Urban Future Lab is the center of cleantech innovation in New York. We are leading the way to a more sustainable world by connecting people, capital, and purpose to advance market-ready solutions to address climate change.
Our programs include ACRE, a business incubation program for pre-seed to series A startups, PowerBridgeNY, a proof-of-concept center commercializing research from local universities, and Clean Start, an advanced diploma from NYU for people seeking a transition into the cleantech sector. The UFL is part of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and is located in the Downtown Brooklyn.
Have a cleantech company?

Real Impact on the Clean Energy Economy
48
Companies Incubated
$380M+
Capital Raised
340+
Jobs Created
90%
Company Survival Rate
Founder-First Culture
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“ ACRE provided Keen Home the support we needed during the formative stages of our company's growth. In our early quest for product-market fit, the incubator was a conduit for mentorship, fundraising, engagement with fellow founders and press opportunities. ”
— Nayeem Hussain, Co-Founder and CEO of Keen Home -
“ ACRE has been an invaluable partner to Sealed as we have developed and grown our business. In addition to meeting some of our most important partners and investors via the ACRE network and events, the community and resources have provided a solid foundation for Sealed's successes to date. ”
— Andy Frank, Founder and President of Sealed -
“ ACRE provided the infrastructure to help us focus on building our company as quickly as possible by connecting us with a network of leaders in areas that weren’t our core expertise. In addition, they provided us significant exposure to investors, press, and clients. As a result, we’re now well positioned to raise our first institutional round of funding. ”
— Andy Huh, Co-Founder and CEO of Fentrend -
“ The team at ACRE was invaluable in supporting our company's entry into New York and the US market. In our early efforts to develop a first-of-its-kind project under the state's 'Reforming Energy Vision', Pat and her team helped Opus One to develop a presence in New York with key utility and regulatory introductions, media, and funding partners. ACRE's support reaffirms their commitment to see cleantech companies succeed and continues to support our rapid growth. ”
— Joshua Wong, President and CEO of Opus One -
“ ACRE has been a great base to start our business in New York City. They've provided Voltaiq with valuable support with everything from finance to networking with key strategic partners. Pat and ACRE's network in New York State and to the wider clean tech community is unmatched. ”
— Tal Sholklapper, Co-Founder and CEO of Voltaiq -
“ Pat and her team at ACRE have been instrumental in helping Go Electric gain traction in New York and getting connected with investors. If you work in cleantech in NYC, there is no better place to be! ”
— Lisa Laughner, President and CEO of Go Electric
Urban Future Prize Competition
The Urban Future Prize is a cash award given to a startup developing an innovative solution towards climate change. The Prize is administered by the Urban Future Lab, NYC’s leading hub for cleantech entrepreneurship, and awarded by an esteemed selection committee that includes some of the world’s top venture investors.
To find out more, visit the Urban Future Prize Competition.
Our Programs
ACRE is NYC's premier cleantech incubator housed at the Urban Future Lab. ACRE helps cleantech, smart grid and sustainable smart cities companies grow, advancing the city as a role model for a low-carbon future, while also creating jobs. NYC stands to gain significantly by helping innovative startup technology companies that are able to address our most pressing energy and environmental needs. ACRE is funded by NYSERDA, NYU, and our generous corporate partners.
PowerBridgeNY is a NYSERDA funded proof-of-concept center that identifies promising early stage clean energy technology from institutional research labs and invests in translational work to advance these technologies towards technical and customer validation and scalability. PowerbridgeNY is an unprecedented collaboration between six downstate institutions convened to foster a more robust ecosystem around the clean energy sector in downstate New York.
The Clean Start Program is a rigorous one semester Diploma Program from the NYU School of Professional Studies designed to transition students for a new career in cleantech. Mid-career professionals from diverse sectors, acquire the information necessary to work in the clean energy economy and learn technical, analytical, and systems thinking skills from entrepreneurs and industry leaders through hands-on experiential learning, mentorships, and capstone projects. Capstones either pair students with companies from the ACRE incubator and the NYC cleantech ecosystem or allow students to pursue their own ventures.
The H2 Refuel Accelerator — a unique partnership between Fraunhofer TechBridge, Greentown Labs and the Urban Future Lab — offers unparalleled collaboration opportunities for startups who want to bring their hydrogen innovation from concept to market with the support of Shell and Toyota.
Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives