About URBAN-X
URBAN-X is a venture accelerator founded by MINI and since 2017 run in cooperation with joint venture partner Urban Us that educates and advocates for companies shaping the future of cities through technology and design. Since the start of the program, more than 70 startups from all around the world have gone through the accelerator.
Every six months URBAN-X selects up to 10 urbantech startups, and invests at least $100,000 per company, to participate in a 20-week accelerator program that equips startups facing the unique challenges of working with and in cities. By forging meaningful connections with leaders in public and private sectors, URBAN-X helps early-stage startups turn compelling ideas into viable, scalable solutions for urban life. Teams are provided with world class design and engineering resources from MINI and have access to experts in software development, UI/UX, customer development and fundraising support.
Since its inception, MINI has been built upon a foundation of innovating sustainable mobility for city dwellers. Originally born as a small, efficient and urban car in response to a fuel crisis in the 1950s, MINI has since evolved, taking bold steps in creating an electrified future and pushing new, innovative sustainability measures that help improve our cities. Looking beyond the car to do this, MINI founded URBAN-X in 2016.
Through URBAN-X, MINI has built a portfolio of global startups working in areas across transportation and mobility, energy, real estate, construction, infrastructure and food, waste and water to tackle some of our most pressing urban challenges to help city dwellers thrive.
URBAN-X Key Stats
- Startups in our portfolio: 71
- Number of applicants to date: 1,000+ applicants per year
- Number of potential partners and mentors in our network: 2,000
- Initial investment upon acceptance into our program: $100,000
- Initial investor introductions per startup to build company networks: 50+
- Hours with our Experts-in-Residence from BMW, MINI, and more per cohort: 1,000
- URBAN-X startups with female co-founders: 33%
- Acceptance rate: 1.8%
- Startups that went on to raise follow up rounds of funding as of Cohort 07: 83%
- URBAN-X startups with founders outside of the U.S. including Israel, Portugal, England, Germany, France, Canada, and Spain: 35%
- 2 Cohorts per year. 20 weeks each.
URBAN-X Verticals
- Built Environment & Real Estate
- Public Health & Safety
- Infrastructure & Industry
- Energy & Grid
- Govtech & Civil Solutions
- Transportation & Mobility
- Food, Waste, & Water
Cohort 09: January 2021 – May 2021
Built Environment & Real Estate
Builders Patch is an online platform changing how multifamily housing deals are financed and managed, making housing affordable for all.
SOURCE: BMW
