Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (OTC)

LEEP’s goal is to accelerate the commercialization and adoption of energy technologies while also creating jobs and promoting domestic manufacturing.  

Calling all innovators with great tech-related ideas who are ready to take their technologies from concept to commercialization! This program was designed for early-stage small-business owners and entrepreneurs whose startups will benefit the American economy and accelerate the deployment of transformative energy and manufacturing technologies. 

To be eligible to apply for LEEP, you must: 

• Have a technical degree. 
• Have at least four or five years of technology R&D experience. 
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of application and maintain legal authorization to work in the U.S. for the full duration of the two-year fellowship. 
• Be willing to work on your project full-time and forfeit other primary employment during your fellowship. 
• Not be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. or post-doctoral program at the start of the fellowship. 
• Be willing and able to relocate to the metropolitan area of the national lab where you have been accepted. 
• Reside in local proximity to the national lab for the full duration of the fellowship. 
• Be a novice or first-time technical founder and not a serial entrepreneur. 
• Apply as an individual; Group applications on behalf of a company or team are not supported. 
• Raised no more than $2M in debt or equity funding from nongovernment sources at the time of application.  

Note: Specific eligibility requirements differ between the four LEEP nodes. Please refer to the specific webpage of each node for a full list of eligibility requirements and for differences therein. 

LEEP's four programs or "nodes" offer participants direct access to the facilities of one of four National Laboratories: 

• Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Laboratory 
• Cyclotron Road at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 
• Innovation Crossroads at Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
• West Gate at National Laboratory of the Rockies  

LEEP participants work alongside scientists within those labs while they work to develop their technological startups.  

Applicants can apply for fellowships to work on innovations in technical areas across the DOE mission space. Specific technologies of interest are updated annually.  

Fellows receive: 

• A paid personal living stipend for the full two-year duration of the program. 
• Healthcare benefits.
• A yearly travel allowance. 
• Access to equipment and scientists at one of four National Laboratories. 
• Support for collaborative R&D within the National Lab where they are placed. 
• Comprehensive training and mentoring to build a lasting business model. 
• Access to strong support ecosystems including experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts, investors, and more.