Launch proven resilience solutions in 90 days — no cost, minimal staff time.

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.

“Cities don’t need another feasibility study. They need solutions that work in the real world,” said Michael Lake, President & CEO of Leading Cities. “We help municipalities test proven technologies quickly and confidently. What usually takes two years can now happen in about three months—at no cost and with minimal effort from staff.”

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.

“Public-sector teams are stretched thin,” said Katy Southall, Chief of Impact and Innovation at Leading Cities. “We’ve done the heavy lifting, sourcing the solutions, preparing the providers, and structuring the pilots, so cities can focus on impact from day one.”

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.