‍Pioneering program provides funding, access, and support for entrepreneurs and first-time founders commercializing solutions based on American research and technology

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OAKLAND, CA, May 5, 2025—LabStart, a non-profit organization focused on launching climate companies from ready-to-commercialize laboratory technologies, today announced the opening of applications for its 2025 Fellowship. Building on the success of its inaugural cohort, the program will continue matching breakthrough technologies from U.S. national laboratories and universities with talented entrepreneurs nationwide to drive climate innovation.

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The program offers a two-phase structure designed to support fellows at different stages of their journey:

• The Discovery Phase is a 4-month, part-time program providing fellows $6,000 in funding, plus specialized training and mentorship to identify emerging lab technologies and evaluate market potential
• The Launch Phase is a year-long, full-time program where fellows receive $100,000 in funding, structured training, and expert guidance to develop their solutions and build their companies

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Throughout both phases, the 2025 Fellowship provides:

• Up to $100k in milestone-based funding 
• Direct access to cutting-edge technology through LabStart’s partnership with national labs and universities. 
• Comprehensive training in climate tech entrepreneurship and intellectual property strategy
• Connection to LabStart's growing network of investors and industry partners
• Expert mentorship from successful founders and deep tech experts

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"We believe the greatest technological breakthroughs of our time are ready to leap from America's research labs into the market," said Deepa Lounsbury, CEO of LabStart. "Our fellowship empowers entrepreneurs—including those who have never founded a company before—to turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. With over 30,000 energy-related patents in U.S. national labs and universities waiting to be commercialized, our program matches these innovations with passionate individuals who can bring them to life."

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The announcement of the 2025 program comes as LabStart celebrates the achievements of its inaugural cohort, which has built 12 startups advancing clean technology solutions to critical environmental challenges. Half of these ventures have gained follow-on equity or venture capital investments, demonstrating the effectiveness of LabStart's approach to accelerating innovation.

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As a non-profit focused specifically on U.S. climate tech transfer, LabStart addresses three critical market challenges:

1. 40% of solutions needed to meet 2050 environmental goals are yet to be commercialized
2. Academic and innovation silos create barriers to unlocking intellectual property and entrepreneurial talent
3. Significant funding and support gap for deep tech founders, especially at the earliest stages

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A critical part of LabStart's success is the strategic partnerships it has forged with leading research institutions, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, providing fellows unprecedented access to frontier technologies.

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"The LabStart fellowship gave me the resources, connections, and technical expertise to transform a promising technology into a bold solution for sustainable materials," said Adriana Esparza, founder of Hyphae Composites and LabStart graduate. "This program is perfect for anyone passionate about environmental innovation—even if you've never started a company before."

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The expanded 2025 cohort comes with significant support from corporate foundations and donors, including the HPE Foundation and the Salesforce Foundation. These strategic partnerships enable LabStart to welcome more fellows and enhance its comprehensive support services.

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LabStart is looking for individuals who have at least 5 years of industry experience and are looking to launch a climate-focused company. If you have a desire to launch a climate startup, even if you haven’t landed on the perfect idea yet, the LabStart fellowship is for you. Previous startup experience is not required.

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Applications for the 2025 cohort will remain open through July 7, 2025. Fellows will graduate from the program ready to grow and scale their companies and be well-positioned as strong candidates for top incubators, accelerators, and funding opportunities.

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For more information about LabStart's fellowship program and to apply, visit www.labstart.co/apply.

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About LabStart

LabStart is a non-profit organization that unlocks breakthrough technologies by powering entrepreneurs to transform innovations from America's research labs and universities into market realities. Through its fellowship program, LabStart provides catalytic funding, expert mentorship, and direct pathways to commercialize frontier technologies and cultivates a new generation of innovators.

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