity.
- Event Organization: The organization hosts events including the 5G Forum Malaga and facilitates participation at major industry events like Smart City Expo and Urban Future.
- Project Consulting: Cities Forum operates projects and initiatives working with cities and companies on sustainable urban development. They also maintain a network of associated experts for technical assignments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cities Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cities Forum is a non-profit advisory organisation that provides strategic advice to governments, cities, and organisations on sustainable urban development. Core offerings include strategic advisory services, project-based consulting drawing on a network of associated experts, and the organisation of events such as the 5G Forum Malaga, alongside participation in major industry events like Smart City Expo, Urban Future, and Mobile World Congress. It also facilitates matchmaking between cities and private-sector solution providers and publishes research and case studies highlighting best practices across the urban sector.
Product overview
Cities Forum is a non-profit advisory organization focused on sustainable urban development, providing strategic consulting services to governments, cities, and organizations rather than a technology product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Strategic Advisory Services Strategic advice provided to government agencies, city administrations, and organisations to help them achieve sustainable development goals. Targeted at municipal and national bodies needing guidance on digital transformation, green initiatives, smart city planning, mobility, public realm, and sustainability.
- Project Consulting Project-based consulting engagements delivering technical assignments and initiatives for cities, companies, and international organisations on sustainable urban development. Leverages a network of associated expert consultants to contribute proven expertise and experience to defined project scopes.
- Event Organisation and Hosting Organisation and hosting of industry events and forums focused on sustainable urban development and smart cities, including the 5G Forum Malaga and participation in Smart City Expo, Urban Future, Mobile World Congress, and similar convenings. Delivered to cities, companies, and experts for networking and visibility.
Companies that use Cities Forum
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cities Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cities Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)coreIADB is a multilateral development bank that provides financing and technical assistance to support sustainable development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cities Forum works with IADB on urban development initiatives.
- Smart City Expo World CongresscoreMajor annual smart city event held in Barcelona. Cities Forum participates as a partner organization, engaging with cities and companies focused on urban innovation and sustainable development.
- Urban FuturecoreA leading European smart city event series. Cities Forum partners with Urban Future for networking and knowledge sharing among urban development professionals.
- 5G ForumcoreMain event of reference specifically on 5G in Spain, held in Malaga's Digital Content Hub. Cities Forum participates in this forum which brings together top national and international experts from more than 20 countries to discuss 5G applications in urban environments.
- AuszirvesiminorInternational organization featured as a collaborator on Cities Forum's partner page.
- AutonmyminorPartner organization collaborating with Cities Forum on sustainable urban initiatives.
- Smart City Expo MiamicoreRegional edition of the Smart City Expo focused on North American urban development. Cities Forum participates as a partner organization.
- Ministry of HousingcoreGovernment ministry collaborating with Cities Forum on housing and urban development policy and projects.
- BerlincoreThe city of Berlin has partnered with Cities Forum for sustainable urban development initiatives and knowledge exchange.
- Roma (Rome)coreThe city of Rome collaborates with Cities Forum on urban development and smart city initiatives.
- QuitocoreThe capital city of Ecuador partners with Cities Forum for sustainable urban development and smart city projects.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cities Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy with a substantial cities, sustainability, and urban-planning practice. Competes for many of the same urban-development mandates as Cities Forum but with far broader services and deeper bench.
Direct peers
- C40 Cities: Global network of cities focused on climate and sustainability leadership. Directly comparable to Cities Forum as a city-focused, non-profit platform convening municipalities and supporting them on sustainable urban agendas.
- Smart City Expo World Congress: Flagship annual smart-city event in Barcelona with regional editions including Miami. Cities Forum partners with it; the events attract the same city decision-maker audience.
- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: International association of local governments working on sustainable urban development. Closely comparable mission, non-profit structure, and city-convening model to Cities Forum.
- Urban Future: European smart-city event series and community for city professionals. Cities Forum is an explicit partner; comparable in audience, content focus, and city-convening role.
- New Cities Foundation: Non-profit focused on urban innovation and city-to-city learning. Overlaps with Cities Forum's matchmaking and knowledge-sharing approach to urban challenges.
- Institute for Sustainable Communities: Non-profit that works with cities and communities on climate resilience and sustainability programmes. Similar mission, non-profit model, and city-engagement approach to Cities Forum.
- World Resources Institute – Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: Program dedicated to building sustainable, equitable cities in developing countries. Comparable in combining research, advisory, and city engagement on sustainable urban development.
Others
- UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for sustainable urban development. Comparable mission space but operating as a multilateral public-sector body rather than a private non-profit advisory.
Emerging players
- Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins: Recently launched initiative that partners with mayors' offices to build capacity for urban innovation. Comparable target audience (city halls) and overlap with Cities Forum's digital and green transformation advisory work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cities Forum social profiles
Digital presenceCities Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cities Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cities Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cities Forum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cities Forum
What does Cities Forum do?
Cities Forum is a non-profit advisory organisation that provides strategic advice to governments, cities, and organisations on sustainable urban development. Core offerings include strategic advisory services, project-based consulting drawing on a network of associated experts, and the organisation of events such as the 5G Forum Malaga, alongside participation in major industry events like Smart City Expo, Urban Future, and Mobile World Congress. It also facilitates matchmaking between cities and private-sector solution providers and publishes research and case studies highlighting best practices across the urban sector.
Is Cities Forum a public or private company?
Cities Forum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cities Forum founded?
Cities Forum was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cities Forum based?
Cities Forum is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cities Forum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Strategic Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are event Organization and project Consulting.
Who are Cities Forum's main competitors?
Arup is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are C40 Cities, Smart City Expo World Congress, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Urban Future, New Cities Foundation, Institute for Sustainable Communities and World Resources Institute – Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. UN-Habitat is listed as an others. Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins is listed as an emerging player.
Does Cities Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cities Forum.
What industry is Cities Forum in?
Cities Forum's product category is Urban Development Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJANAL, Real Estate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) & Infrastructure-Adjacent Real Estate Advisory. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8742.