The QBE and AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge

In these difficult times, we recognize a need to build more resilient and risk-adverse cities. To help toward that end, we have developed a unique collaboration to encourage entrepreneurs across the United States whose ventures can effectively manage and respond to an evolving environment of physical, economic, and social risk.

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Recognizing the urgent need to drive resiliency in cities, QBE North America and Leading Cities have embarked on a unique collaboration to seek out and support innovators across the world. These organizations contribute to building thriving, resilient cities that can effectively manage and respond to physical, economic, and social threats. Together, we are presenting the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge—a global competition seeking entrepreneurs leveraging technology to transform city ecosystems to make them more sustainable.

Want to learn more about the QBE and AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge? Watch our video.

Interested in applying for the 2021 QBE and AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge? Go to https://leadingcities.org/accelicity

2020 AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge Recap

Last year’s competition helped us identify and propel some of the world’s most promising startups that focus on a multitude of threats facing cities everywhere. The challenge revealed 11 of the world’s foremost urban technology startups from among hundreds that applied across 37 countries.

We are pleased to announce the 2020 QBE AcceliCITY winner was Bioo, led by CEO Pablo Vidarte and is based in Spain. Bioo has developed a unique, 100% renewable way of generating electricity from plants without damaging them. The technology has the potential to be utilized in a multitude of functions and across industries. In agriculture, they are developing the first 100% sustainable sensor powered by the land, while eliminating chemical battery pollution, as well as the cost of battery replacement. Also underway is the Bioo Panel, a vegetal panel that generates and supplies energy from nature to light up parks and gardens. Bioo’s future goals include expanding its technology into an energy source comparable to solar, hydropower or wind energy.

View the press release from last year’s Challenge. Read more.

Truett Tate, Chairman of the Board for QBE North America, discussed the importance of building resilience in cities and the competition QBE launched to help. Leading the conversation between Michael Lake, CEO of Leading Cities, Kwaku Osuwu, CEO of DrugViu and Nathan Pawl, CEO of Blacksands, Truett moderated an interactive session introducing the 2020 AcceliCITY Urban Resilience Challenge. Watch our video.

Have questions? Contact QBE Foundation Manager Josie Barnett at Josie.Barnett@us.qbe.com.