LabStart Fellowship 2027: Launch Your Climate Tech Startup With Funding, Mentorship and Access to U.S. Research Technologies

Overview

The LabStart Fellowship 2027 is a climate technology entrepreneurship program designed to help founders transition from an early-stage concept or technology opportunity toward launching a company. The program bridges the gap between promising technologies developed in research laboratories and their commercialization in the market by connecting entrepreneurs with technologies, researchers, industry experts, and investors.

The fellowship features a two-phase approach consisting of a Discovery Phase and a Launch Phase. Successful participants can receive milestone-based funding, climate tech entrepreneurship training, expert mentorship, access to research technologies from U.S. institutions, intellectual property and licensing support, and industry networks.

Eligibility

Applicants should demonstrate a strong passion for climate and entrepreneurship, scientific literacy, an entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and a collaborative mindset. The program explicitly welcomes:

• Nontraditional founders
• Women founders
• BIPOC founders
• First-time founders

Previous startup experience is not required. Participants must be willing and ready to dedicate themselves to launching a company full-time and commit approximately 6 to 8 hours per week to program events and activities. Applicants should review current materials for any residency, location, or work authorization requirements regarding the U.S. research and technology ecosystem.

How to Apply

Applicants must showcase their journey, explain their background and expertise, describe a proposed climate startup solution or explore curated licensable technologies through the official application portal.

Deadline

Applications for the LabStart Cohort 2027 must be submitted by October 9, 2026.