Urban Movement Labs
Urban Movement Labs was a Los Angeles-based advisory firm co-founded in 2019 that bridged municipal government, communities, and cleantech/mobility innovators to scale zero-emissions transportation. It merged with LACI in 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Urban Movement Labs does
Urban Movement Labs was a Los Angeles-based advisory and collaboration platform founded in 2019 by Francis Pollara and Julia Thayne, both of whom served as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence in Mayor Eric Garcetti's administration. The firm operated as a bridge between municipal government, communities, and mobility/cleantech innovators, with a stated mission of scaling zero-emissions mobility solutions and supporting urban transportation innovation aligned with climate action planning. Its primary customer segment was government transportation and mobility agencies, and its value proposition centered on accelerating climate and mobility solutions through strategic partnerships, policy insight, and market activation, including support for economic development and foreign direct investment flows into the U.S. cleantech sector.
Underlying products or technology are not described in the source material — the offering was services-based (advisory, ecosystem orchestration, partnership facilitation) rather than software or hardware. Pricing details, revenue mechanics, and GTM motion are also not disclosed. In 2024, Urban Movement Labs merged with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to scale zero-emissions mobility, which is the most significant corporate event in the company's history. Following the merger, both co-founders established Twoº & Rising, a separate advisory group dedicated to bridging U.S.–foreign partnerships to advance cleantech solutions, with services spanning Discover (market research), Strategize, Partner, Execute (market entry), and Scale (fundraising, grant strategy). Named Twoº & Rising clients include the Consulate General of Canada, Team Finland (Consulate General of Finland), and London & Partners.
Urban Movement Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urban Movement Labs
- Website
- https://urbanmovementlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Urban Movement Labs was a Los Angeles-based advisory firm co-founded in 2019 that bridged municipal government, communities, and cleantech/mobility innovators to scale zero-emissions transportation. It merged with LACI in 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urban Movement Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Mobility Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120), Urban Transit Systems (4851)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM), Sustainable / Low-Emission Ground Transportation Programs (THACAIAL)
Keywords
Where Urban Movement Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Urban Movement Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Urban Movement Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Movement Labs was a collaboration between communities, local government, and mobility innovators that worked to advance zero-emissions mobility and urban transportation innovation, primarily serving city and state government agencies. The firm supported economic development, ecosystem growth, and foreign direct investment in mobility and cleantech sectors through strategic partnerships, policy insight, and market activation, with a mission to scale technology and inform policy aimed at limiting global warming to 2°C or less by 2030.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Urban Movement Labs merged with LACI to scale zero emissions mobility
Companies that use Urban Movement Labs
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Urban Movement Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Urban Movement Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)coreUrban Movement Labs merged with LACI to scale zero emissions mobility. This merger combined UML's expertise in urban mobility innovation with LACI's established cleantech incubator infrastructure to accelerate zero-emissions transportation solutions in Los Angeles.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Urban Movement Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- StreetLight Data: Urban mobility analytics platform serving planners, transportation agencies, and infrastructure consultants with data on travel patterns. Comparable buyer base (city/state DOTs and mobility agencies) and overlapping mission of enabling data-driven urban transportation decisions.
- Populus: Mobility data and policy platform that helps cities manage shared mobility, curb space, and transportation programs. Direct overlap with UML's transportation agency customer base and zero-emissions mobility agenda.
- Transportation for America: Advocacy and policy organization focused on modernizing U.S. transportation, with deep engagement on zero-emissions mobility and federal funding flows. Comparable in mission and policy-adjacent positioning to UML's government-facing advisory practice.
Broad incumbents
- C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Global network of 100+ mayors addressing climate change, with active programs on urban mobility and transportation decarbonization. C40 is a peer in cleantech advisory to city governments and operates at a substantially larger scale.
- Sidewalk Labs: Alphabet-affiliated urban innovation organization that worked on smart-city planning, mobility, and infrastructure. Comparable in its cross-sector urban innovation mandate and public-sector buyer focus, though significantly larger in capital and scope.
- Smart Cities Council: Industry coalition advising cities on smart-city strategy, including mobility and sustainability programs. Comparable in mission to equip urban governments with frameworks, partnerships, and vendor ecosystems for urban innovation.
Direct peers
- Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Global climate non-profit where co-founder Julia Thayne served as Senior Principal managing a $16M+ decarbonization portfolio. RMI runs similar cross-sector cleantech advisory work targeting industry, transportation, and policy, making it a close functional peer.
- Remix (now part of Via Transportation): Transit planning and mobility platform serving cities on route design, scenario planning, and zero-emissions transition strategy. Remix shares UML's buyer (city transportation agencies) and core subject matter (urban mobility decarbonization), differing mainly in being a software product rather than advisory services.
- Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI): UML's merger partner and now parent organization. LACI operates as a cleantech incubator with a mobility/transportation portfolio, making it the most direct comparator as both organizations pursue zero-emissions mobility in the LA ecosystem.
Others
- Urbanism Speakeasy: Urbanism advisory and educational platform working with cities on mobility, land use, and policy. Smaller-scale peer sharing a mission to translate urban innovation principles into municipal practice.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Urban Movement Labs social profiles
Digital presenceUrban Movement Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urban Movement Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Urban Movement Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urban Movement Labs 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 Urban Movement Labs
What does Urban Movement Labs do?
Urban Movement Labs was a collaboration between communities, local government, and mobility innovators that worked to advance zero-emissions mobility and urban transportation innovation, primarily serving city and state government agencies. The firm supported economic development, ecosystem growth, and foreign direct investment in mobility and cleantech sectors through strategic partnerships, policy insight, and market activation, with a mission to scale technology and inform policy aimed at limiting global warming to 2°C or less by 2030.
When was Urban Movement Labs founded?
Urban Movement Labs was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Urban Movement Labs based?
Urban Movement Labs is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Urban Movement Labs's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are StreetLight Data, Populus and Transportation for America. Broad incumbents are C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Sidewalk Labs and Smart Cities Council. Direct peers are Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Remix (now part of Via Transportation) and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). Urbanism Speakeasy is listed as an others.
Does Urban Movement Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urban Movement Labs.
What industry is Urban Movement Labs in?
Urban Movement Labs's product category is Urban Mobility Advisory 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 BPAIACAM, Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration. Its NAICS code is 926120 and its SIC code is 4700.