The URB Incubator is a Dubai-based accelerator program helping early-stage Urban Tech entrepreneurs.
The program is in line with UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The URB Incubator is designed to accelerate the 2050 net zero initiative by fostering a bottom-up entrepreneurial spirit in the built environment in UAE. The start-up program will empower a new breed of innovators to become the next leaders of urban tech solutions for a sustainable future in UAE.
CEO of URB, Baharash Bagherian who has masterminded designs of several sustainable cities that are under construction, explains the key aims of the incubator.
“Our aim is to discover, mentor & invest in the next generation of urban-tech entrepreneurs in UAE. The incubator will support urban technology companies, build the ecosystem & transform UAE into the global urban technology hub. With COP 28 approaching, we are focused on identifying and scaling the most impactful startups in UAE that will help to achieve the countries Net Zero targets by 2050.”
The 2023 incubator is open to Urban Tech start-ups in the following categories:
ONDER – Digital energy services for decentralized power systems
VERNE – Redefining waterborne urban mobility
DELIVERED – Increasing wellbeing through omni-sensory experience
THRASOS 3D – 3D printing for a sustainable future
SMART OASIS FARM – Water-independent controlled environment farm
HILO EV – A new generation of premium e-scooters
We are delighted to partner with URB in our shared vision of enabling cities that are smart, sustainable, and responsive to citizen needs. Anthill supports bold entrepreneurs in the urban technology space who have scaled immensely; in the past year Anthill has supported our urban tech portfolio to raise combined $14M in early stage funding, expand to two new geographies each, on average, and activate marquee clients across business and government. We are certain that our partnership with the URB incubator will result in further opportunities for path-breaking, global urban technologies to scale in India.
Partner at Anthill Capital Ventures
The incubator program at URB is perfect for us and we are really glad that we are the winners of this first cycle, and I think it will be a great opportunity to showcase our technology at a larger scale in collaboration with URB.
Dr. Saeed Al Khazraji, MANHAT
The breadth of the submissions which tried to address some of the most critical challenges that our cities are facing, made it very thrilling to judge and to narrow down a shortlist. Beyond environmental challenges, it was encouraging to see that submissions tried to address social challenges to create more inclusive communities. The submissions clearly highlighted the wide range of opportunities & challenges that urban planners, architects and designers need to think about for creating more liveable and resilient cities. As such, the incubator for sustainable cities is an important initiative to foster and promote sustainability within the built environment.
Senior Manager, Terra Pavilion at Expo City
I would like to recommend everybody to apply. We are very excited for what is going to come to us in the future, and I believe together and only together we can create sustainable cities, towns, neighbourhoods, streets & the whole world. JUST APPLY.
Urbanitarian