Interested in becoming an entrepreneur through our flagship Startup Studio? Whether you are brand new to the venture world or have launched your own startup in the past the Startup Studio can prove to be an invaluable experience and possibly the first step in launching your own venture. Start your journey and apply now!

Our Story

​FedTech was born in 2015 after participating in the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program when we saw an opportunity to commercialize the ~$150B/year in federally funded R&D. We iterated on different concepts to materialize our vision, before landing on the most effective way to move cutting edge technology from the bench to the marketplace: the Startup Studio.

FedTech has since grown from a regional startup studio to an international company, offering a range of options to serve our different clients. Our impact has expanded significantly since our first Startup Studio in 2015, as we now work with fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, and forward-thinking government agencies in a number of capacities, while still remaining true to our mission of unlocking the benefits of technology through entrepreneurially minded people.

Mission: To unlock the benefits of technology through entrepreneurially minded people

Boldness: We have the fortitude to forge new paths and push beyond our comfort

Unity: We treat our clients, team members and partners as we would like to be treated - we are one united team

Introspection: We recognize introspection is the necessary ingredient in which self-improvement flourishes

Leadership: We embrace servant leadership - putting the interests of clients, team partners and partners first

Decisiveness: We have a strong bias towards action

Foundry

Foundry is an NSIN program powered by FedTech. The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is a program office within the U.S. Department of Defense that seeks to build networks of innovators that generate new solutions to national security problems.

DOE Emerging Tech Studio

As energy dependency becomes one of the most significant threats we face, the NNSA and the DOE continue to serve as a catalyst for innovation, investing millions of dollars into national laboratories. Throughout the program teams of highly talented entrepreneurs are paired with technologies on the forefront of innovation with the objective of spinning out market-defining startups.

Homeland Security Startup Studio

The Homeland Security Startup Studio is designed to accelerate and deliver commercial applications of technologies from federal laboratories, research centers, and universities to meet homeland security needs for both commercial or government use cases.  

FedTech Startup Studio

After identifying breakthrough tech from federal and university labs, we pair entrepreneurs with a technology that shows promising market potential. Over the course of several months, we walk these teams through the lean startup model, while focusing on the unique aspects of commercializing federally funded technologies. We move fast and validate, pivot, or kill business models. 

NASA Startup Studio

Sponsored by NASA, this startup studio pairs technology developed in NASA centers with business and technical talent who aim to create new businesses around breakthrough NASA technology. The teams will experience a hands-on approach to business model building through lean startup methods.

Our startup studios pair seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs with breakthrough technologies from federal and university labs. We employ methods like lean startup and business model canvas to position entrepreneurs to launch their own venture around their technology, entirely for free (no equity or fee).

Entrepreneurs (and aspiring entrepreneurs) can apply to any of our startup studios, where they will be paired with a technology developed in a federal or university lab. Over the course of the intense program, entrepreneurs are indoctrinated in the lean startup model, focusing on validating their business models through customer discovery. If the team finds a problem-solution fit and the opportunity is promising, we help launch their venture.

About FedTech's Startup Studio Program: FedTech's Startup Studio program forms teams of entrepreneurs to assess the commercialization potential of federally funded technologies from U.S. laboratories and research centers, working hand-in-hand with lab scientists and technologists. Teams will explore forming startups around those technologies to solve the real-world problems of government and commercial customers. FedTech is currently recruiting diverse applicants who are ready to continue their entrepreneurship journey or take a step into the world of entrepreneurship, without the initial risk of leaving their day job, paying any fee, or giving up any equity.

FedTech organizes Startup Studio program cohorts on an ongoing basis, identifying the best fit possible between entrepreneurial talent and our available technologies. Each program is supported by different sponsors, with a different mix of technology focus areas. These programs have different start dates and program lengths, as well as different sets of technologies that we match to entrepreneurs based on their interests and expertise. These programs typically span 16 - 20 weeks. Concrete timelines will be available closer to the start dates.

Entrepreneur participants are expected to spend ~20 hours a week (weekends and evenings) for the program. All participants take part in the first phase of the program, and some (based on a competitive process) may be invited to take part in the second phase of the program.

First round interviews will occur shortly after submission, and the technology-specific final round interview will take place approximately one month before the start date provided below. A generic breakdown of the recruitment timeline is as follows:

It is critically important to US commercial competiviveness and even to national security to ensure that American technology companies learn how to work effectively with the US Government, and FedTech's startup studio does a better job of any other program that I'm aware of at building those partnerships. Participating in FedTech's technology startup studio is like getting an MBA in the lean startup methodology in only eight weeks, on a full scholarship. It is a brilliant model for pairing US Govrment lab technology with entrepeneurs and mentors and supporting them as they explore the potential for commerclization, at minimal cost or risk to everyone involved.

—  Geoff, Startup Studio Mentor

"It was a new paradigm, a new mindset... but it's a growth area and you just have to be willing to plow through it a little bit."

—  Internal Innovation Participant

As the world rapidly evolves around advancements in technology, FedTech provided a community of excellence for American entrepreneurship and innovation. I refined core business skills, learned new methods of collaboration, and built relationships with global leaders in emerging technology. I look forward to leveraging all of this as I continue to chart my path in technologic, business and societal leadership.

—  Will, Startup Studio Entrepreneur

As an inventor, this program was an excellent way to get a thorough and objective look into my technology and its potential within the present market and stakeholder landscape. This insight will help you become a better inventor and technologist within your area of expertise. There is significant upside and very little downside in participating in this excellent program.

—  Jacob, Startup Studio Inventor

This program is the perfect match between bright inventors seeking a successful go-to-market strategy, and sharp experienced entrepreneurs searching for a potentially successful idea. The best part of this program is the teamwork that it creates between inventors and entrepreneurs, solidly supported by experienced mentors and instructors. I haven't seen such an effective, yet creative way of commercializing technologies. This should be expanded into developing countries.

—  Ignacio, Startup Studio Entrepreneur

The FedTech Startup Studio was very well structured and an insightful journey. It helped further enhance my skills as an entrepreneur in the areas of networking, customer discovery, and commercialization. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in entrepreneurship and looking to challenge him or herself.

—  Adrian, Startup Studio Entrepreneur