Home - Innovation Incubator (IN2)

Innovation. Validation. Commercialization.

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) is the proven model for assisting clean technology and agriculture companies to accelerate their paths to market. These start-up companies create products with tremendous potential to positively impact energy use and the environment, but need technology validation to attract the investment community. Enter IN².

Funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, IN² harnesses the world-class expertise and facilities of the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Danforth Center). IN²-selected companies receive $250,000 non-dilutive grants to validate their technologies at NREL or the Danforth Center and secure the priceless benefit of business connections across the entire IN² network.

To date, 30 portfolio companies have each received up to $250,000 in technical assistance and project related support

Almost $750,000 in follow-on funding from IN² has been distributed to date

55+ Channel Partners refer early-stage companies to the program and provide critical business mentoring and support

IN² portfolio companies have gone on to raise $174 million in follow-on funding from external sources

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Since joining IN², 5 portfolio companies have seen successful exits in the form of mergers or acquisitions

BETA DEMONSTRATIONS

5 portfolio companies have beta demonstrations at Wells Fargo or NREL with 2 additional pilot projects in the near future

OUR INVESTMENTS GO FAR

IN² companies raise more than $20 dollars in external follow-on funding for every $1 awarded.

OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

55+ Channel Partners refer early-stage companies to the program, and provide critical business mentoring and support to IN² portfolio companies

MEET COHORT 5

Aker Technologies

Aker Technologies (Aker) empowers customers to understand current field conditions and make timely and accurate recommendations that enable farmers to more efficiently protect and water their crops. Automated scouting creates new datasets that are accurate, georeferenced, timely, and scalable, leading to better crop management.

CoverCress

CoverCress is developing a winter crop that is planted between corn harvest and soybean planting. It covers soil over winter, protecting it from harsh conditions and produces a low carbon intensity crop for use as renewable diesel and jet fuel, meal product for animal feed, and high quality food oil.

Intrinsyx Bio

Intrinsyx Bio’s endophytes can fix atmospheric nitrogen throughout the roots, stems, and leaves of plants leading to increased crop yield, decreased nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer requirements, and increased drought and salt tolerances, ultimately expanding areas of land used to grow crops.

RNAissance Ag

RNAissance Ag is developing technology that enables that use of interfering RNA (RNAi) as a new defense against insect pests. This bee and butterfly safe thin sprayable insecticide can drastically reduce the need for toxic chemical applications.

SolGro

SolGro designs, develops, and manufactures nanoparticle embedded greenhouse canopies that allow a greater percentage of the certain light spectrums to reach plant matter. These films and glazes can replace or modify existing greenhouse roof structures.

Meet the latest Cohort focused on sustainable agriculture

SPEEDING CLEAN ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES TO MARKET

VALIDATING TECHNOLOGIES IN WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES

FOSTERING A ROBUST ECOSYSTEM