The Innovation-Ready network is made up of alumni from the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) Scalable Tech track, corporations and municipalities committed to adopting startup technologies and scaling energy solutions. These partners don’t just test innovation—they help shape it.
This elite network builds on the momentum of the pilot period with deepened engagement after Scalable Tech. Members remain active collaborators, participating in peer learning with the broader IN2 ecosystem and staying connected with NREL. As one of three applied labs within the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL leverages insights from this group to help fulfill its mission of moving energy technologies from lab to market.
Through regular dialogue, alumni provide practical feedback that strengthens NREL’s applied research and informs future deployment strategies. In return, members gain visibility into emerging technologies, continued access to NREL’s innovation brain trust, and a seat at the table as the energy landscape evolves.
March 26, 2025 - Attendees network at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Annual Channel Partner Meeting. Channel Partners also refer startups to two of NREL’s flagship incubation programs: The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator, an energy technology program funded by Wells Fargo & Company and coadministered by NREL, and the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL, whose mission is to discover and advance emerging energy technologies with the potential to alter the future global energy landscape dramatically. (Photo by Agata Bogucka / NREL)How the Innovation-Ready Network Drives Impact
This active alumni network enables IN2 and NREL to turn pilot results into broader energy innovation outcomes:
- Extends the impact of Scalable Tech pilot projects through continued engagement with NREL and the IN2 ecosystem
- Generates a real-world feedback loop between industry, startups, and applied lab research
- Builds momentum for adoption by developing informed, implementation-ready champions across the energy value chain
- Supports cross-sector case studies and ecosystem reports that share insights and foster collaboration
- Refers high-potential startups to IN2’s Emerging Tech track.
A Growing Network of Innovation Leaders
IN2’s Innovation-Ready network expands with each Scalable Tech cohort, not just in size but in breadth and impact. These alumni organizations span industries, geographies, and stages of the energy value chain, working together to address systemic barriers to technology adoption.
Each member is committed to deploying scalable, validated solutions and shaping a more connected, resilient energy future. By bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and real-world application, this network plays a vital role in accelerating market transformation.
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Partnered with INOVUES