Here is from the original article quoted on the Wikipedia page: "Since 2002, Yarvin had been working on an algorithm — the backbone of Urbit, a product that would restructure how people use the internet. In 2013, he launched the San Francisco-based company Tlon, which oversees Urbit."
Can't really find any info about when they officially "created" this thing, but color me skeptical when someone says they "worked on blockchain" before blockchain was even invented.
I think I was probably just wrong to describe it as a blockchain (sorry about that). It was a different kind of consensus ledger. Here's an article about it:
Glad that Urbit agrees that they don't need a blockchain. Disappointed that they chose to use one. There are real downsides to using one (currently one of those is speed and another is wasted electricity) and no unique benefits.