Accelerating and elevating the world's most innovative and impactful solutions addressing resiliency, equity, and sustainability in our communities.
Meet Gravity Water, our 2024 AcceliCITY Solution of the Year
Gravity Water is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing sustainable, clean drinking water to communities in need by transforming rainwater into safe water through gravity-fed filtration. With projects in regions like Nepal and Vietnam, they deliver eco-friendly solutions that support public health, conserve resources, and empower local communities for lasting impact.
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What is QBE AcceliCITY?
QBE AcceliCITY is one of the Top 5 GovTech accelerators in the world. It serves as a runway for emerging urban solution providers while simultaneously reducing the risk and cost of innovation for cities.
Throughout the course of the program, teams participate in a business-to-government focused web-based curriculum, direct interaction with city leaders, free access to our virtual LaunchPad 11 global community, and an intensive Boot Camp led by international business, government, and smart city leaders. QBE AcceliCITY webinars and workshops are designed to help companies navigate the nuanced challenges of working with governments, distinguish and convey venture value, and network within an expansive Smart and Resilient City ecosystem. The program culminates with pitch events where $150,000 in city pilot opportunities are awarded.
Why Pilot Projects
Pilot Projects have proven to be the best opportunity for emerging solutions to enter the marketplace, provide a proof of concept, and build trust-based relationships with city leaders.
Value to Cities
For cities, QBE AcceliCITY serves to mitigate the risk that often comes with innovation by connecting local governments with globally sourced, expert-vetted Smart & Resilient City solutions. With hundreds of applications each year, from upwards of 70 countries, QBE AcceliCITY’s vetting process serves to bring forth the best and most prepared solution providers, ready to tackle the pressing urban challenges facing cities today. Through QBE AcceliCITY, Leading Cities builds confidence in city leaders to execute innovative solutions bolstering community resilience in a time when it is needed most.
About Our Partner
QBE is an international insurer and reinsurer with a local presence in 27 countries. Founded in 1886, by two entrepreneurs who started a marine insurance company in Townsville, Australia to give early pioneers a safeguard against uncertainty. Since then, QBE has grown and evolved offering commercial, personal and specialty products and risk management solutions to help people and businesses manage risks, build strength and embrace change to their advantage. QBE's purpose is to enable a more resilient future. That's why they are excited to be partnering with Leading Cities to run the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge. Visit them at www.qbe.com to find out more about how they can help businesses like yours.
A program built to drive City Excellence through Startup Success.
Facilitates sustainable growth, resilience, and quality of life improvements for cities around the world by adressing critical needs of smart cities startups.
Our commitment
AcceliCITY is a global program that seeks out the best and brightest entrepreneurs who are working on solutions that address the challenges of urban living. Our focus is on smart city solutions that tackle risk, equity, and sustainability in cities around the world.
Our goal is to provide entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and support they need to turn their ideas into successful businesses. We believe that by leveraging technology and innovation, we can create more livable, equitable, and sustainable cities for all.
What We Offer
The QBE AcceliCITY program offers access to pilot projects, funding, B2G education, and a global ecosystem. Additionally, we take a hands-on approach to mentorship, providing entrepreneurs with personalized guidance and support to help them grow and scale their businesses. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your company to the next level, we're here to help you succeed.
Program Benefits
CONNECT
with clients, investors and partners
GROW
your venture’s sales readiness
WIN
Up to $150,000 in cash and paid pilots
Frequently Asked Questions
QBE AcceliCITY by the Numbers
There are many metrics Leading Cities uses to measure the impact and success of our QBE AcceliCITY program. These are but a few of the countless ways that QBE AcceliCITY has shaped entrepreneurs, ventures, and communities.
$1 Billion Raised
Since our launch in 2018 the total funding QBE AcceliCITY Alumni have raised now exceeds $1 billion!
70+ Countries
QBE AcceliCITY is a global program with hundreds of applicants from countries around the world.
86 NPS
With a Net Promoter Score of 86, QBE AcceliCITY is considered a world-class program
Top 5
QBE AcceliCITY has been recognized as one of the Top 5 GovTech Accelerators in the world
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge
In these difficult times, we recognize a need to build more resilient and risk-averse cities. To help toward that end, we have developed a unique collaboration to encourage entrepreneurs across the world whose ventures can effectively manage and respond to an evolving environment of physical, economic, and social risk
Gain Access to the First Virtual Incubator for Smart City Solutions
The AcceliCITY Top 100 Resilience Solutions will receive a free one-year membership to LaunchPad 11, the world's first virtual Smart City cluster where cities, investors, and solution providers converge. All AcceliCITY curriculum and networking events will take place on LaunchPad 11, providing participants with an array of powerful opportunities.
Virtual Clustering
Discover the benefits of knowledge spillovers and finding the right connections through LaunchPad 11's unique virtual clustering opportunities
City Connections
LaunchPad 11 hosts an array of city-focused events, in which officials from cities around the world network with start-ups and discuss urban challenges and innovative solutions.
Mentorship
Gain access to an array of vetted global experts eager to build your business in areas such as marketing, fundraising, and networking.
Hear from QBE AcceliCITY Alumni
"I'm learning how to create a proposal for a pilot project while competing for a pilot project worth $100k. It doesn't get more exciting than that!"
Redactable
"It's a great ecosystem for startups from around the world to participate and learn."
FortyGuard
"Definitely worthy of a founder's limited time."
ITsimple
Martin Kravchenko
"Leading Cities has been an invaluable support to Bioo throughout all of the program. Not only was the financial support helpful, but the team was continuously trying to find opportunities for the growth of Bioo. The support after the program end was astonishing as well, with a multitude of new introductions being realized by the team. We feel grateful for all the assistance that this program
Rocky Vitali
"Leading Cities has been tremendously helpful guiding and connecting us to Smart Cities looking for a simple, high-tech and sustainable parking management solution. The AcceliCITY Smart Mobility competition we won in 2019 awarded us our first Smart City contract with the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts and we could not have done it without the Leading Cities platform and network. Michael Lake
Alexander Esposito
"Leading Cities and the AcceliCITY program was incredibly helpful for Circuit. From high level advice on navigating cities and RFP processes, to deeper dives into our pitch, story and products, we learned a lot. Circuit, an electric shuttle service, also worked on a pilot EV shuttle program on The Seaport in Boston and the team at Leading Cities has remained helpful even after the program ended.
Aloisio Pereira da Silva
"Thanks to the guidance and support we received from Leading Cities, we improved our branding, which has been fundamental for business’ success. We have transformed our technological solution into a product with an objective business model that clearly demonstrates all the advantages of the INFRACITIES system and opportunities that it generates. Leading Cities also did a great deal to increase our
Madison Savilow
“Carbon Upcycling Technologies was honored to receive the Resiliency Track cash prize which helped purchase new carbon utilization reactors that are located at the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre and used as part of our demonstration for the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. The support received during Leading Cities’ program was very helpful for tailoring our business model and refining our
Past Highlights
... exposure to new possible customers..., Professional feedback from experts, ...Interaction with the finalists, that can lead to possible collaboration."
Sadeem
"Accelicity is a great learning and networking experience."
Green Stream
"... its a great conduit to cities worldwide."
Polis