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We believe cities and communities are where global challenges are solved.
What We Do
Leading Cities helps innovative solutions reach the communities that need them most.
Through programs like AcceliCITY, AcceliGOV, LaunchPad 11, and Leading Cities Academy, we help identify promising solutions, prepare innovators to work with government, and support the deployment of real-world projects.
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How We Turn Intent into Action
Leading Cities does more than surface innovation. We help move promising solutions into implementation by identifying real needs, preparing innovators, and advancing deployment. That is how we help cities, innovators, and partners turn intent into action.
What Makes Leading Cities Different
The hardest part of innovation is not generating new ideas. It is helping communities implement them. Leading Cities was built to close that gap by connecting cities with the entrepreneurs, partners, and pathways needed to turn promising solutions into real-world impact.
Global Reach
A global network reaching more than 16,000 cities and communities.
Implementation Focus
Programs designed to move solutions from concept to deployment.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
We bring together governments, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry partners to accelerate impact.
End-To-End Support
We support innovators and communities from early discovery through deployment and scale.
Council Chair
Hussam Raouf
Boston Consulting Group
Global Partnerships Chair
Jeff Merritt
World Economic Forum
Position Project Development Chair
Alice Charles
Arup
City Engagement Chair
Rochelle Haynes
What Works Cities
Capital Development Chair
Jonas Schorr
Urban Impact
Business Development Chair
Jan Bunge
Multiball
Thought Leadership Chair
Joaquín Rodriguez
Afkar Collective
Leadership Team
Our Innovation Pathway
At Leading Cities, innovation matters when it reaches the communities that need it most. Our Innovation Pathway helps move promising solutions from discovery to deployment by identifying strong solutions, preparing innovators to work with government, and advancing pilots that demonstrate real-world impact.
A Global Nonprofit Accelerating Innovation for Resilient and Sustainable Communities
Founded in Boston in 2008 at Northeastern University, Leading Cities is a global nonprofit that connects cities with innovative solutions that strengthen resilience, sustainability, and quality of life. We bring together local governments, entrepreneurs, investors, and partners to help communities move from challenge to implementation.
Today, our ecosystem reaches more than 16,000 cities and communities and thousands of innovators worldwide.
To connect communities with innovative solutions that strengthen resilience, sustainability, and quality of life.
Our Mission
We envision a future where breakthrough ideas move more quickly from concept to implementation, helping cities address climate risk, infrastructure needs, and community wellbeing through innovation.
Our Vision
Leading Cities values collaboration, purpose-driven innovation, real-world impact, integrity, global perspective, and trust.
Our Values
Where We Began
From our First 10 City Partners to Our Network of 16,000+ Communities
Leading Cities was founded through a collaboration among forward-thinking cities including Boston, Dublin, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Lyon, Hamburg, Lisbon, Zapopan, Vancouver, and Haifa.
Originally established at Northeastern University, Leading Cities began as a research effort exploring how cities could work together to solve shared challenges. Over time, it evolved into an independent nonprofit focused on helping innovative ideas reach real-world implementation.
Barcelona
SPAIN
Boston
USA
Dublin
IRELAND
Haifa
ISRAEL
Hamburg
GERMANY
Lisbon
PORTUGAL
Lyon
FRANCE
Rio De Janeiro
BRAZIL
Vancouver
CANADA
Zapopan
MEXICO