Incubating Market-Propelled Entrepreneurial-Mindset at the Labs and Beyond
IMPEL is a Department of Energy tech-to-market program focused on building technologies, funded by the Building Technologies Office and implemented by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
We have a strong theory of change: Support technology commercialization for net zero built infrastructure, that promotes equitable wellness and resilience for all.
Our program helps early-stage individuals from business, academia, and DOE’s national labs translate the premise and promise of their technology into the language of business, boosting their chances of bringing it to market.
The buildings sector has been notoriously challenging for bringing tech-to-market, where many new projects or businesses fall victim to the notorious ‘valleys of death’. Our Innovator Cohorts have a passion for the building lifecycle (design, construction, operations, and circular technologies) and for energy technologies that integrate with buildings (onsite renewables or grid integration incorporating electrification, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging).
Innovators reach new heights after IMPEL.
After going through our program cycle, Innovators find themselves achieving new successes and progressing in their tech-to-market journeys.
Source: Alumni Survey, November 2022; Alumni Survey and Success Story Submission Form, April 2023
IMPEL Provides Foundational Training and Pipeline Opportunities
All IMPEL Innovators receive:
Pitch coaching with our expert coaches at intensive workshops
Group Mentoring from our network of experts and partners
Carbon Tools training with National Lab scientists
Networking opportunities with a diverse community of like-minded Innovators
Selected Innovators will also be offered exclusive opportunities for further training and opportunities, including:
Business Seminars
Pitch and Showcase Opportunities to public and private sector stakeholders with our partners at the U.S. Department of Energy and Greentown Labs.
Demonstration Opportunities
One-on-One Mentoring with our coaches to further develop pitches
Visit the IMPEL Timeline page for more information about each of these pillars of IMPEL programming.
IMPEL Connects Innovators to Experts
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.
Expert Coaches
IMPEL Coaches provide dynamic guidance during the one-day workshops to help Innovators refine and practice verbal pitches to communicate their technology or idea clearly, succinctly, and compellingly to critical stakeholders. Our coaches are field experts: skilled entrepreneurs who have raised multi-million dollar funds, judged startup pitches, coached technologists towards successful commercialization.
Incubators
IMPEL has partnered with Greentown Labs to provide real pitching opportunities and connections to a broader pool of mentors, investors, and other innovators in climate-tech. They help Innovators engage with the private sector, gain fully-funded access to national pitch events, and accelerators.
Mentors
IMPEL Mentors represent investors from boutique and impact funds to financial giants, potential demonstration partners from major universities, state energy offices, and federal entities including the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense, major corporate ventures, and subject matter experts from national labs.
Diverse, equitable, and inclusive
We believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem of innovators magnifies our impact on the future of climate technology and on the communities we serve.