STEAM Divas
June 19, 2026
Through their company, The Lab Drawer, scientists Alecia Gabriel and Deirdre Roberson are building new ways to make STEM & Arts excellence equitable and commonplace.
Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative
Urban Innovator Platform for Better Cities
We are a community of innovators and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in urban communities. Join us! Together we will build sustainable, scalable companies that do well by doing good.
About UEI
The Urban Imperative
Urban entrepreneurship represents the intersection of business innovation and city vitality—a powerful force for transforming sustainable development challenges into opportunities for growth, equity, and community building.
Cities are humanity’s future. Today, more than half the world’s population lives in urban areas, a figure projected to reach 70% by 2050. These dense, dynamic spaces serve as cradles of innovation, cultural exchange, and economic opportunity. Yet they also concentrate our greatest challenges: inequality, infrastructure strain, and environmental threats.
W. David Tarver
UEI Founder
The Entrepreneurial Solution
Urban entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to address these challenges. Unlike traditional business models, urban entrepreneurship specifically targets the complex needs of city dwellers while building sustainable, scalable solutions.
Years Championing Urban Entrepreneurship
0
+
Urban-Focused Ventures & Profiles
90
+
UEI Members and
Subscribers
990
+
GLOBAL
Connecting innovators and cities across regions and sectors.
PLATFORM APPLICATIONS
BUSINESS PROFILES
Proven business models for sustainable, scalable, urban-focused ventures.
BUSINESS PITCHES
Proposals for innovative ventures that address urban community needs.
PROBLEM STATEMENTS
Important problems that are ripe for solution by innovators and entrepreneurs.
URBAN ENTREPRENEUR RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS
Advice, connections, education, finance, and more.
THE VITALITY FRAMEWORK
Successful urban entrepreneurs operate across ten vital categories that determine city life quality:
HOUSING & ENERGY
Access to safe, stable and affordable homes for every family. Reliable, modern energy systems that keep homes powered without interruption.
SAFETY
Secure and protected environments for all community members.
HEALTH
Access to comprehensive healthcare and overall well-being promotion.
MOBILITY
Efficient and accessible transportation options for all.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and financial security.
CONSUMER GOODS & SERVICES
Pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and financial security.
PUBLIC SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
Effective systems and structures that support community organization, functioning, and engagement.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & RECREATION
Opportunities for cultural expression, social interaction, and leisure.
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Current and future state of the human ecosystem.
LATEST NEWS
PODCAST
Where the Farm Meets the City
May 18, 2026
Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample are the co-founders of Argus Farm Stop, a pioneering local food business designed to strengthen regional farms while expanding community access to fresh, locally sourced food.
Anchor for Innovation
April 2, 2026
Lisa Prasad, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Health, shares her journey from consulting and academia to entrepreneurship and healthcare leadership.
BLOG
Sensing the City
May 28, 2026
What if we could point to any city and instantly surface its most pressing challenges? That is the challenge we put to some very talented University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI) students.
Join Us for Urban Entrepreneurship 2026 / Detroit
February 5, 2026
Join us for an engaging and interactive event designed for entrepreneurs and aspiring changemakers committed to improving quality of life in Detroit and other urban communities.
Member Post: Profit Is a Tool, Not a Sin
February 2, 2026
We need to have a difficult conversation about the word “good.” Somewhere along the way, between the rise of the robber barons
CONTACT US
Have a question, idea, or project you’d like to discuss? Reach out and our team will get back to you with the next steps.
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Your donation helps empower urban innovators and strengthens community-driven solutions.
We are a community of innovators and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in urban communities.
Join us! Together we will build sustainable, scalable companies that do well by doing good.
OUR ADDRESS
- Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative, Inc. 607 Shelby Street Suite 714 Detroit, MI 48226
- +1 (313) 457-2050
- info@urbanei.org