This opportunity has closed. Applications for this cycle closed on October 9, 2026. It stays published for reference, and new cycles reopen here when the organizer announces them.

$100K LabStart Climate Founder Fellowship

LabStart Innovations Inc. (LabStart)Fellowship

$100K LabStart Climate Founder Fellowship

This one has closed

Archived

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Archived

About this opportunity

LabStart is a US nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs turn technologies from US national labs and universities into climate tech startups. Its fellowship backs founders, including first-time and nontraditional founders, with milestone-based funding, a year of training and help licensing lab technology. Applications for the 2027 cohort are open now.

What you get:

$100K in milestone-based funding, so you can work on your startup full time
12 months of training in climate tech entrepreneurship and intellectual property, with a curriculum delivered by FRACTAL
Mentorship from climate founders and a supportive peer cohort
Access to lab scientists and technology transfer offices, plus financial help with initial licensing agreements
Introductions to investors, industry partners, incubators and accelerators

What you'll do:

Work full time on launching your company for the year
Attend 6 to 8 hours a week of LabStart programming and events
Evaluate emerging lab technologies, choose one to commercialise, and build a business around it

Key dates:

Information session: October 6, 2026 at 3pm PT
Applications close: October 9, 2026

More information:

Programme details: https://www.labstart.co/program
The application asks for two short videos (up to 2 minutes each): your story, and your first thoughts on a lab technology you would like to commercialise
Section 4 of the application needs an estimated 1 to 2 hours of research into a licensable technology

Who can apply

Based in the United States: LabStart's application asks which US state or territory you live in
US citizens and permanent residents can license national lab technology; if you are on a visa, the application asks you to pick a university technology instead
Willing and ready to launch a climate tech company full time for the programme year
Able to attend 6 to 8 hours a week of LabStart programming
A co-founder is not required
Nontraditional, women, BIPOC and first-time founders are especially encouraged

AI Verification

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Cross-checked 7 of 14 key facts

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Good to know

+$100,000 in milestone-based funding so you can build your company full time
+A year of training, mentorship and help licensing technology from US national labs and universities
+No co-founder needed, and first-time founders are welcome
+Free to apply

Worth checking yourself

!Only for people based in the United States. If you are on a visa rather than a citizen or permanent resident, you will work with a university technology rather than a national lab one
!This is a full-time commitment for a year, not something to fit around a degree or a job
!Closes 9 October. LabStart gives no closing time, so submit during the day on the 9th
!The application needs two short videos and roughly 1 to 2 hours of research into a technology, so start early
!LabStart's website says $100K; its application listing says up to $125K per team. Expect $100K and check the details with them

Sources checked

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$100K LabStart Climate Founder Fellowship

This one has closed

Archived

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Archived

About this opportunity

What you get:

$100K in milestone-based funding, so you can work on your startup full time
12 months of training in climate tech entrepreneurship and intellectual property, with a curriculum delivered by FRACTAL
Mentorship from climate founders and a supportive peer cohort
Access to lab scientists and technology transfer offices, plus financial help with initial licensing agreements
Introductions to investors, industry partners, incubators and accelerators

What you'll do:

Work full time on launching your company for the year
Attend 6 to 8 hours a week of LabStart programming and events
Evaluate emerging lab technologies, choose one to commercialise, and build a business around it

Key dates:

Information session: October 6, 2026 at 3pm PT
Applications close: October 9, 2026

More information:

Programme details: https://www.labstart.co/program
The application asks for two short videos (up to 2 minutes each): your story, and your first thoughts on a lab technology you would like to commercialise
Section 4 of the application needs an estimated 1 to 2 hours of research into a licensable technology