Unlocking Innovation, Inspiring Entrepreneurs
The West Gate Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program offers promising entrepreneurs a career-changing opportunity to access NREL's expertise and capabilities to speed the development of their startup's core technologies.
Aspiring entrepreneurs aim to tackle the world's greatest challenges of fostering clean energy. Selected innovators' core technologies align with NREL's research mission to advance energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power to optimize energy systems.
West Gate embeds innovators at NREL and the Colorado School of Mines and pairs them with scientists who specialize in the innovators' technology areas. Throughout the program's two-year runway, innovators work with scientists in NREL's world-class laboratories to de-risk their technologies, ready them for market, and grow their startup companies.
West Gate's Impact
2
Years in Operation
4
Innovators
$6.3
Million Follow-On Funding
6
Jobs Created
Get Involved
Contact us if you would like to be a potential partner, application reviewer, or sponsor. We also welcome program referrals for qualified applicants.
Advanced Industries Grants Accelerate 43 Colorado Startups and Researchers Across the State, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
May 18, 2023
Idle Oil Wells' Next Act? Becoming Batteries for Renewable Energy, Bloomberg
May 5, 2023
Want a Heat Pump or Induction Cooktop? These Startups Make It Easier for You to Switch, Fast Company
April 3, 2023