Innovators

The West Gate Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program puts innovators first. West Gate embeds innovators at NLR and supports their evolution into successful entrepreneurs, helping them bring their advanced energy technologies to market.

Active Innovators

Meet West Gate innovators actively developing advanced energy technologies.

West Gate is stewarded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Technology Commercialization, with support for individual innvovators provided by these offices:

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office
Industrial Technologies Office (ITO)
Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO)
Office of Electricity
Office of Science's Advanced Scientific Computing Research.

Cohort 4 Innovators (2025–2027)

James Clegern – Kinetic Energy Storage

See how James Clegern is advancing nonchemical battery storage technology by developing a low-cost flywheel design for longer-lasting, high-performance batteries.

Supported by AMMTO

Kian Lopez – Ultrapure Water

Learn how Kian Lopez is utilizing ultra-selective pressure-driven membrane systems to produce ultrapure water for advanced manufacturing and water treatment applications.

Supported by AMMTO and ITO

Ying Sun – Plant-Based Mining

Find out how Ying Sun is addressing the demand for rare-earth elements through phytomining, a technique that uses engineered plants to extract rare-earth elements from soil.

Supported by AMMTO

Ian Brownstein – Affordable Wind Energy

Learn how Ian Browstein is maximizing energy production and reducing costs with an affordable and reliable vertical-axis wind turbine.

Supported by IESO

Cohort 3 Innovators (2024–2026)

Julia Curley – Enabling Circular Bioplastics

Learn how Julia Curley is developing a chemical recycling technology that breaks down plastics into their basic components.

Supported by AMMTO and ITO

Simon Julien – Grid-Flexible Solar

See how Simon Julien is optimizing solar output by using machine learning to enhance grid stability and economic performance.

Supported by IESO

Heather Platt – Sodium-Ion Battery Innovation

Learn how Heather Platt is advancing sodium-ion battery technology by developing a low-cost cell design for safer, high-performance batteries.

Supported by the Office of Electricity

Michael Solomentsev – Efficient Power Conversion for Data Centers

See how Michael Solomentsev is supporting energy management for data centers by improving the efficiency of power delivery.

Supported by AMMTO and the Office of Science's Advanced Scientific Computing Research

Reamonn Soto – Hydropower and Electric Generator Reliability

Learn how Reamonn Soto is enhancing the reliability of hydropower systems by rapidly assessing the conditions of electric generators and balance-of-plant equipment.

Supported by AMMTO

Spencer Whitman

Spencer Whitman is leading a commercialization assessment to evaluate the market potential of the Rapid Electrochemical Mineralization to Form Dolomite technology, identify viable customer segments, and develop pathways to deployment.

Supported by the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office

Past Innovators

Read about past West Gate innovators, including the inaugural program cohort and the many projects developed and brought to market.

Four people smiling with buildings and mountains in the background.

Interested in Becoming a West Gate Innovator?

Find out if you are eligible to participate and learn how to apply to the West Gate program.

Want To Get Involved in Other Ways?

From partners and reviewers to sponsors and qualified applicant referrals, West Gate welcomes the support of technical, entrepreneurial, and commercialization experts and organizations.

Learn about all the ways to get involved with the West Gate program.