Non-Dilutive Capital for Urban Tech & Smart Cities
Bridge the “Pilot Gap” with grants and loans for urban innovation.
The Unique Funding Challenges of Smart Cities & Urban Tech
Funding can be very complex and challenging.
Public Good
Innovations should be aligend with core municipal strategic goals
Sales Cycle
Long approvals and procurement processes from municipalities
Capital
Capital-intensive assets require Blended Finance
Development
Pilot phases can take longer than in other industries
Our Solutions
Built for founders of Smart Cities & Urban Tech Innovations. Trusted by funders. Designed for scale in Europe.
Funding starts with strategy and we build yours for the long game.
We define your non-dilutive roadmap before diving into applications, aligned with product milestones and capital needs.
Applying for public grants and loans without a solid strategy is like building on sand. Our modular approach starts with research and roadmap alignment, ensuring every application supports your product development, go-to-market motion and investor timeline.
We do not just list potential programs. We filter for relevance, connect funding with business milestones and identify the optimal mix of grants, loans and future equity. Our focus is always on maximizing non-repayable grants because they are the most founder-friendly form of capital – no repayment, no equity given up.
- Market & funding research
- Strategic alignment with roadmap and financing
- Ideal grant/loan mix design
- Strategy for up to three years
Grants - without the guesswork.
Based on hundreds of success cases, we handle the full process – AI-assisted, human-validated.
Based on numerous of successful cases, we write your entire application package using AI-backed best practices and proven frameworks. You receive a ready-to-submit application, support with all annexes, and help answering follow-up questions, so you can focus on your business, not bureaucracy.
- Full drafting of all required documents by our experts
- AI-supported writing based on numerous of successful applications
- Support during submission and follow-up communication
- Only 1 to 3 hours of your time required — we handle the rest
Low-interest loans that align with your growth - not dilute your cap table.
We help you secure the right public loans from KfW, IBB and EU-backed institutions. From financial planning to coordination with your bank – we take care of everything.
Public loans are a powerful tool to finance product development, hiring, or working capital, without giving up equity. We support you throughout the entire process: selecting the best-fitting loan program, preparing all required documents, and aligning the loan with your overall funding and investor strategy.
Our experts prepare your business plan, financial forecast, and annexes based on proven templates and bank expectations. We coordinate with your local bank if needed and ensure the loan process runs smoothly.
- Selection of the best-fitting loan program (KfW, IBB, EU-backed, etc.)
- Full preparation of business plan and financial forecast
- Coordination with your house bank or funding partner
- Minimal time effort for founders , we handle the paperwork
FAQs
What our clients often ask before they get started.
Which types of Urban Tech projects are most suitable for non-dilutive funding?
Solutions addressing Sustainable Mobility (MaaS, EV infrastructure), Circular Economy (smart waste/water management), Climate Resilience, and Digital Government Services (GovTech) are top priorities for major European and national funding bodies.
How does project finance work for an Urban Tech startup?
Unlike equity, Project Finance raises debt and equity to fund a specific long-term project with a city (e.g., a smart streetlight network). The loan is repaid by the project’s revenue (e.g., energy savings), allowing you to scale without diluting company equity.
What are the key European funding programs for Smart Cities?
Key programs include Horizon Europe (for R&D and demonstration), the EIC Accelerator (for deep-tech solutions), and specific funds like EU-Life and EIT Urban Mobility for city-focused pilots and market entry.
Our solution is software, not hardware. Do we still need this type of funding?
Yes. While hardware is CapEx-heavy, Urban Tech software requires funding to cover the high cost of integrating with legacy city systems, achieving cybersecurity compliance, and financing the aforementioned long sales/pilot cycles.
Can non-dilutive funds be used to scale to other cities?
Absolutely. Many EU programs specifically award follow-on funding for replication and internationalization. A successful pilot in one city can unlock capital to adapt and deploy the solution across the entire European market.
