Getting In: The West Gate Selection Process (Text Version)

This is the text version for the video Getting In: The West Gate Selection Process.

>>Shelly Curtiss, West Gate Program Manager, National Laboratory of the Rockies: Welcome to the third and final module in our West Gate informational series.

In this module, we'll cover the West Gate selection process, including applicant eligibility, technology eligibility, what the selection team evaluates, and what applicants can expect during the process.

Let's start with the basic eligibility requirements.

• Applicants should be outstanding scientists, engineers, inventors, or budding entrepreneurs working on a technology they want to bring to market.

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent U.S. resident at the time of application and throughout the fellowship.

• They must have a technical degree—a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate—and at least 4 years of post-bachelor scientific research, engineering, or technology-development experience.

• Applicants must also be novice startup founders. Their company cannot have raised more than $2 million in dilutive capital at the time of application.

• Applications are submitted by individuals; team applications are not permitted.

Beyond those basic requirements:

• West Gate is looking for innovators who are prepared to take on the entrepreneurial challenge. They should be comfortable working in a laboratory environment, collaborative and coachable, and committed to raising additional funding to transition out of the program after 2 years.

• This is important: Applicants need to be able and willing to relocate to Colorado for the fellowship. If you are accepted into the West Gate program, we can provide limited support for relocation costs.

The technology itself also needs to meet certain criteria.

• It must be at least at the proof-of-concept stage or Technology Readiness Level 3 or higher.

• The concept should be novel, solve a recognized problem, and have commercial potential.

• West Gate places an emphasis on hardware technologies and looks for technologies that align with and can leverage National Laboratory of the Rockies' research capabilities.

• The technology should also align with [U.S. Department of Energy] DOE priorities and address a significant societal need related to U.S. competitiveness or energy affordability, reliability, or security.

To review a list of technologies of interest in this specific application cycle, please visit the West Gate website and review the FAQ page.

So what makes a strong application?

• The selection process considers four key areas: the innovator, technical merit, entrepreneurial potential, and program alignment.

• Reviewers are looking for technical competency and a novel concept with strong commercial potential. They are also evaluating the applicant's background, entrepreneurial potential, communication skills, and ability to be coachable, collaborative, and passionate about the opportunity.

• Finally, applicants should demonstrate alignment with the laboratory and DOE mission spaces and show that West Gate is an appropriate program for advancing their technology.

The process begins with the written application.

• Semifinalists are invited to participate in virtual interviews. The presentation portion evaluates technical competency, commercial opportunity, and entrepreneurial potential, and a select number of innovators advance to the finalist stage.

A few additional requirements are important to understand.

• You do not need to have a formed company to apply. However, if selected, you will need to incorporate a U.S.-based company upon acceptance.

• Applicants should clearly explain how they will leverage the laboratory's R&D capabilities and demonstrate alignment with DOE areas of interest.

• Only one applicant per company or team may apply and the program is not intended for serial entrepreneurs who have already demonstrated the ability to successfully launch one or more startup companies.

• And, importantly, selected innovators must relocate to Colorado.

West Gate is a full-time commitment

[A slide titled "Time Commitment" contains the following text:

Fully committed to the startup

• You will be spending time every week with programming, mentor calls, team calls, community opportunities
• Assume significant travel to conferences, customer discovery, pitch opportunities, speaking opportunities, etc.
• Required travel for DOE-directed programming, i.e., DC Fly-In, Demo Day
• You will be pulled in 1 million directions and may be a sole founder

Hard-tech startups are hard. We're here to help.]

Innovators participate in programming, mentor and team meetings, community opportunities, conferences, customer discovery, pitch opportunities, and DOE-directed programming. Significant travel should also be expected.

The goal is to provide the time and focus needed to build the company and advance the technology.

[Text on screen: West Gate – Unlocking Innovation, Inspiring Entrepreneurs
www.nlr.gov/west-gate]

Application periods and details are available on our website. We encourage you to review the application requirements carefully and consider how your technology, experience, and entrepreneurial goals align with the program.

Thank you for your interest in West Gate.