A One-Of-A-Kind Accelerator:
Where Innovation Meets Impact
Innovators are building the solutions cities desperately need—but access to city partners is slow, and implementation takes time that startups don’t have. While cities move cautiously, startups need to move fast—driven by funding timelines, traction goals, and the need to prove real-world impact. Yet too often, transformative innovations remain stuck on the sidelines, unable to break into the public sector or gain the visibility and credibility they need to grow.
That’s why the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge exists. Powered by Leading Cities and the QBE Foundation, this accelerator connects high-impact startups with the funding, mentorship, and city partnerships needed to turn innovation into action. The Resilience Challenge doesn’t just recognize great ideas—we deploy them where they’re needed most.
One Resilience Challenge, Two Big Prizes
The AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge is a single competition, but upon application, startups have the opportunity to be considered for four prizes: the $100,000 Grand Prize for overall resilience innovation, two $25,000 People's Choice Awards, and the $25,000 PropTech Prize, dedicated to sustainable, loss mitigation solutions for the commercial property sector. We are searching for innovations that can identify or minimize potential hazards more quickly, lessen the effects of property damage, reduce business disruption or home evacuation caused by property damage, and offer other creative solutions for property insurance and sustainability.
Participants considered for the PropTech Prize will follow the full Resilience Challenge curriculum—gaining access to mentorship, networking, and city partnerships—while also benefiting from exclusive PropTech-focused sessions and tailored support from QBE experts. This includes customized guidance in areas such as operations, access to data and analytics, use cases, and insights from QBE Ventures, Underwriting, Actuarial, CAT Modeling, and Risk. All PropTech applicants are also automatically considered for the $100,000 Grand Prize and pre-paid pilot opportunity.
Startups can apply for both prizes in their application, ensuring they are considered for all available opportunities to scale their impact. Discover the two prizes:
$100,000 USD Grand Prize to implement a city pilot
Open to all resilience-focused startups, regardless of industry
Focuses on broad urban resilience, sustainability, and infrastructure solutions
The Resilience Prize is awarded to a resilience-focused startup and provides $100,000 of non-equity capital to fund a pilot project. Open to all community-impact solutions, this prize supports innovations that strengthen urban sustainability, infrastructure, and climate adaptation while offering mentorship, city partnerships, and global exposure.
What is the QBE Resilience Challenge?
The QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge is a virtual global start-up accelerator designed to identify, accelerate, and implement groundbreaking solutions that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from the growing risks of climate change, infrastructure failures, and urban challenges.
Powered by Leading Cities and the QBE Foundation, this challenge connects visionary startups with the funding, mentorship, and real-world city partnerships needed to turn bold ideas into tangible impact. Startups don’t just compete for non-equity prize money—they gain direct access to municipal leaders eager to deploy innovative solutions that make communities more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready.
Who should Apply?
Strengthens communities, infrastructure, or the environment.
Funding, mentorship, and connections to global city leaders
A real-world
impact with your sustainable
solution
The Top 100 Solutions Will Receive
Access to the First Virtual Incubator for Smart & Resilient Solutions
Discover LaunchPad 11
The AcceliCITY Top 100 Resilience Solutions will receive a free one-year membership to LaunchPad 11, 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.
But what does this mean for you?
Direct Access to City Leaders
& Industry Experts
Exclusive Networking & Collaboration Opportunities
Ongoing
Support After the Challenge
Join the Resilience Challenge From Anywhere in the World
To make AcceliCITY accessible to innovators worldwide, we run the program in two divisions based on geographic regions. Each division accepts 50 startups, ensuring that 100 high-impact entrepreneurs receive the same world-class programming, mentorship, and opportunities—at times that work best for their region.
Regardless of division, all participants go through the same curriculum, engage with expert mentors, and gain access to city leaders and industry networks. This structure allows startups from across the globe to participate without time zone barriers while fostering regional collaboration.
June - November
Sessions happen every Tuesday from 10 AM - 11 AM EST (UTC -5)
Regions best suited for this timezone: North America, South America, Europe and West Africa
June - November
Sessions happen every Tuesday from 1 PM - 2 PM AEDT (UTC +11)
Regions best suited for this timezone: Asia, Australia & Oceania, Middle East and East Africa
What is my timezone?
The QBE AcceliCITY
Resilience Challenge Curriculum
Featured Program Speakers
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
Program Timeline
The entire QBE AcceliCITY program is conducted virtually over 6 months of intensive and immersive learning and growth. From our unique B2G curriculum, mentoring, and engagements with city leaders to a distinguished panel of global leaders as judges, the QBE AcceliCITY program propels participants toward greater and faster successes.
1. Top 100 Selected
May - June
In the first round of the AcceliCITY curriculum, 100 startups are chosen as semi-finalists to participate in the web-based portion of the program.
2. City Partner Certification
Year-long Access
Our certified curriculum is designed for smart city innovators, providing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Readiness certification upon completion. Led by international experts, these weekly sessions cover critical topics like navigating public procurement, winning no-bid government contracts, and securing smart city investors, equipping startups with the tools to scale and succeed.
3. SmartUp Week
September
SmartUp Week is a signature feature of the AcceliCITY program, where the Top 50 startups are matched with one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions led by experts from the global Smart and Resilient City ecosystem. Each session provides tailored guidance, industry insights, and potential connections that help entrepreneurs strengthen their solutions and accelerate their impact.
4. Top 10 Solutions Selected
September
At the conclusion of SmartUp Week, the Top 10 solutions are selected to advance to the final round of the AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge. These finalists are chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation of their business plan, financial models, pitch delivery, and proposed city pilot. They move forward with greater visibility, deeper support, and the opportunity to compete for funding and pilot implementation.
5. Virtual Boot Camp
October
Selected startups move on to participate in a virtual boot camp, an intensive week of hands-on workshops designed to equip teams with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to succeed in the competitive Smart and Resilient City space. From refining business models to strengthening public-private partnership strategies, this experience helps startups sharpen their approach and prepare for real-world implementation and growth.
6. Pitch Competition
November
The Resilience Challenge culminates with a virtual final pitch event where Finalists pitch their solution to a board of global experts in charge of determining the winners. Past judges include leaders from the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative, the United Nations, and Arsht Rockefeller Resilience Center.
What We Offer
Winning a competition is one thing—creating real impact is another. In the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, we provide more than funding; we offer the connections, expertise, and opportunities that turn bold ideas into city-implemented solutions.
Through direct access to municipal leaders, world-class mentorship, and a global ecosystem of investors and innovators, we help startups navigate public-private partnerships, secure pilots, and scale their solutions where they matter most. Even after the challenge ends, our network ensures that your innovation doesn’t stop at recognition—it gets deployed.
Direct Access to City Leaders & Decision-Makers
Exclusive Networking & Collaboration Opportunities
Expert Mentorship & Business Support
$100,000 Grand Prize &
Three $25,000 Specialty Prizes
Pilot & Implementation Opportunities
Certified Curriculum & PPP Readiness Training
Global Visibility & Media Exposure
Ongoing Support Beyond the Challenge
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.
Since its inception, Leading Cities has directly supported, mentored, and provided growth opportunities to hundreds of startups, driving real-world impact through innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships.
Our start-ups
have raised
Over $1.5 Billion
Our start-ups have created
Over 12,600 jobs
Our Start-Ups Have Earned
Over $2.2 Million
Leading Cities Impact