IMPEL's mission is to promote energy reliability, affordability, and resilience in the built environment through the commercial advancement of building energy innovations.

Technology commercialization is notoriously challenging in the building sector. Cost benefits in building energy innovations often require long horizons that our planet does not have time for. Additionally, many new projects and businesses fall victim to ‘Valleys of Death’ during their early development stages. 

IMPEL equips early-stage innovators with technical and communication tools, so they can translate the premise and promise of new building innovations into the language of business. 

Embedded at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's Building Technologies Division, and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office, IMPEL provides unique value to its cohorts by connecting them to powerful public and private sector pipelines, and a network of investors, demonstration and technical experts, industry leaders, and policymakers to help our innovators reach their next milestone.

IMPEL is a three-phase program:

Innovators’ needs are served through the activities below, sequenced through a funnel approach through the three phases: FOUNDATIONAL TRAINING (PHASE 1); BUSINESS TRAINING (PHASE 2), and OPPORTUNITIES (PHASE 3).

 IMPEL is a three-phase program:

• Phase 1: All applicants invited to one intense, daylong workshop with expert IMPEL Coaches to learn: how to pitch the science behind their technologies,  how to articulate a clear, compelling business case to building industry manufacturers, commercial developers, and venture capitalists.

• Phase 2: Select IMPEL Innovators invited for Business Model Seminar: to learn how to incorporate a business model framework into Innovator pitch decks. Select IMPEL Innovators also invited to office hours with the IMPEL director, Reshma Singh to discuss progress and identify potential pipeline opportunities.

• Phase 3: Up to xx Innovators will be selected per pipeline, which provides further learning engagements for their buildings and buildings-edge projects. These Innovators also receive additional one-on-one office hours with the coaches before they are selected for a pipeline:

  1. Public Sector Pipelines: xxIMPEL Innovators will be selected to pitch to public sector leaders at the IMPEL national showcases hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy and partner agencies.

  2. Private Sector Pipelines: xxIMPEL Innovators will be selected to gain fully-funded access to national pitch events organized by IMPEL's partner Incubator, Greentown Labs. 

The IMPEL Executive Team at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab supports Innovators' journeys through every step of the program, while connecting them to Expert Coaches, Incubators, Mentors, and a wider network within the building technology space.