Leading Cities

Happy #WorldCitiesDay! Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and potential of cities and urban areas worldwide. At Leading Cities, we’re committed to supporting urban communities as they face the challenges of climate change and sustainability. Inspired by the legacy of President Clinton’s dedication to public service, our CEO, Michael Lake, has launched the “Bridge to Resiliency” Commitment to Action in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative. Through this commitment, Leading Cities is working to empower 100 cities with innovative, fully funded solutions to tackle climate adaptation - from a pool of over 600 expertly vetted solution providers. On this #WorldCitiesDay, we reaffirm our dedication to building a future where cities don’t just endure, but thrive. If you want to support Leading Cities' commitment, share the AcceliGOV program with city leaders and municipalities to spread the word about the opportunities at hand: https://lnkd.in/gm-vqevF

Who will win the $100,000 grand prize for this year's QBE Insurance #AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge? Find out LIVE on Wednesday, November 6th at 11 AM EST! Leading Cities invites YOU to watch the final AcceliCITY event live-streamed within #LaunchPad11. Mix and mingle with our ecosystem, discover the first virtual incubator for smart city solutions, and find out who is going home with $100,000! Register for the final event here: https://lnkd.in/egcJfTjR

A huge shoutout to AcceliCITY alumni, Vayve Mobility, for their impressive new milestones and recognition! 🙌 At the recent Autodesk Design & Build conference in San Diego, Autodesk showcased Vayve Mobility’s innovation and engineering prowess in front of 15,000+ attendees – a proud moment indeed! 📽️ Catch the keynote mention and video after the 11:15 mark here: https://lnkd.in/e2eC2szK 💻 Dive into their inspiring story on the Autodesk blog: https://lnkd.in/eX3hEFpM And yes, their very own EVA was there at the booth, turning heads and sparking excitement. Here’s to driving the future of mobility, one milestone at a time! 🚗💡Vilas Deshpande #AccelicityAlumni #VayveMobility #Autodesk #DesignAndBuild #InnovationInMobility #AutodeskUniversity #FutureOfEngineering

🌍 We’re thrilled to announce a bold new Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative: our “Bridge to Resiliency” initiative! 🌱 This powerful partnership aims to empower 100 small-to-mid-sized cities worldwide to confront and overcome climate challenges by connecting them with cutting-edge solutions tailored to their needs. This initiative is especially meaningful to our CEO, Michael Lake, who began his journey in public service under President Clinton’s mentorship in the White House. Inspired by Clinton’s dedication to community and resilience, Michael has carried forward those values into Leading Cities’ work, now connecting 100 cities worldwide with cutting-edge solutions for climate resilience. Through the AcceliGOV program, cities will gain access to fully funded pilot projects in renewable energy, water management, and waste reduction, supported by a network of 600 innovators from more than 70 countries. Together, with a $10 million fundraising goal, we’re creating pathways for cities to not only survive in the face of climate risks but to thrive as models of resilience and sustainable growth. This is a call to action for all cities, partners, and supporters—join us in building a resilient future for urban communities! 🌍💪 Learn more about this transformative commitment and how we’re turning urban resilience into reality thanks to this SmartCitiesWorld article: https://lnkd.in/euUFxBhi

The Earthshot Prize is one of the most prestigious environmental awards in the world, and Leading Cities is honored to be part of the journey! 🌱 As an official nominator for the 2025 Earthshot Prize, our CEO Michael Lake will help select the next round of finalists and put them in the running for the £1 million award. 🚀 All LaunchPad 11 members are invited to be considered for nomination. If you’re a changemaker with an innovative solution, now’s your chance! Apply for this incredible opportunity to get global recognition, mentorship, and the chance to win £1 million. 👉 Fill out the form: https://lnkd.in/emXQJEVY

🌍💼 We’re thrilled to introduce another one of our 2024 Top 10 finalists for the QBE #AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge: Green The Chain! Green the Chain is transforming supply chains by offering a B2B platform that helps businesses source products sustainably and transparently. With innovative procurement tools, they empower companies to minimize their environmental impact while cutting through the noise of #greenwashing. 🌱🔗 Their commitment to connecting businesses with trusted, eco-conscious suppliers is paving the way for a more resilient, circular economy. By promoting ethical practices and reducing Scope 3 emissions, Green the Chain proves that sustainability is achievable at every step of the supply chain. 🌿🌐 Want to see if the amazing Kirsten Lunoe and Charlie Bennell of Green the Chain take home the grand prize? Join us at the final event and celebrate this wave of sustainability innovators! Register here: https://lnkd.in/egcJfTjR

Last week, President and CEO of Leading Cities Michael Lake flew to the beautiful Islas Canarias to attend BizzTech's 2024 Urban Metaverse Conference. Check out some behind-the-scene pictures of Mike delivering a powerful presentation on the importance of scaling resilient solutions in cities and towns! Congrats to BizzTech on a successful and beautiful convention - the connections made and knowledge shared will further Leading Cities' path toward a more resilient future for all. See you all in Barcelona for the next event!

📣 Last chance to apply for the first edition of the Rethink Cities Innovation Award & be recognized by the City of Sønderborg in Denmark - quite possibly Europe's first city to fully decarbonize and showcasing their effort to the world - with support of industrial heating and cooling giant Danfoss via the Bitten & Mads Clausens Foundation. 🏆 This award offers startups, SMEs, and innovative companies a chance to connect with strategic public and private stakeholders, including public officials, investors, and ecosystem builders, and showcase solutions to key figures seeking scalable net-zero initiatives - and be invited not just to the Award Ceremony next month, but also the Rethink Cities Summit in March 2025 of which we are partners with Impact the Future. ⭐️ The Categories are: 1) Urban Energy Efficiency Pioneer Award, 2) Cutting-Edge Renewable Energy Innovation Award 3) Public-Private Partnership for Net Zero Catalyst Award DL is tomorrow 22nd Oct EOD. So If you make it among the finalists, I might see you next month as part of an esteemed Jury. 👉 As always, you can find all the relevant info on our new city.solutions platform: https://lnkd.in/dJGhrteQ

🌊🏆 In just a couple of weeks, we will find out who the grand prize winner of the QBE #AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge will be! But for now, we are excited to introduce one of our incredible Top 10 finalists: Reef Arches, based in Florida. Reef Arches has developed a game-changing solution that combines coastal protection with marine habitat restoration. Their innovative, stackable, and modular wave attenuation devices protect coastlines from erosion and rising sea levels while fostering marine biodiversity. It’s a brilliant example of how we can protect our cities while simultaneously restoring the natural environment. 🌍🐠 Reef Arches isn’t just protecting coastlines—they’re helping build a more resilient, sustainable future for both cities and our oceans. 🌊 Want to find out if Nicholas Bourdon of Reef Arches takes home the grand prize? Register for our final event to celebrate with us and all of these amazing innovators: https://lnkd.in/egcJfTjR Don't miss your chance to witness this groundbreaking moment.

Next week, I’m excited to invite city leaders and partners to learn more about two innovative solutions from our AcceliGOV offerings: HAH Parking and #Rego. These information sessions are a unique chance to hear directly from the entrepreneurs, ask questions, and see how these pilot programs can be tailored to support your community’s needs—all at no cost. HAH Parking is revolutionizing urban parking management with smart, data-driven systems that help cities reduce congestion and improve overall efficiency. #Rego is driving sustainability in waste management by using AI to optimize resources, helping cities reach zero-waste goals faster. These sessions are a wonderful way to explore practical, forward-thinking solutions, and I’d love for you to join us or share this with anyone in your network who might benefit. Register for these free sessions to learn more about how these programs can make a real difference in our cities: https://lnkd.in/ewK_F_X5 Let’s continue building more resilient, efficient communities together. Learn more about the AcceliGOV program: https://lnkd.in/eV3g3bZ6