OUR TEAM.

Johan is an expert at driving urban innovation at the intersection of technology and business. As part of the founding team of URBAN-X, he has invested in and worked with close to 80 startups focused on reimagining the future of cities. Beyond that, with 12 years of experience working for brands like MINI, Audi, and BMW, Johan has designed diverse products ranging from robotic camera platforms going to space to infrastructure solutions providing clean drinking water in urban India. Johan has been a guest lecturer at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as well as the Columbia School of Civil Engineering. He holds a graduate degree in engineering from FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria.

As mechanical engineer, Tristan first designed packaging machines, medical equipment, and consumer goods, and then managed products and operations for a non-profit organization. He moved to New York City in 2010 to focus on innovation and early-stage entrepreneurship, co-founded Topager (urban farming) and Sitrep (urbanism studio) and grew hardware tech incubator NYDesigns into a bustling hub, selecting and coaching over 35 startups. At URBAN-X Tristan shapes and manages the accelerator and MINI Impact programs, and enjoys writing about it all on medium.

Tara has over 12 years of experience in Operational Management working within the BMW Group. She has been part of the start-up scene early on for the organization- joining BMW i Ventures at the developmental stage which eventually led her to oversee and manage operations at URBAN-X. Tara helps facilitate the relationship between URBAN-X and many different key departments within the organization. Her expertise in corporate processes, purchasing & budgeting is a crucial link for the success and functionality of URBAN-X.

Sarah is passionate about tech, cities and sustainability. As part of the early days of URBAN-X she has expanded the reach of the platform throughout Europe and Asia, working as a networker for the program she is part of developing URBAN-X. Located in Munich at BMW headquarters, Germany, Sarah facilitates the relationship between URBAN-X, MINI and the BMW Group. Before she joined BMW Group to work on URBAN-X she co-founded an online magazine and worked in the start-up scene. Based on her diverse experience and graduate degree in computer science and art history, she has a passion for connecting left brain and right brain topics by finding the common ground.

Emily is a creative storyteller and marketer focused on building compelling narratives and fostering knowledge of URBAN-X’s network of startups, as well as the growing industry. While working for companies like NBCUniversal, The New York Times, and Fine Films, Emily had the opportunity to work on innovative campaigns, investigative stories, and powerful documentaries. Emily holds a Master’s in Journalism and Communications from the S.I Newhouse School of Public Communications, and a Bachelor’s in Marketing from Georgetown University.

Zihao is a designer who specializes in branding and layout design. His work is guided by a strong belief in the functional aspects of design. He has accumulated valuable experience working with organizations in Asia and North America. In his own practice, Zihao self-publishes artist books and other printed matter.

Karol is a strategically driven designer living at the intersection of culture and technology. A generalist by design, in the past ten years she has worked inside studios making software for industry leaders and in-house at Condé Nast touching the most recognized names in journalism and culture. She co-founded a hardware startup and understands what they need from a design partner first hand. She is continuously studying how future technology will shape society, people, interaction and design.

JC is a repeat entrepreneur, advisor and investor dedicated to creating value while having an impact in relation to climate change and society. When advising founders, he will always come back to the basics of the Why, the What and the How. JC is an avid traveler and world citizen – he has lived in 6 countries and on 3 continents.

Dean has spent the last 20 years creating consumer products for mass-manufacturing overseas. With over fifteen patents filed and dozens of products sold around the world, Dean enjoys helping people make new things. Dean is also an urban cycling advocate and music + lighting guru.

James Calhoun has 15+ years of experience leading development and production of complex technology solutions for enterprise companies and startup founders. He has worked with numerous languages to build award-winning websites, mobile applications, and experiential installations in Europe, Asia and the United States. In 2013, James founded Rehash Studio, where he applies his experience to help startups plan and scale their technology platforms.

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