Program areas at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Market transformation - to accelerate system change on key initiatives across transportation and mobility, energy and sustainable cities, laci has initiated public sector, industry and corporate partnerships and working relationships to identify and drive the commercialization of Cleantech and sustainable solutions and reduce real, and perceived, Cleantech adoption hurdles. More than 5 years ago, laci convened the transportation electrification partnership (tep), an unprecedented multi-year partnership among local, regional, and state stakeholders that is working to accelerate progress towards transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement in the greater la region in advance of the 2028 olympic and paralympic games.
Laci stewardship of la kretz innovation campus (lkic) - on behalf of the city of Los Angeles and ladwp, laci remains the steward of the 3.2 acre state-of-the-art la kretz innovation campus, which provides a critical hub for Cleantech innovation in Los Angeles. The campus features the advanced prototyping center (apc), a collaborative makerspace where entrepreneurs, artists, inventors, and startups can design, build, test and certify innovative products, all under one roof. The apc features more than $11 million worth of tools, labs, and shops, including an electronics lab, biochemistry lab, cell lab, cnc machine, water jet, 3d printing, welding equipment, use of premium cad software, laser cutters, a training center, and more. Lkic also features the interactive Los angelesdepartment of water and power customer engagement lab, as well as energy efficiency and emerging technologies laboratories. The facility attracts a consistent roster of professional development workshops, community events, and panel discussions hosted by ladwp, laci, campus members, portfolio services providers and community groups.
Unlocking innovation - laci incubates and accelerates Cleantech startups and helps commercialize their technologies by providing best-in-class coaching and advice to founders, facilitating investment preparation and assistance with shared business services, and providing access to high-value resources. We offer three tiers of cohort-based program support: innovators for pre-commercial, early-stage energy entrepreneurs; our core incubation program, to support pre-seed and seed-stage Cleantech startups in southern California; and market access, a pilot centric program for series a Cleantech startups ready to scale.
Enhancing community- laci works to ensure that everyone can benefit from the green economy either from green jobs, clean air or accessing new zero emissions mobility or energy solutions. With this lens, we intentionally recruit diverse entrepreneurs, including female founders, people of color, lgbtq+, and veterans into our Cleantech ecosystem, and our high-touch, high-outcome workforce development program, the advanced prototyping center (apc) fellowship, which provides participants from underrepresented groups with technical training, interpersonal skills and industry-recognized credentials to thrive in the expanding green economy.fiscal sponsorship - laci facilitates the receipt and management of philanthropic and impact funds for specific external programs that support laci's mission through for-and nonprofit partners in Los Angeles. In 2022, laci served as fiscal sponsor for a workforce training partnership with portfolio start up chargerhelp, as well as support for the la city mayor's youth council. Laci is always looking for collaborations that further its mission.