Urban Innovation Fund

Battery innovation is critical to the future of energy, and Byterat is helping teams accelerate breakthroughs. Founder Penelope Jones shares some insights on the future of battery innovation in a recent talk. We’re excited to back a team pushing the industry forward. #UrbanInnovation #BatteryTech #FutureOfEnergy #FemaleFounders

We’re continuing to spotlight women-led companies in our portfolio for Women’s Month! ?? Today, we’re featuring Intrinsic, co-founded by Karine Mellata and Michael Lin, to make the internet a safer, more trusted place for everyone. ??? As online threats like spam, fraud, and harmful content increase, Intrinsic equips trust & safety teams with world-class AI-powered tools to help companies protect users and moderate content at scale. With 98.3% detection accuracy and 100M+ events moderated daily, they’re ensuring platforms remain safe and accessible for all. ?? A safer internet is a better internet. We’re proud to support Karine and the Intrinsic team as they lead the charge in building a more secure digital world. #UrbanInnovation #WomensMonth #FemaleLeaders #TrustAndSafety?

Insightful takeaways from portfolio founder Samir Kaji at Allocate’s recent Emerging Manager Dinner on the evolving VC landscape. From AI’s impact on scaling to the liquidity challenge, these conversations are shaping the future of venture. #UrbanInnovation #EmergingManagers #VentureCapital #PortfolioCompanyInsights?

Pelu Tran recently joined Dr. Marty Makary M.D., M.P.H. for a discussion on the culture of medicine and its resistance to change, plus how he founded not one, but two companies (Augmedix and Ferrum Health) by the age of 31. #UrbanInnovation #HealthTech #AI

Poets&Quants & Quants recently named TestParty one of 2024’s “Most Disruptive MBA Startups”! In this interview, founder Michael Bervell shares the accomplishments, challenges, and inspirations behind building a company with the long-term goal “to build a centaur: a company that brings in $100M in annual recurring revenue.” #UrbanInnovation #AccessibilityTech?#HarvardMBA #StartupInnovation https://lnkd.in/e3RsFW5X

AI and emerging tech are shaping the future, but some things remain timeless. Like the Olympics. Like the power of human performance. Like ensuring women don’t have to choose between motherhood and their careers. That’s why we love this story ?? Our portfolio company, Milk Stork, helped Olympic coach Heather Pfeil be both a new mother and a world-class coach at the 2024 Paris Olympics. ?? Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gCHsNrpP #UrbanInnovation #FemaleFounders #ParentingTech

Women are driving innovation across every sector, including deep tech and manufacturing. Meet Malory McLemore and Anne Wen, co-founders of our portfolio company, Stell. Both are aerospace and deep tech veterans who met at Harvard Business School, where they co-led the Aerospace Club before founding Stell. ???Today, Stell is transforming systems engineering by providing infrastructure for managing engineering documentation, from mission requirements to process specifications.?This innovation is critical in highly regulated industries.? ???By empowering engineers with a database of mission and design data, Stell reduces bottlenecks and boosts efficiency across the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.? As lead investors in Stell’s seed round, we’re proud to support Malory and Anne, two trailblazing female founders reimagining the future of American industry! #UrbanInnovation #FemaleFounders #WomensMonth #DeepTech

Founders, VCs, and IR professionals in #LosAngeles: Don’t miss this panel and networking event with top investors, including our very own Jenieri Cyrus - this Thursday, March 13th. Register here →?https://lnkd.in/gWvqRYvh to learn about the key metrics, trust-building strategies, and insights you need to secure investor confidence. Steven Bacall ?? Austin Clements Jillian Kamiyama #UrbanInnovation #VentureCapital #InvestorInsights

The literacy crisis is deepening. 1 in 3 American eighth graders can’t read at a basic level, and struggling students are falling even further behind. High-impact tutoring is a proven solution, but it’s still not reaching enough students. BookNook ?? is tackling this head-on, scaling tutoring access to bridge the gap and drive real impact. Read more on why this moment is critical: https://lnkd.in/gtYC6GZ7 #UrbanInnovation #EdTech #PortfolioCompanyInsights

Methane reduction is finally getting the attention it deserves. Credit retirements skyrocketed over 70% last year as buyers race to invest in one of the fastest, most effective climate solutions Our portfolio company, ClimateWells unpacks this in their latest insights piece: https://lnkd.in/gUJiqmtA #UrbanInnovation #MethaneReducation #CarbonMarkets #PortfolioCompanyInsights