Cities of tomorrow. Built today.
Join the epic challenge for urban tech innovators
Challengers
4
Tracks
60
Finalists
1
Winner
Winners announced!
Scroll down to learn more
Urban Tech Challengers 2023 highlights
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE FOR URBAN TECH INNOVATORS
Urban Tech Challengers is a premier platform for discovering and supporting innovative technology startups that make a difference in the world. Each year, we host an epic pitch competition for entrepreneurs who develop disruptive products and services for sustainable, resilient and future-proof cities.
In our 2023 edition, we are looking for companies that come up with impactful, equitable, and scalable solutions to the most pressing challenges our cities face. So if you want to join the ranks of the most resourceful problem-solvers out there, consider applying to Urban Tech Challengers. With four verticals to choose from – Elevating Life & Work Experience, Optimising Urban Operations, Building for the Future, and Enabling Better Infrastructure – there’s something for every startup.
Plus, you’ll get the chance to connect with multiple venture capitalists, corporations, and media to help you succeed. So why wait? Apply now and get recognised as a top player in the field!
Elevating Life & Work Experience
The experience of living in our cities is about to get a major upgrade. Thanks to technology, cities are becoming smarter, more efficient, and more livable than ever before.
Tag along on our mission to find the most revolutionary new startups pushing the experience of living in cities to another level. For this track, we are looking for problem-solvers who address a wide range problems across such areas as:
• Air quality
• Workplace technology
• Green buildings
• Public health, safety and security
Optimising Urban Operations
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to make a city run like a well-oiled machine. From heating and cooling to facility management, there’s always room for improvement.
If your company has the expertise in creating cutting-edge products for monitoring, controlling and optimising urban environments, we encourage you to submit an application. Whether it’s finding new ways to ease traffic congestion or making our buildings more energy-efficient, there’s no shortage of challenges to tackle. In this track, we are looking for applicants pioneering solutions across such areas as:
• Building automation, heating and cooling
• Urban mobility and logistics
• Facility management
• ESG management
Building for the Future
The current methods we deploy to build cities are no longer enough. To lay the foundation for more resilient cities, we will need new technology champions.
Applicants in this track should be innovating to elevate the building process that includes planning and construction. We expect companies to showcase technological advancement to solve the biggest challenges the construction industry is facing today. These are some of the key problems we are expecting the applicants to address:
• Replacing cement and concrete with sustainable construction materials
• Improving efficiency with new construction methods
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions using carbon capture & storage
• Balancing out efficiency and sustainability with new construction software
Enabling Better Infrastructure
With progressive smart city technologies and data analytics magic, cities today can optimise their infrastructure systems to better serve their residents and businesses. This means less waste, happier residents, and more livable communities.
If you’ve got pioneering ideas that can revolutionise how cities are supported, powered, and connected, this track is for you. We’re looking for innovative thinkers who can transform our entire urban infrastructure systems in a brand-new, sustainable way.
Applicants should submit their out-of-the-box solutions across multiple sectors, including:
• Urban water supply and infrastructure
• Smart public infrastructure
• Waste management
• Green energy & grid technologies
60 FINALISTS. 1 WINNER
60 companies (15 from each track) are handpicked by an all-star panel of industry experts from global corporations, VC firms, ecosystem builders, and media partners.
All finalists are invited to pitch live at the Urban Tech Forward event on October 25-26, 2023, in the bustling city of Warsaw, Poland.
Whether you win the title of Ultimate Urban Tech Challenger of 2023 or not, you’re sure to have a blast showcasing your innovation and making connections with the masterminds of the urban tech world.
Timeline
Winners announced!
Application to the UTC is entirely free and each of the 60 finalist Companies (15 per each track) are granted 1 free VIP ticket to Urban Tech Forward 2023. May the odds be in your favor!
WINNERS OF 2023
Ultimate Winner
Natrion develops components for automotive and battery manufacturers that can be rapidly utilized to deploy safe, high-performance all-solid-state rechargeable batteries.
TOP 4 FINALISTS
Square Mile Farms uses vertical farming to help people and businesses be healthier and more sustainable. They do this by integrating vertical farms into office spaces and creating unique engagement experiences through events and farm participation.
Hyden AI is a global leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. From bus lane and bus stop enforcement to digital twin modeling, their mobile perception system helps to speed up transit, make streets safer, and create a more sustainable future.
Vizcab is a SaaS platform that enables construction and real estate players to catalyse their carbon transition thanks to data science, based on a technology developed by the building 2050 group.
Natrion is developing battery technologies that can push the capabilities of EVs by solving the biggest issues that automakers and battery manufacturers face. Their mission is to service the industry with solutions that will enhance the mainstream market viability of electric vehicles and advance the world closer towards a future of clean mobility.
JURY
Iris ten Have
Head of Science @ Extantia
Valentina Shegoyan
Managing Partner @ REACH UK – Second Century Ventures
Conan Lauterpacht
Founding Partner @ Sustainable Future Ventures
Niklas Grunewald
Managing Partner @ Redstone Built World
Edelio Bermejo
Head of Global R&D @ Holcim Innovation Center
Juan Nieto
GP & Founding Partner @ Zacua Ventures
Ramy Fam
VP @ CRH Ventures
Colleen Schutte
External Venturing @ NOVA by Saint-Gobain
Tanja Kufner
Head of Start Up & Venture Investments @ Nemetschek Group
Diego Santamaria Razo
Partner and Vice President @ Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Claudia Chiti
General Manager @ Manni Green Tech
Olayan Alharbi
Business Development and Innovation Advisor to the Vice Minister @ Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Ministry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sebastian Schäfer
Senior Innovation Manager Startup Partnerships @ E.ON
Fabio Sferruzzi
Co-Founder & CEO @ Feat Ventures
Ivo Remmelg
Venture Partner @ Superhero Capital
Anna Duchnowska
Managing Director – Investment Management @ Invesco
Ami Kotecha
Co-Founder & Group President @ Amro Partners
Andreas Winter-Extra
Partner @ Kompas VC
Michael Levin
Managing Partner @ Betastage Capital
Ines Bergmann-Nolting
Managing Partner @ Greencode Ventures
Esat Acar
Vice President @ 500 Emerging Europe
David Zwilling
Founding Partner @ Styx Urban Investments
Anna Kulik
Founder, Creator, CEO @ Hepp UK
Nicholas Hanser
Partner, Head of Technology (TMT) Investment Banking @ Saxenhammer
Sami Moughrabie
Managing Partner @ Atmos Ventures
Michal Bas
Principal @ VentureFriends
Alessandro Zaccaria
Investment Director @ 360 Capital
Aurore Lanchart
Investment Director @ OSS Ventures
Jonathan Cohen
Senior Partner and Director, Building Consultancy @ Colliers
Ricardo Valente
Councilor @ Porto City Council
Christos Chantzaras
Managing Director @ TUM Venture Lab Built Environment
Eldho Choorackal
Technical Program Manager, Innovation Centre for Sustainable Construction @ CRH
Michel Martin
Private Equity Principal @ Genii Capital
Anna Magiera
ICLUB Executive Partner, Europe @ ICLUB Global
Sebastian Rath
Associate Director, Climate & Sustainability in Insurance @ Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Piotr Grabowski
Co-Founder @ Foodtech.ac
Ines Kolmsee
Partner @ Matterwave Ventures
Johanna Marcelly
Innovation Project Manager @ City of Paris
Marc Penkala
Managing Director & Founder @ Minimal VC
Marcin Zabielski
Managing Partner Market @ One Capital
Gerd Sumah
Partner @ Round2 Capital
Timo Hermans
Vice President @ Vertevis Capital Partners
Joe Appleton
Editorial Director and Media Relations @ Bee Smart City
Javier Solobera Abad
Director of Innovation @ Libelium
Pitchaya Jirojmontree
Venture Partner @ Addventures by SCG
Agnieszka Hat
Marketing & Innovation Manager @ Saint-Gobain
Christina Papachristou
Program Manager Digital Innovation @ CRH
Olga Dzieciatkowska
Coordinator of Poznan CityLab @ Smart City Poznan
Jeroen Coupé
Chief Technology Officer @ Re-Vive
José Soares
Founding Partner @ Sigma Ventures
Martin Olczyk
Managing Director @ Techstars
Benjamin Kafri
Global Head of Innovation, Client Relations and Partnerships @ Bloomberg NEF
Silvia Rovere
Founder & CEO @ Sensible Capital
Joachim Holck Christoffersen
Investment Manager, Head of Renewables & Climate Solutions @ Copenhagen Capacity
Olga Peters
Incubation and Startup Engagement Manager @ ABB
Michel Hunsicker
Investment Director @ EDF Pulse Ventures
Arjun Jairaj
Investor @ A/O
Simone Valorani
Head of Strategy & Operations @ Scientifica Venture Capital
Ruben Schultz
Early Stage Investing @ Atlantic Labs
Maciej Dabrowski
Investment Manager @ ff Venture Capital
Fabian König
Investment Manager @ PropTech1 Ventures
Hugo Silva
Principal @ Pi Labs
Claudia McHugh
Senior Director Business Development @ Virtus Data Centres
Mateusz Lukasik
Investment Director @ OTB Ventures
Charbel Aoun
Smart Cities and Spaces Director – EMEA @ Nvidia
Adrian Karczewicz
Head of Divestments CEE @ Skanska
Mimi Eelman
Strategy – Energy Transition @ City of Amsterdam
Chris Hamilton
VP Technology & Innovative Solutions, Global @ Jacobs
Marcus Willand
Partner I Mobility Software @ MHP – A Porsche Company
Matthias Schanze
General Partner @ Rethink Ventures
Adam Fischer
Managing Partner @ Osorno Capital
Yonca Braeckman
Co-Founder and CEO @ Impact Shakers
Lukasz Platkowski
Principal & Managing Director @ Gensler
Marek Sacha
CEO @ Building Minds
Mihai Murgu
Partner @ PCF – Investment Banking
Arvin Khanchandani
Investment Manager @ Warsaw Equity Group
Antonio Jara
CEO (M&A Libelium) @ Hopu
Pawel Michalski
CEO @ VCLeaders
Franc Mouwen
EIC Program Manager @ European Innovation Council (EIC)
Damian Wild
Managing Director @ ING Media
Dr. Mariusz Sagan
Head of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department @ City of Lublin
Tobias Förtsch
Managing Director @ TUM Venture Lab Built Environment
Tim Govaert
Venture Partner @ Aconterra
Liliana Cruz
Decarbonization Investment Analyst @ CEMEX Ventures
Magdalena Pawlowska
Partner @ Level2 Ventures
Gerd Leutner
Technology Solutions Director @ Colliers
Angel Kelchev
Partner @ AYANA Capital
Joanna Namysl
Angel Investor
Marta Kupisz
Urban Innovation Manager @ Polish Development Fund
Kadir Bozca
5G and Internet of Things Solutions Manager @ Vodafone
Ahmed Shalaby
Co-Founder, President and CEO @ Tatweer Misr
Renata Hartle
Technology Solutions Director @ Colliers
Henry Gallego
CEO @ Ktesios SOCIMI
Fraz Anjum
Head of IT Infrastructure & Service Delivery @ Serco Canada
Graziella Roccella
Chief Research and Product Design Officer @ Planet Smart City
Rainer Wieser
Partner @ Proventis Partners
Eva Holzová
Smart City Projects and Events Manager @ Brno City Municipality
Mateusz Kaluza
Investments Analyst @ EIT Urban Mobility
Agata Bendik
Program Manager @ Plug and Play Tech Center
Saurabh Kumar
Senior Investment Associate @ Katapult VC
Sabine Schoorl
Senior Partner @ LUMO Labs
Kevin Frederik
Ventures Lead Europe @ Arup
Carolyn Berland
Global Brand Innovation Manager @ Essity
Balázs Jelinek
Deputy CEO – Operations @ Liget Budapest
Martijn Balder
Investment Team Lead @ 2bX
Rafal Malanij
Head of Data Intelligence and Digital Enablement CEE @ CBRE Poland
Yves Pircher
Investment Manager @ Smartworks Innovation
Bálint Szatmári
Senior Investment Manager @ Solus Capital
Johannis Hatt
Managing Director @ JVH Ventures
Jeremy Schinazi
Principal @ Hola Venture Partners
Louis Millon
Senior Associate @ Systemiq Capital
Karolina Sulma
Head of Legal Department @ Skanska
Balázs Besenyei
Senior Investment Manager @ Hiventures
Tymoteusz Staniszewski
Investment Associate @ Verdane
Stephen Tierney
Business Development Manager @ London and partners
Petteri Vartiainen
Head of Debt Advisory & Structured Finance @ ICECAPITAL Securities
Maximilian Werny
Scientist in Residence @ Extantia
Florian Engel
Senior Associate M&A @ Oaklins Angermann
Benjamin Meyer
Investment Manager @ Realyze Ventures
Nikolaj Klebert
Investment Manager @ BonVenture
Maria Tyka-Majewska
Senior Program Manager @ Huge Thing
Anna Trendewicz
Investment Associate @ Future Energy Ventures
Cal Stock
Principal @ Sustainable Future Ventures
Jonny Mauland
Tech Sustainability Lead @ Accenture Nordics
Jakub Przybylski
Strategy & Business Development Manager @ ABB Technology Ventures
Guy Vincent
Program Lead @ Amsterdam Circular
Laura Klair
Business Development Lead – Nordics & CEE @ WiredScore
Anna Wysocka
New Business Development Director @ NHOOD Polska
Danae Vara
CPO&Co-Founder @ Gocleer
Matthias Mazelier
Consultant @ Bopro
Malgorzata Tomczuk
Strategy & Business Development Manager @ ABB Technology Ventures
Sead Bajrovic
Head of Operations @ Aliaxis
INDUSTRY & MEDIA PARTNERS
FOUNDERS
ORGANIZER
Futurae Media is the fastest-growing organiser of international conferences and trade fairs focusing on new technologies. Our team seeks to disrupt the traditional approach to industry events by creating category-defining tech-powered trade shows across a wide range of industries – from energy to digital health to food technologies, and many more.
In light of global sustainability challenges, Futurae Media is on a mission to unite all stakeholders — corporations, venture capital funds, innovators, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders — in an effort to address sustainability through the power of technology.
OTHER INITIATIVES FOR STARTUPS
