Pioneering nonprofit LabStart commits to supporting 75 entrepreneurs focused on climate innovation in the US and Mexico

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NEW YORK, NY – September 24, 2025 – LabStart, the nonprofit organization bridging America's climate innovation gap, today announced a landmark Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2025 Annual Meeting. LabStart’s three-year commitment will support 75 diverse entrepreneurs and facilitate the launch of 24 climate technology startups, creating an estimated 960 new green-economy jobs while unlocking breakthrough solutions from America's research labs.

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The announcement comes as LabStart celebrates proven success from its inaugural 2024 cohort, which launched 10 climate startups with a 4x return in capital raised in just 6 months after graduating from the program. Building on this foundation, LabStart's CGI commitment represents a 5x scale-up of the organization's proven model for accelerating climate innovation through inclusive entrepreneurship.

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"Despite America investing over $100 billion annually in research, only a small percentage of the 40,000+ patents from our national labs ever reach market," said Deepa Lounsbury, CEO of LabStart. "Through our partnership with CGI, we're not just launching companies – we're creating systematic pathways that ensure breakthrough climate technologies reach the communities that need them most, while providing economic opportunity for entrepreneurs who have been historically excluded from the innovation economy."

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LabStart addresses a critical gap in the climate innovation pipeline: While 40% of solutions needed to meet 2050 climate goals remain uncommercialized, talented entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities face systematic barriers to accessing cutting-edge intellectual property and early-stage funding. The organization's fellowship program provides up to $100,000 per entrepreneur, comprehensive licensing support, and expert mentorship to bridge the lab-to-market divide and expand economic inclusion opportunities for aspiring founders.

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“In a world of shrinking resources, entrepreneurship and innovation are essential tools in tackling the climate crisis," said Maeve Curtin of the Clinton Foundation. "Without support from organizations like LabStart, technology too often stays in laboratories and doesn't make its way to entrepreneurs -- meaning fewer breakthroughs take place. LabStart's commitment will provide critical support for entrepreneurs at the most nascent stages, and drive a pathway toward climate resilience by accelerating the most innovative technologies.”

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LabStart’s CGI commitment will unfold across two cohorts from 2025-2028, with a dedicated sub-group focused on data center sustainability. The commitment also includes developing an AI-powered platform to support scale and improve outcomes.

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Key partners supporting the commitment include the Woka Foundation, Equinix Foundation, Skyline Foundation, Salesforce Foundation, Better Ventures, Autodesk Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Colorado Office of Economic Development, and Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation, among others. The organization also maintains partnerships with 19 universities and national labs, including NREL, Sandia, Oak Ridge, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, providing fellows unprecedented access to frontier climate technologies.

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"The LabStart fellowship gave me the runway, resources, and connections to turn my climate tech idea into a viable business," said Adriana Esparza, founder of Hyphae Composites and 2024 LabStart graduate. "This expanded commitment means dozens more entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to launch breakthrough climate solutions that can scale globally."

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About LabStart 

LabStart is a nonprofit organization that accelerates climate solutions by bridging the gap between breakthrough research and market-ready innovations. Through comprehensive fellowship programs, LabStart transforms cutting-edge intellectual property from U.S. national laboratories and universities into scalable climate companies led by diverse entrepreneurs. Founded in 2020, LabStart has supported the launch of 12 climate technology startups addressing critical environmental challenges across six industries. Learn more at www.labstart.co.

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About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)

Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Through CGI’s unique model, more than 10,000 organizations have launched more than 4,000 Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects and programs – that are making a difference in the lives of more than 500 million people in 180 countries.

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