Circular City Open Call for Startups
Circular City is seeking startups that are building frontier technologies and developing novel products that address urban challenges in transitioning to a circular economy and improving energy efficiency in buildings. Selected participants will have access to grant funding and the opportunity to partner with New Lab and NYCEDC to pilot their product or technology at a pilot site in New York City and engage with program partners, domain experts and research institutions.
Submission deadline: February 14, 2020
Selections will be made on a rolling basis until March 6, 2020
Challenge Areas
Circular Economy Challenge
How might we support New York City’s transition from a linear economy to a circular economy?
Circular City is seeking technologies or products that can eliminate waste or pollution or keep resources in circulation through reuse, regeneration and recycling across any industry, assisting in the transition to a circular economy.
Energy Efficient Buildings Challenge
How might we improve the energy efficiency of buildings in New York City?
Circular City is seeking technologies that can increase the efficiency of a building’s energy use by improving existing approaches or introducing new approaches to make buildings compliant with Local Law 97.
Benefits
Pilot your product or technology in New York City
Work with urban tech startups and collaborate with New Lab, NYCEDC, pilot site partners, domain experts and research institutions
Up to $20K per team in grant funding is available (no equity will be taken)
Exposure to corporate partners, investors and city stakeholders
Validate your technology or product with potential end users
Use your company’s technology and data for the public good
Access to New Lab’s on-site prototyping resources, community of 750+ entrepreneurs, tailored events and programming, and a dedicated team to help facilitate pilot projects, stakeholder engagement and collaboration with academic research partners
Criteria
Have a technology relevant to at least one of the defined challenge areas
Have a team in place with technology expertise and a technology or product that is ready or near-ready to be piloted
Be able to articulate how this program adds value to your company and to the city more broadly
Be able to commit to participation in the program from February to September 2020, including launching and overseeing a pilot beginning in Spring 2020. Participation requires you and your team to be physically present in New York City for the program milestones
