LabStart is a new nonprofit on a big mission to solve a well known Wicked Problem. Its debut follows three years of experimentation, building, and testing - almost entirely under the public radar. No social media handles, no news announcements, and minimal market visibility. Just good old fashioned customer discovery. 

With access to the right networks, training, and relationships, the team at LabStart believes that commercializing climate tech companies can be:

1. A more streamlined experience! 

2. A more enjoyable experience!

3. A more inclusive experience!

The LabStart Mission

LabStart unlocks climate innovations hidden in premier research laboratories to help diverse entrepreneurs launch breakthrough startups.

In short, LabStart is building accessible pathways for underrepresented entrepreneurs to bring climate technologies from lab-to-market. Many understand, and have come to accept, that a trove of valuable, scalable climate technologies continue to sit dormant - untapped or hidden behind research institution walls. To unlock these ready-innovations in a way that generates equitable market opportunities for underserved communities, LabStart has developed a venture studio program to help match market-ready climate tech with talented entrepreneurs selected from the front lines of climate change.

LabStart builds relationship networks and resource-bridges to improve the technology transfer experience for entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry partners alike. It is cross-connecting deep partnership solutions that help all entrepreneurs surpass systemic barriers to start climate tech companies. 

“Our vision is to reimagine the lab-to-market commercialization process in a way that welcomes all entrepreneurs, accelerates climate innovation, and incentivizes tech transfer accessibility and inclusion,” Deepa Lounsbury, Head of Development and Investment Partnerships.

The LabStart Fellowship helps diverse entrepreneurs launch startups from National Lab climate technologies.

LabStart's PR team shared this piece with SME Business Review.