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April 12, 2024
IMPEL has been bustling with activity as it continues in its fifth year of fostering innovation and empowering budding entrepreneurs through a series of impactful in-person programming, including workshops and business seminars.
In October, IMPEL kicked off the first of its workshops at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), IMPEL's core management hub. The first workshop served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and skill refinement, welcoming around 20 Innovators from the 2024 cohort. Following the first workshop, IMPEL held its second workshop across the country in Chicago, IL, at Argonne National Lab (ANL) in December 2023, welcoming the remaining 20 Innovators who comprise the 2024 cohort. At each workshop, Innovators immersed themselves in an intense, day-long journey of learning under the guidance of IMPEL expert coaches JJ Singh and Whitney Hischier. Through tailored exercises and live one-on-one coaching sessions, participants honed their pitches while forming valuable connections with like-minded building tech Innovators.
After concluding their Foundational Training programming, which covered how to use carbon tools with national lab and industry experts, and getting feedback from IMPEL’s mentor panel comprised of over 25 investor, industry, policy, demonstration, entrepreneurial, and technical experts, IMPEL returned to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, providing a three-day intensive Business Seminar training for a select set of high-performing Innovators from the initial cohort. Here, the focus shifted towards the development of robust business plans and tailored strategies. Through in-depth coaching sessions with IMPEL expert coaches Christina Ellwood and JJ Singh, Innovators emerged equipped with the tools to navigate the complex landscape of entrepreneurship.
Innovators toured the FLEXLAB, a one-of-a-kind testbed for energy efficiency tech that’s housed at LBNL. While on the tour, 2024 Innovators met and talked to IMPEL alumni Mark Isaacs (2020 cohort and 2022 cohort) about his journey from participating in IMPEL to testing his WonderWindow technology in FLEXLAB this year. The serendipitous tour served as a prime example of the kinds of success stories the IMPEL program helps Innovators achieve.
However, what set this year's Business Seminar apart most was its expanded curriculum. In addition to refining business plans, participants delved into modules on industry partnership and public sector engagement. These additional components enriched the learning experience, equipping Innovators with a holistic understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
By providing a supportive environment for learning and growth, Innovators are equipped with the skills and networks necessary to turn their visions into reality. This is evidenced by the incredible success stories that have already poured in from our cohort since our October workshop was conducted:
Symbium (Leila Banijamali) announced their oversubscribed pre-Series A round close.
Eco Shelter (Alexa Bednarz) received $200k in funding from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TECP) supplemental award.
Cast Carbon (Emily Majewski) received over $270k through an NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award.
EMPEQ (Herbert Dwyer) received $750k in funding from private investment, $200k in funding from the USAF, and $30k in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Nimble Energy (Jeff Soplop) received $180k in funding from private investment.
ThermaGEL Innovations (Marc McConnaughey) received a $150k award from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.
Amatec (Mohsen Zehtabchian) received over $45k from Next Corps Inc. and NYSERDA.
Through workshops and business seminars, participants are empowered to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship while forging meaningful connections within the community. This year, IMPEL has implemented virtual, quarterly networking events to better support the meaningful connections that are forged within the program’s Innovator community. Nonetheless, it cannot be understated how impactful and effective the in-person interactions with coaches and fellow Innovators at both IMPEL’s workshops and business seminar training can be for young startups. As the IMPEL program continues to evolve, one thing remains certain - the future of building tech innovation is bright with IMPEL’s Innovators leading the way.
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