The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) was launched in 2014 by the Wells Fargo Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with the goal of de-risking innovations and speeding clean technologies to commercial markets.
Our Program and Expertise
We provide our portfolio companies with the opportunity to work with the best scientists and engineers in the world at NREL and the Danforth Center. Selected companies receive $250,000 in technical assistance using our multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facilities. If you are a startup, investor, or partner interested in learning more about our incubation model and how you can move innovation forward, contact us at IN2@nrel.gov.
How To Apply
Companies are referred to the program by our network of Channel Partners – more than 60 incubators, accelerators, and universities that serve as ambassadors to IN2. Companies that apply go through selection rounds with NREL or Danforth Center researchers, the Wells Fargo Board of Directors, and the IN2 External Advisory Boards – our industry experts. If you are interested in applying to future cohorts, watch for information here about our upcoming schedule and cohort themes. We can introduce you to local Channel Partners or answer your questions at IN2@NREL.gov.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
As a national laboratory, NREL is a global leader in advancing the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. Our companies not only receive expert guidance from researchers at the lab, but also the benefit of multimillion dollar user facilities.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
The Danforth Center is the world’s largest independent plant science institute. The nonprofit research institute was founded in 1998 to improve the human condition through plant science.
The Danforth Center has 26 scientific teams; $248 million in competitive research funding from government agencies, industry, and foundations; state of the art labs and equipment; and a greenhouse complex that provide 54,130 square feet of active growing space.
The Opportunity to Define and Demonstrate
We provide a proven platform for the development of customized solutions and are prepared to expand as needed to meet the sustainability goals of our corporate and foundation partners. We are building our demonstration capabilities, too – a chance to scale the technologies and implement them in real world environments.
The Opportunity to Define and Demonstrate
We provide a proven platform for the development of customized solutions and are prepared to expand as needed to meet the sustainability goals of our corporate and foundation partners. We are building out our demonstration capabilities, too – a chance to scale the technologies and implement them in real world environments.
Our first demonstration cohort was selected in January of 2022.