Eight UK-based climate technology startups selected for Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme are convening in Brooklyn September 15-19, 2025 for an intensive week to kick off a six-month United States market entry program.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Urban Future Lab (UFL) — a non-profit innovation hub for best-in-class climatetech startups — will immerse the competitively-selected cohort in a structured program designed to help them learn about and explore the domestic market.
For six years, the UFL has served as the U.S. soft landing pad for the annual Innovate UK program, which provides participants with access to world-class mentors, a tactical focused cohort curriculum, and connections to funding, partnerships, and customers to build a presence in the New York and national markets.
The program boosts NYU Tandon’s efforts in Industrial, Urban & Environmental Sustainability, one of six cross-disciplinary impact areas where the school strategically directs its research and education to solve modern humanity’s greatest challenges. This impact area builds upon the existing Sustainable Engineering Initiative by developing breakthrough technologies that bring sustainability advances across all industries while enhancing environmental resilience and supporting economic prosperity.
“Our role in Innovate UK exemplifies how universities can serve as catalysts for real-world impact,” said Linda Ng Boyle, NYU Tandon Vice Dean for Research. “By connecting Tandon’s deep research expertise in sustainability engineering with these startups, we’re creating a bridge between academic discovery and market deployment. Our role isn’t just to house these companies. It’s to leverage our technical knowledge, research infrastructure, and industry networks to help accelerate solutions that will scale globally.”
The latest group of participants spans a range of innovations from energy systems to sustainable agriculture:
Bioledger is a provider of supply chain compliance software for the renewable fuels industry. Its mission is to raise the standard of sustainability assurance by making compliance simpler, faster, and more reliable—while helping regulators, voluntary schemes, and industry stakeholders fight fraud and ensure a fair, level playing field.Ceraphi is developing closed-loop geothermal energy systems that can be deployed in locations previously unsuitable for geothermal power generation. Their approach unlocks vast untapped renewable energy potential by creating engineered geothermal reservoirs.Electron provides a DER (Distributed Energy Resources) value orchestration platform that helps electric utilities manage and coordinate customer-owned and grid-owned DERs. Their technology optimizes the integration of solar panels, battery storage, and other distributed resources into the electrical grid, maximizing value for both utilities and consumers.Fellten’s Charge Qube provides rapidly deployable, high-power energy solutions that bypass grid limitations. Their mobile Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are housed in standard ISO containers and can be operational in under two hours.GyroPlant developed a reusable plug (GyroCup) for indoor and hydroponic farming, replacing single-use substrates. Their sustainable growing solution reduces waste in controlled environment agriculture while maintaining optimal growing conditions for plants.HiiROC developed Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) for low-emission hydrogen production using plasma torches. Their technology produces hydrogen with significantly lower carbon emissions compared to traditional methods, positioning them at the forefront of the clean hydrogen revolution.Senze is a measurement and analysis platform tailored for the built environment. Their technology helps building owners optimize energy consumption and operational efficiency through real-time monitoring and AI-powered insights.UrbanChain has developed an operating system for energy markets using blockchain and AI technologies. With their operating system, they create alternative local/private markets (mini-ISOs) with clean power to make clean energy generators viable without subsidies and the mainstream market for the 24/7 energy consumers.
“Our continued partnership with UFL provides an excellent opportunity to help UK businesses understand the USA Market and develop new collaborations so they can continue to innovate, scale and grow internationally,” said Jon Hazell, Innovate UK, Partnership Manager, North America and Global Incubator Programme.
Since the program’s inception in 2020, 35 UK climate tech companies have successfully established U.S. operations through the UFL partnership, resulting in over 100 strategic introductions, 20+ US contracts and pilots, as well as strategic shifts, and establishment of US-based offices. Alumni companies have gone on to secure partnerships with major utilities, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate. www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk
About the Urban Future Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering
The Urban Future Lab at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a nonprofit innovation hub for best-in-class climatetech startups with a focus on clean energy and sustainable urban infrastructure solutions. It is home to ACRE, New York’s longest-running climatetech incubator, Clean Start, an advanced certificate from NYU for people seeking a transition into the climatetech sector, the Carbon to Value Initiative and Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, which bring innovative technologies and solutions to industry leaders, and the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, which supports market entry in the U.S. for U.K.-based climatetech startups that can effectively scale and support the clean growth goals of New York State. As an integral part of Tandon’s Sustainable Engineering Initiative and NYU Tandon Future Labs network, the UFL is home to programs focused on policy, education, and market solutions for the green economy. For more information, visit ufl.nyc or LinkedIn and Instagram.