Accelerator announces top 100 smart city startups for 2025

In addition to the primary smart city challenge, one specialised challenge is also part of this year’s programme. Working closely with QBE Insurance, the PropTech Challenge targets loss mitigation solutions that identify or minimise potential hazards more quickly, lessen the effects of property damage, decrease business disruption or home evacuation caused by property damage, and offer innovative responses to challenges at the intersection of commercial property insurance and sustainability.

Meanwhile, the launch of a separate initiative – the QBE Humanitarian AcceliCITY Challenge – marks a significant evolution of AcceliCITY’s global growth. Now launched as a standalone challenge, the Humanitarian AcceliCITY Challenge opens in September 2025 and focuses on solutions that enable global communities to adapt to climate-related impacts.

Delivered by Australian Red Cross Humanitech in collaboration with the Global Disaster Preparedness Centre and supported by the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the track invites participants to address a real-world climate resilience problem identified by the Australian Red Cross. This initiative reflects a deep commitment to equitable access, ethical innovation, and GDPR-compliant data practices – ensuring that the most vulnerable communities are not only protected, but prioritised. 

To kick-off the 2025 cohort, Danny Wright, founder of Gravity Water and winner of the 2024 Challenge, addressed this year’s top 100. Wright shared his team’s journey deploying rainwater harvesting systems in schools across Southeast Asia and the United States, emphasising the critical role of participation and passion 

in the programme.

“You’ve already won by being part of this community,” said Wright. “But I challenge every one of you to show up fully. Engage with the mentors, dig into the curriculum, and think bigger than your current market. These challenges are global... and your solutions can be too.

In the weeks ahead, the top 100 companies will participate in a rigorous, certified online curriculum, gaining tools to refine their business models and navigate the complexities of working with government. They’ll also connect directly with city officials and industry leaders through Leading Cities’ LaunchPad 11 network, building relationships that often lead to real-world pilots.

AcceliCITY continues to serve as a platform for scaling impact – where urban innovators don’t just pitch, they implement. With past pilot projects launched on four continents, the programme remains focused on turning ideas into action.

“If we could give $100,000 to every one of these companies, we would,” said Lake. “But what we offer goes beyond funding. We offer access –  access to the right conversations, the right partners, and the right cities to bring sustainable solutions to life.”

See the 2025 Top 100 Resilience Solutions, here.