We like solving problems, especially wicked ones.
What do we do?
Urban Morph is an sustainability focussed eco-system orchestrator working at the intersection of State, Market and Society. We have expertise in the areas of Mobility, Energy and Waste circularity. We use technology and systems thinking to find pathways of reducing environmental impact of mobility, energy or waste management choices. We work with stakeholders in the ecosystem towards shifting the overton window enabling policies that help us in achieving our national growth targets and strategic autonomy.
How can we help you?
Systems thinking isn’t enough, finding solutions to make things happen within that framework for you is important. So, if we don’t have a solution in our stable that fits the puzzle, we will make sure to find you one that does. Wether you are a corporate or a development sector organisation looking for solutions to reduce climate change risk in your business, write to us
Our work
- Innovate for Transport and Energy System: We are the strategic partners to India-UK Net Zero centre for transport and energy systems. ITES is a collaboration between Energy Systems Catapult of UK and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. We are the ecosystem orchestrator to this centre which helps Innovators from India and UK collaborate in the clean energy space towards achieving net zero goals.
- Active Mobility Center of Excellence: We are the Co-founders of this center, along with Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, which is the first of its kind in the country. We are the ecosystem orchestrator to the center translating evidence based research into actions on the ground with a wide coalition of partners from the industry and the development sector.
- Altmo: This is a climate action technology platform helping companies manage and measure their employee health and transport emissions. Read here why this is important for your organisation in achieving your ESG and SDG goals.
- WattsNext Energy: This is early stage deep tech spinoff from Urban Morph co-founders which enables power as a service using battery energy storage systems. We provide solutions that optimises usage of new and used batteries so they can last longer and be much more efficient in delivering power to vehicles and buildings. Our proprietary state of health algorithms paired with battery id technology enables traceability of battery assets so end of life can be extended to secondary and tertiary uses. All our hardware and software is built ground up in India to serve our national strategic autonomy goals and catalyse the next generation green economy.
- Bioman is an award winning revenue positive spinoff from the co-founders of Urban Morph that works on ensuring zero waste to landfill. From food waste to e-waste. From retail stores to group housing, using proprietary bio- technologies and tech platforms we close the loop on reuse & recycle so you are not left holding bags of waste.
- Oorulabs is India's premier urban affairs podcast by diving deep into topics of urban transformation via popular media channels on the internet. From podcasting to galvanising thought leadership we are able to bring together powerful voices from across the country to shift the overton window, enable change and transform the way we work and live.
Accolades
"Urban Morph has been a key partner for us on our work in Bengaluru. They have really helped us maximise the impact of our work and develop innovative approaches to the issues we have engaged with."
"The industries were onboarded to the cycleto.work (now altmo.app) platform that gamifies cycling for commute through a leaderboard. We congratulate Silvassa Smart City Ltd. for a successful rollout of the #Cycle2Work campaign and thank Urban Morph for their support."
The Clean Air Street testbed in Bengaluru gets DULT, Urban Mobility Institute Commendation Award 2021
The Clean Air Street testbed in Bengaluru gets DULT, the Volvo Innovation Awards 2021
Cycle To Work gets Silvassa Smart City, India Digital Empowerment's, Excellence in Innovation Award 2022
These are the people who make it happen
When you need impact, know who you are engaging with. This team delivers.
Sathya Sankaran
Co-Founder/Director
Sathya is a Computer Science graduate with a Post graduation in Public Policy. He brings three decades of experience in using technology and data to solve Urban issues in Mobility and Energy. He is the architect of AltMo, a gamified mobility intelligence platform for the future of climate friendly cities. The data from this platform enabled a 342% increased allocation in the Comprehensive Master Plan for cycling and walking, helped put up more than 20 kms of cycle tracks in Bengaluru and won Silvassa Smart City an award for Excellence in Innovation. It is now helping corporates meet their ESG goals. His Relief Riders initiative during the COVID pandemic won the 2021 UN World Bicycle Day Special Award and nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. He is the host of OoruLabs podcast, India's premiere urban affairs podcast. He is the strategy lead for urban problems at Rainmatter foundation. He is the CEO at WattsNext Energy which is redefining the way power is delivered for vehicles and built forms. He is an adjunct faculty teaching Urban Governance for masters students, a Director at the waste management startup, Bioman and the Bicycle Mayor of Bengaluru.
Sonal S Kulkarni
Co-Founder
Sonal has a Bachelors in Architecture and Masters in Urban Planning from the School of Policy, Planning and Development at the University of Southern California. Over the past 10+ years she has worked extensively in the government on infrastructure for sustainable mobility. She led the team from the Directorate of Urban Land Transport, Government of Karnataka in the Smart Cities Mission’s Cycles for Change initiative where Bengaluru was chosen as one of the winners for planning and executing cycling infrastructure during the COVID times. She was part of strategizing and designing the first dockless bicycle sharing system in Bengaluru through the permit system. She started her career in the government by anchoring community outreach activities like the longest running Open streets campaign in the country, Cycle Day and Open Streets and assisted in designing the unique Sustainable Mobility Accords which empowers communities through innovative funding towards taking action to make their neighbourhoods move towards sustainable mobility. She has played a key role in bringing to the city UMI award winning Church Street First, a fully pedestrianised street piloted in the CBD of Bengaluru. She currently serves as the Chief Research and Innovation Officer at the Directorate of Urban Land Transport, Government of Karnataka heading the Centre for Research & Innovation (CERI) to provide the necessary impetus to support research initiatives and accelerate innovation in sustainable urban mobility in the State of Karnataka. She is also the Director of Strategic Partnerships, Marketing and External Communications at the BYCS India Foundation.
Subbaiah TS
Co-Founder/Director
Subbaiah has has a Bachelors in Architecture and Masters in Design from IISc, Bangalore. He has been running successful Architecture, Design and Waste management businesses which have brought positive change in the lives of many people. Over the past 10 years he has been working on civic change and public participation. As a trustee of Citizens for Sustainability he worked on multiple initiatives that have transformed neighbourhoods in the city. He coordinated the transformation of a 3 km street in Sanjaynagar and a Hebbal improvement challenge. He has held the post of Secretary at Indian Institute of Architects for many years. In his current stint as Co-Founder of waste management company Bioman, he has been championing the Zero waste to landfill program aiming to transform the impact waste management will have on the city. Bioman has transformed the way wet waste is processed and is constantly spending on R&D to get the best out of waste.
Knerav Kodolikar
Product Manager
Knerav has a Bachelors in Economics from Christ University, Bengaluru. He drives product strategy for AltMo platform. He rides for Equipe Goa amatuer racing team and at the National Championships.
Nivya
Technology Developer
With a Masters in Computer Applications from Mount Carmel College, Nivya builds and maintains code for AltMo.
Nidhi KS
Urban Designer
With a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from BMS School of Architecture, Bengaluru, and previous work in urban spaces, Nidhi handles sustainability projects at Urban Morph. She is the co-ordinator driving social change projects and building capacity in association with Catapult, BYCS and other partners.