Urban Innovation
Venture capitalActively deployingSan Francisco · Pre-Seed–Seed · 5 people tracked
Also known as URBAN INNOVATION MANAGEMENT LLC · Urban Innovation Selects · Urban Innovation Selects JB · Urban Innovation Selects JC
Investment thesis
Urban Innovation Fund backs startups shaping the future of cities across three themes: the built world (transportation, energy and sustainability, proptech), social systems (health, public safety, edtech), and economic vitality (regulatory and compliance tech, fintech, small business services, govtech). It writes first checks at the pre-seed and seed stage and supports founders navigating massive, regulated industries with hands-on help and regulatory expertise. The firm publishes an annual Urban Outcomes Report tracking portfolio companies working on issues such as government permitting, at-home cancer screening, and e-waste recycling.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 25 of 75 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×12SaaS ×12Fintech ×11Enterprise Software ×9Digital Health ×4Cybersecurity ×3LegalTech ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2
HQs:United States×26United Kingdom×2Cyprus×1Israel×1
Investments · 75 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathOakland, US
Board seatAndrew Felbinger· per SEC Form D · $4.3M raise · filed Jun 2026
San Francisco, US
Muffadal Ghadiali(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Paul Straub(Director)Julie Lein(Director)Naeem Zafar(Director)
Board seatJulie Lein· per SEC Form D
San Francisco, US
Dave Schuman(Executive Officer, Director)Christelle Rohaut(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatJulie Lein· per SEC Form D · $2.3M raise · filed Aug 2020
Oakland, US
Board seatClara Brenner· per SEC Form D · $4.5M raise · filed Apr 2024
Bainbridge Island, US
Board seatJulie Lein· per SEC Form D · $2M raise · filed Apr 2024
London
Board seatJulie Lein· per SEC Form D · $3.9M raise · filed Feb 2022
Oakland, US
Wes Silke(Director)Tara Mutukisna(Director)Julie Lein(Director)Ahmed Rahim(Director)Sabrina Mutukisna(President and CEO)
Board seatJulie Lein· per SEC Form D · $1M raise · filed May 2017
Allocate provides infrastructure software for private markets, enabling wealth advisors and asset managers to efficiently handle subscriptions, capital flows, and portfolio operations.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Samir Kaji(Co-founder)inHana Yang(Co-founder & Chief Experience Officer)in
Apply Design is an AI-powered virtual staging platform for real estate that automatically removes furniture from photos and generates photorealistic renders with customizable furniture and styling.
AI & Machine LearningPropTechSaaSTel Aviv-Yafo, IL
Ferrum Health develops AI accountability solutions, though the specific products and customer base are not detailed on the company page.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthEnterprise SoftwareSunnyvale, US
Pelu Tran(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardPatrick Steele(Director)Jaclyn Hester(Director)Kenneth Ko(Director)
Grain is a mobile app that lets users draw on a line of credit linked to their existing debit card, offering credit access based on their spending patterns rather than traditional credit assessment.
FintechSan Francisco, US
Patrick De Suza(Founder)inChristian-Robert Joseph(Founder)inCarl-Alain Memnon(Founder)in
Jeeves provides flexible payment and expense management solutions for businesses, including prepaid cards, payment processing, and cross-border transaction services across multiple jurisdictions.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSMiami, US
Dileep Thazhmon(Founder)inSherwin Gandhi(Director)
BoardAngela Strange(Director)
Oakland, US
Jonathan Allen(Director)Clara Brenner(Director)Srikar Prithvi Chinam(Executive Officer, Director)
Malloc is a mobile privacy and security app combining AI-driven spyware detection with a no-log VPN to protect users' data and privacy on Android and iOS devices.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareNicosia, CY
Palo Alto, US
Kate Torgersen(Executive Officer, Director)Mike Torgersen(Executive Officer, Director)
Moritz is an AI-native law firm that combines senior lawyers with custom software to deliver legal work for technology companies across the EU, US, and Australia, using fixed fees and rapid turnaround rather than hourly billing.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Pamir Ehsas(Founder & CEO)inStefan Mandaric(Founder)inDaniel Dalla Vedova(Founding Head of Legal & COO)in
Ohm provides an AI platform that helps hardware engineering teams accelerate product development, testing, and validation for complex physical products including electric vehicles, batteries, and wearables.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareSan Francisco, US
Penelope Jones(Founder)in
Plenna is a women's health clinic offering virtual and in-person gynecological, pregnancy, psychological, nutritional, and specialized medical services through an integrated healthcare platform.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechMexico City
Lorena Ostos Rangel(Director)Lorena Ostos(Founder & CEO)
Popl is an event lead capture and contact-sharing SaaS platform that uses AI to capture, contextualize, and manage connections made at conferences, trade shows, and networking events for enterprise teams.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSNew York City, US
Jason Alco(CEO & Founder)in
Public Grid simplifies access to household energy efficiency actions and connects individuals with their neighbors to collectively reduce emissions and save money.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyFintech
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Urban Innovation invest at?
- Urban Innovation invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Urban Innovation's typical check size?
- Urban Innovation typically writes checks of $500K – $3.5M.
- What sectors does Urban Innovation focus on?
- Urban Innovation focuses on Climate Tech, EdTech, Energy, Fintech, GovTech, Healthtech, LegalTech, Mobility & Transportation, PropTech.
- Where is Urban Innovation located?
- Urban Innovation is headquartered in San Francisco, US.
- Does Urban Innovation lead rounds?
- Urban Innovation typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamE810: Clara Brenner Urban Innovation Fund-Forming a Board; Domingo Guerra Appthority-Founder Lessons
This Week in Startups · Clara Brenner
Urban Innovation Fund's Clara Brenner on 50 investments, tenacity, culture to scale | Angel S2 E7
This Week in Startups · Clara Brenner
566th 1Mby1M Roundtable with Julie Lein, Urban Innovation Fund
1Mby1M Roundtables · Julie Lein
466 - Clara Brenner, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Urban Innovation Fund
Seedscout · Clara Brenner
Clara Brenner of Urban Innovation Fund at Startup Funding 2.0 - 12 mins
Foundersuite & Fundingstack: How To Raise Capital · Clara Brenner
E17: Clara Brenner, Urban Innovation Fund shares insights from ~50 investments focused on solving our biggest challenges, importance of tenacity, momentum, culture to scale & positive communication with investors - Angel - hosted by Jason Calacanis | Acast
Clara Brenner · shows.acast.com
Co-investors · 17
Andreessen Horowitz's Strategic Partnerships page describes collaborations that connect its portfolio companies with established institutions to help scale and deploy their technology.
Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV) is an early-stage venture firm focused on fintech startups, run by experienced operators who provide hands-on support beyond capital.
Nyca Partners is a fintech-focused venture capital firm that invests primarily in early-stage financial services and technology companies, offering founders strategic support and access to a large advisor network.
Okta Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Okta, investing in and supporting startups building technologies enabled by identity, security, and privacy.
Wireframe Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that backs founders addressing significant global challenges, investing as a first-check partner.
Headwater Ventures is an early-stage investor backing preseed and seed founders building software for the modernization of healthcare and care delivery.
Proeza Ventures is a venture capital firm investing exclusively in early-stage startups in the mobility space, describing itself as the largest mobility fund in Latin America.
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm known for backing bold, contrarian bets in world-class teams that can reshape entire industries.
Founder Collective is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on seed and pre-seed investments across all sectors.
Kleiner Perkins is a venture capital firm that backs founders across technology and life sciences, with a portfolio of companies from early stage through growth.
Kindred Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that backs technology startups in their earliest financing rounds, often helping form and fund companies before they exist. It has backed 100+ startups.
500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is a venture capital firm that invests in startups worldwide and runs programs for founders and investors.
▶5 more co-investors
Standard CapitalFifth Wall VenturesCalm/Storm VCCantos VenturesClosed Loop Partners
Firms observed investing alongside Urban Innovation, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Urban Innovation's recorded portfolio.
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