Five 90-Day Municipal Innovation Pilots Now Open for Funding
Leading Cities is inviting municipalities worldwide to apply for one of five fully funded, no-cost innovation projects designed to help cities rapidly turn data into action without the delays, costs, or risks of traditional procurement.
Delivered in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, the AcceliGOV program enables cities to launch proven climate and infrastructure solutions in approximately 90 days, replacing what typically takes 18–24 months through a traditional RFP process.
Each selected city receives:
- A fully supported pilot valued at $50,000–$100,000
- Implementation support and training
- Minimal staff time required
Only five cities (one per project) will be selected, with applications closing June 14, 2026, and deployments beginning in Q3 2026.
From intention to implementation
Cities today collect more data than ever before, yet many struggle to translate that information into decisions that strengthen resilience, improve public services, and protect residents.
AcceliGOV removes the barriers that often stall innovation by handling sourcing, vetting, onboarding, and deployment support in advance, allowing municipalities to focus on outcomes rather than process.
To date, Leading Cities has 32 projects underway or completed, selected from a global pool of more than 5,000 vetted startups, as part of a commitment to deploy 100 resilience projects in 100 communities by 2030.
Five ready-to-deploy solutions
Each project addresses an existing municipal challenge and is prepared for rapid public-sector deployment:
RCOAST
Pinpoints shoreline erosion and evaluates which protective measures are working, helping coastal communities direct funding where it delivers the greatest impact.
True Flood Risk
Helps emergency managers identify which buildings are most likely to flood, enabling faster response planning and smarter resilience investments before disasters strike.
AquaSave
Detects leaks and inefficiencies in water systems in real time, reducing water and energy waste while generating reliable sustainability metrics and operational savings.
Whats Doing
Surfaces accessibility barriers faced by residents with disabilities, guiding improvements that make public spaces and services more inclusive.
Dosy Bikes
Expands safe mobility options for women across the Middle East and North Africa, while creating green workforce opportunities and reducing transportation-related emissions.
Most projects launch within 90 days and deliver results within three to six months. However, these deployments can evolve and expand as the utility of the solution becomes clear to the community.
In Dargo, Australia, a pilot with WEO helped the community visualize previously undocumented local climate risks, achieving 100% coverage of priority areas within six months through combined satellite analysis and community input. The platform remains in active use today to support ongoing resilience planning.
Innovation without the usual risk
Each deployment includes onboarding, technical support, and performance measurement. Cities are not required to issue an RFP, commit capital funding, or dedicate significant staff time.
Apply now
Chief Innovation Officers, Smart City Directors, CIOs, CTOs, Chiefs of Staff, Mayors, and City Managers are encouraged to apply.
Only five municipalities will be selected.
Apply for one or all solutions HERE. Applications close June 14, 2026.
About the author
Michael Lake is the President and CEO of Leading Cities, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Leading Cities’ mission is to achieve a sustainable planet by leading with Smart Cities. As President and CEO, Michael establishes and develops relationships with municipal governments, businesses, non-profit organizations and universities around the world, creating a global network of partner cities dedicated to implementing Smart City solutions.