A Tumml company on kickstarter!

A Tumml company on kickstarter!

Tumml company Hive Lighting has introduced its new ultra efficient LED light, the WASP 100-C. And it's available now on Kickstarter! The Wasp 100-C represents the next generation of energy-efficient lighting – whether you're an aspiring indie filmmaker, a video blogger, or a news photographer, the WASP 100-C offers the lighting you need to take your work to the next level.

And don't forget to join us at SPUR on December 5th for a roundtable on The Future of Clean Energy in Cities. The panel will feature the five startup winners of Tumml's Urban Clean Energy Prize, and an in-depth discussion about launching innovative solutions to urban problems. Reserve your tickets here!

You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as stories we're following. For example, The Washington Post evaluates the merits of "tactical urbanism."

Urban clean energy at SPUR

Urban clean energy at SPUR

From reducing electricity consumption to creating energy-efficient lighting, Tumml's most recent batch of startups is tackling tough urban problems. Want to learn more about them? Join us at SPUR on December 5th for a roundtable on The Future of Clean Energy in Cities. The panel will feature the five startup winners of Tumml's Urban Clean Energy Prize, and an in-depth discussion about launching innovative solutions to urban problems. Reserve your tickets here and help us spread the word!

Also, check out an article Tumml Director May Samali recently co-authored for the Stanford Social Innovation Review about catalytic collaboration for nonprofits. You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as stories we're following. For example, our co-founder Julie Lein was quoted in a San Francisco Business Times story about impact investing.

Meet the new Tumml cohort

Meet the new Tumml cohort

Last night we had a blast celebrating the five urban innovation startups to receive funding through the Tumml Urban Clean Energy Prize! A big thank you to our event sponsors The 11th Hour Project, Codigo Del Sur, Esri, Hanson Bridgett, IBM, Nixon Peabody, Presidio Graduate School, Verizon, and Vodafone Americas Foundation.

During a three-month program, each startup will receive $15K, as well as hands-on mentorship to help them pilot (or expand) their services in US cities. The winners are:

During the review process, Tumml was looking for startups advancing renewable resource adoption and efficiency in urban areas – water, solar, wind, green building materials, etc. Renewable resources are critical to the future of our cities, helping us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our power and transportation sectors; achieve better health outcomes because of lowered air, water, and land pollution; encourage responsible relationships with natural resources; and support community energy resilience.  

As a nonprofit with the mission to empower entrepreneurs to solve urban problems, Tumml is excited to support these startups tackling clean energy challenges in our cities.  We're thrilled to welcome the new batch!

Tumml alum Chariot is crushing it

Tumml alum Chariot is crushing it

Chariot recently announced its acquisition by Ford Smart Mobility. As one of the company's first investors, we couldn't be prouder!  Chariot's crowdsourced commuter shuttles provide a reliable transit option for city residents. We invested in Chariot in the summer of 2014 –  when the company had just launched its first route in San Francisco. Now Chariot runs 28 routes in the Bay Area, served by 100 vans.

Chariot is a great example of urban innovation in action. Chariot founder Ali Vahabzadeh identified a problem that he experienced every day (trying to get to/ from work) and built a company to address that challenge. We were impressed with his determination – in the span of a few weeks, Ali launched a scrappy pilot and made his solution a reality. From the beginning, he was out in the street, talking to commuters about their pain points.  We're excited to continue supporting entrepreneurs like Ali and hope that Chariot's success will inspire other entrepreneurs to tackle our toughest urban problems.    

PS Want to meet the next generation of urban innovators? Attend our reception on September 19th where we'll announce the winners of our Urban Clean Energy Prize.

Let's party! Tumml Urban Clean Energy Prize Reception

Let's party! Tumml Urban Clean Energy Prize Reception

 We've selected five urban-focused startups to receive grants through the Tumml Urban Clean Energy Prize! Don't you want to know who the winners are?? 

We're hosting a reception on Monday, September 19th at 6pm where we'll announce the winners. We hope you'll join us! Please RSVP here.

Also, check out Tumml alum Chariot in this San Francisco Business Times story about its direct shuttle service for commuters. You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as stories we're following. For example, social network Nextdoor is moving to block racial profiling on its platform.

Announcing the Urban Clean Energy Prize

Announcing the Urban Clean Energy Prize

Calling all clean energy startups! Tumml is looking for entrepreneurs to apply for its Urban Clean Energy Prize – a three-month program where we will support startups with clean energy solutions for our cities. The program will run from September 19 - December 16, 2016, and the selected startups will each receive:

  • A $15K grant
  • Hands-on consulting services and mentorship from the Tumml team and Mentorship Board to help you pilot (or expand) your product/ service within a municipality
  • Free office space in downtown San Francisco through the duration of the program (if desired) 

We are interested in startups advancing renewable resource adoption and efficiency in urban areas – water, solar, wind, green building materials, etc. Renewable resources are critical to the future of our cities, helping us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our power and transportation sectors; achieve better health outcomes because of lowered air, water, and land pollution; encourage responsible relationships with natural resources; and support community energy resilience.  

Click here to apply! And help us spread the word! Applications are due July 1, 2016. Feel free to reach out to us at info@tumml.org if you have any questions.

The Urban Summit powered by Tumml

The Urban Summit powered by Tumml

We're teaming up with the LAUNCH Festival to present the "Urban Summit Powered by Tumml" tomorrow! Come hear from leading urban startups, an esteemed panel of judges, and a fireside chat with Lyft CTO Chris Lambert. Shout out to Microsoft for supporting this event! We've got some free tickets left to give away – click here to claim yours. See you at the LAUNCH AMA stage tomorrow?

Congrats to all of the urban impact startups that participated in Tumml's "Urban Insights: Raising Your Seed Round" workshop last week (full list below).

  • Next Request: Streamlining the public records request process (& winner of the $5K Urban Insights pitch prize). 
  • Giving Side: A comprehensive platform to fully track, measure and improve the entirety of individuals' charitable donations over time.
  • SendVote: An interactive public survey tool to organize what people think and start conversations between people based on how they answered questions.
  • StatFoods: "Processed Food for Good," leveraging food science to make novel foods that are delicious, affordable, and healthy.
  • Token Transit: Mobile ticketing platform for small and mid-sized public transportation agencies.
  • CurbNinja: A community-based mobile app that helps motorbikers find & share reliable parking.
  • Trumpet: A marketing automation platform for small, local merchants to facilitate sales and delivery.

Also, check out Tumml in this New York Times photo essay about Silicon Valley. You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as stories we're following. For example, The Harvard Business Review evaluates how a new generation of business leaders views philanthropy.

 

 

Time's running out – apply to Urban Insights!

Time's running out – apply to Urban Insights!

Don't forget – time's running out to apply to "Urban Insights: Raising Your Seed Round," which will take place on Monday, February 22nd! This day-long workshop will help you refine your pitch in an intimate environment, meet leading angels and microVCs, and get the chance to pitch for a $5K prize! Applications are due on February 12th at 11:59PM. 

Also, we're teaming up with the LAUNCH Festival to present the "Urban Summit Powered by Tumml." Come hear from leading urban startups, an esteemed panel of judges, and a fireside chat with Lyft CTO Chris Lambert. We've got 100 free LAUNCH tickets to give away – click here to claim yours. The Urban Summit is taking over the AMA stage at LAUNCH on March 2nd from 2-4pm, so be sure to come by and say hi :-) 

You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as news stories we're following. For example, The Economist explores why insurance innovation has been a tough nut to crack (hint: regulation).

Attend a Tumml fundraising bootcamp!

Attend a Tumml fundraising bootcamp!

Are you tackling an urban problem? Are you an early stage entrepreneur looking to raise your seed round? Tumml is now accepting applications for "Urban Insights: Raising Your Seed Round" on Monday, February 22nd! Apply now to this day-long workshop where you will refine your pitch in an intimate environment, meet leading angels and microVCs, and get the chance to pitch for a $5K prize! 

Want some more urban in your life? Tumml will be taking over a stage at LAUNCH Festival in San Francisco! Join us on March 2nd from 2-4pm to for The Urban Innovation Summit Powered By Tumml – and hear from some of the leading urban innovators, investors, and policy leaders in the space.

You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as news stories we're following. For example, The New York Times reports that older drivers are hitting the road for Lyft and Uber to augment their retirement income.

15 questions with Tumml

15 questions with Tumml

Want to know more about Tumml founders Julie & Clara? Check out their Q&A on CNN Money. Also, it's Giving Tuesday! Tumml is a nonprofit supported by donations from nice people like you, so please consider donating this holiday season. 

In other news, Tumml and The Blackstone Charitable Foundation hosted The Placemakers: A Conversation about the Entrepreneurs Shaping our Cities in November. It was a huge success, thanks to our sponsors and attendees! Check out some photos here.  

And we've got exciting updates from many of our Tumml alums. Congrats to Chariot for being featured in TechCrunch as the "Last Bus Startup Standing" and to SPROKIT for placing second in the Mobileys "Mobile Future" competition. Also, HandUp was featured in StuffTV's 25 Most Exciting Ideas in Tech. 

Finally, we've got to send a special shoutout to Rickshaw Bagworks for providing messenger bags for Tumml and our entrepreneurs. We greatly appreciate the support! And for the entrepreneurs out there, dotTECH Domains is offering free domains for startups (use coupon code "TECHOFFER" - valid until Dec 15).

You can read more updates from Tumml here, as well as news stories we're following. For example, startup Improbable has launched SpatialOS, an operating system for simulated and virtual cities.

The Placemakers was a blast

The Placemakers was a blast

Along with our awesome marquee sponsor The Blackstone Charitable Foundation, we hosted The Placemakers: A Conversation about the Entrepreneurs Shaping our Cities last week in downtown San Francisco. It was awesome!

The event involved a full day of intimate, closed-door roundtables on topics important to the future of urban innovation. For each roundtable, we invited a different and highly-curated group of entrepreneurs, investors, policy leaders, and policy figures who are issue-area experts on topics like the future or urban transportation, mission-driven entrepreneurship, etc. Over 150 people attended the closing reception. Check out some photos from the event below:

And thank you to our content/venue sponsors: Microsoft, Living Cities, Deutsche Bank, Hanson Bridgett, dotTECH Domains, Presidio Graduate School, Verizon, First Republic Bank, and JP Morgan. We couldn't have pulled this off without you.

Get tickets to Tumml's Placemakers event

Get tickets to Tumml's Placemakers event

Tumml and The Blackstone Charitable Foundation are hosting The Placemakers on November 4, 2015. The event will allow us to dig into the challenges facing the entrepreneurs shaping our cities. To cap-off the event, we're hosting a Community Reception that evening and we hope you'll join us for the party! There will be drinks, appetizers, networking, and urban impact entrepreneur booths. Get tickets to our Placemakers Community Reception here.

We're excited to announce that Tumml received the High Impact Social Accelerator Award from UBI Global, in partnership with Cisco at SOCAP15.

Title image source: Flickr Public Domain 17041977487_597c49e744_h