In order to address the challenges of urban sustainability and climate change adaptation, Swissnex and Impact Hub New York Metropolitan Area brought together seven Swiss and American early-stage startups in New York City for the Sustainable Cities Lab. The program took place from October 24-28, 2022 and aimed at seeding a Swiss-U.S. urban tech community by focusing on collaborative learning and on building peer-to-peer connections between the two countries’ startup communities.

During the week-long program, the startups met with representatives from across the city’s dynamic sustainability ecosystem, including academia, real estate developers, investors, government agencies, and nonprofits. Throughout the week, the city itself also served as a laboratory for the founders to explore the cutting edge of urban tech. During visits to green development projects as well as behind-the-scenes tours of landmarks like Governors Island and the Empire State Building, they experienced firsthand how actors across the city are reshaping the built environment for a cleaner and more resilient future. The program’s diverse array of stakeholders encouraged participants to think expansively about future collaborations, whether in New York or in Switzerland.

At the flagship pitch event on October 27, 2022, participants presented their solutions to a packed audience of investors, experts, and entrepreneurs. The evening also featured a panel of seven NYC-based urban tech professionals discussing sustainability innovation and offering insight on the challenges and opportunities for cleantech entrepreneurship in New York City.