About us

Urban Frontiers is a digital transformation and innovation agency, working at the intersection of public-private sector ecosystems, to bring new urbantech, climatetech and govtech solutions to market.

Meet the team

David Altabev (FRSA, CEng, MCIBSE) leads Urban Frontiers, a pioneering digital transformation and innovation agency driving urban technology, climate solutions, and government modernization. As Founder and Director, he bridges public and private sectors to deliver transformative urban solutions at scale. His expertise spans urban innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability-driven solutions, working across sectors to drive impact.

Previously, David was a member of the Executive Management Team at the Connected Places Catapult, the UK Government’s centre of excellence for smart cities and mobility, where he led teams of data scientists and urban technologists to develop transformative urban solutions. He also served as the lead for city innovation programmes at PUBLIC, Europe’s leading GovTech venture firm, mentoring startups through the GovStart accelerator programme.

David has spearheaded large-scale innovation programmes, including DCMS’s £50m Urban Connected Communities 5G Testbed & Trials and Innovate UK’s £35m Future Cities Demonstrator Programme.

In addition to his technical and leadership expertise, David is a professionally trained leadership coach, working with startup founders and leadership teams across sectors, including the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, to cultivate both organisational and personal leadership capabilities.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Chartered Engineer with the Royal Academy of Engineering, David previously served as a Design Council Expert.

"Incredibly knowledgeable about the UK innovation space, and superb to work with: proactive, fast, highly insightful, clear thinker, great communication."

"Incredibly knowledgeable about the UK innovation space, and superb to work with: proactive, fast, highly insightful, clear thinker, great communication."

"David has credible coaching experience and knowledge which really allows him to get the best out of the people he mentors. His empathy, positive mindset and his ability to empower individuals is a gift."

"David has credible coaching experience and knowledge which really allows him to get the best out of the people he mentors. His empathy, positive mindset and his ability to empower individuals is a gift."

"Extremely good at getting things done, one of the best executors I have come across - given the number of different things he has done, he brings a different perspective around problem-solving."

"Extremely good at getting things done, one of the best executors I have come across - given the number of different things he has done, he brings a different perspective around problem-solving."