Sesame Solar Named a Top 100 Resilience Solution in the 2025 QBE AcceliCITY Challenge
We’re proud to share that Sesame Solar has been named one of the Top 100 global startups in the prestigious 2025 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, a global urban innovation accelerator led by Leading Cities and supported by the QBE Foundation. Out of a record-breaking 820+ applicants across 71 countries and six continents, our solution stood out for its potential to help cities build more resilient, sustainable, and equitable futures in the face of accelerating climate and social challenges.
This honor places Sesame Solar among a powerful cohort of innovators poised to redefine urban resilience with technologies that respond to extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and deepening inequality. Our Mobile Nanogrids, powered by solar and green hydrogen, provide fossil fuel-free, transportable, and self-sustaining energy and water for communities in crisis—whether recovering from disasters, maintaining healthcare continuity, or powering critical infrastructure in off-grid locations.
A Resilience-Focused Global Innovation Platform
Now in its seventh year, AcceliCITY is considered one of the world’s top GovTech accelerators, connecting promising startups with the tools, networks, and municipal leaders needed to deploy impactful solutions at scale. With past pilot projects launched across four continents, the program continues to turn high-potential ideas into actionable deployments.
This year’s program also highlighted a commitment to diverse leadership, with nearly 50% of Top 100 ventures including at least one female founder. We’re proud to contribute to this momentum and to be part of a cohort defined not only by innovation but by mission-driven leadership.
What’s Next: LaunchPad11 and Beyond
As part of the Top 100, Sesame Solar will join LaunchPad11, a five-month virtual accelerator that provides:
- A certified, tailored curriculum focused on navigating public sector partnerships
- Direct access to global city leaders, industry mentors, and decision-makers
- International exposure through a vast civic innovation network
- The chance to compete for a $100,000 grand prize or $25,000 runner-up pilot award
This opportunity will not only help us scale our impact, but also open the door to new collaborations that advance community resilience around the world.
Smart Cities Need Smart, Sustainable Power
Our inclusion in the 2025 AcceliCITY Top 100 isn’t just an achievement—it’s a signal. A signal that resilient, regenerative energy solutions like ours are essential to the future of cities. By delivering mobile, zero-emission Nanogrids—powered by solar,hydrogen and battery storage—Sesame Solar enables communities to recover faster, stay connected longer, and operate independently of fragile energy infrastructure.
Whether responding to hurricanes, wildfires, or grid outages, our Nanogrids provide immediate, sustainable relief—without diesel, without delay.
Building Resilient Cities, Together
We’re inspired by the incredible cohort of change-makers we’ll be working alongside during this accelerator. These are innovators who, like us, are committed to solving some of the biggest problems facing cities today—from infrastructure breakdowns and public health threats to extreme weather risk and systemic inequity.
We look forward to learning, growing and collaborating as we continue our mission to help communities transition to a fuel-free, energy resilient future.
Stay Connected
We’re honored to be among the Top 100 solutions working to make cities safer, stronger, and smarter. As we move through the accelerator and deepen our global impact, we invite you to follow our progress, partner with us, and reimagine what’s possible in building climate-ready, community-powered urban resilience.
Connect with Us
Follow along as we participate in the QBE AcceliCITY Challenge:
🔗 LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Facebook
To learn more about the program or see the full list of Top 100 startups, visit LeadingCities.org.
Let’s build an energy resilient future—together.
