Description

• Larta supports companies from idea / invention → commercialization → investment readiness, with specialized programs tailored to early- and emerging stages of growth. 
  
  
• Its programs range from government-sponsored SBIR/STTR commercialization assistance, to impact accelerator cohorts (e.g., Venture Fellows, Heal.LA) and investor-readiness experiences that prepare ventures for seed-to-Series A funding. 
  
  

• Larta is not a traditional equity-taking VC accelerator — instead, it provides non-dilutive support, mentorship, ecosystem connections, and commercialization frameworks designed to help founders make their technologies investable. 
  
  

• Core Larta Institute programs do not take equity from participating founders; they focus on commercialization assistance, funding readiness, and introductions rather than direct investment in exchange for equity. 
  
  
• Larta partners with U.S. federal agencies (e.g., DOE, USDA, NIH, NSF) to help ventures secure SBIR/STTR non-dilutive funding and related grants. 
  
  

• Through Larta Ventures, the organization does engage in equity investment — investing in promising founders and impact-driven startups aligned with sustainability goals (feed, fuel, heal the world). These investments are typically made after founders have participated in Larta programs, and are negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis to prepare companies for seed and Series A rounds rather than fixed accelerator checks with standardized equity terms. 
  
  

• Equity Taken by Core Programs: Larta Institute’s accelerator and commercialization programs do not require equity as a condition of participation. 
  
  
• Equity via Larta Ventures: Equity stakes are determined per investment opportunity when Larta Ventures invests in alumni companies — there is no published standard percentage across all deals. 
  
  

• Founders can apply online to specific programs such as:
  
  
  • Venture Fellows Program (impact innovation, climate/community resilience) 
    
    
  • Heal.LA Bioscience & Healthcare Accelerator (community health impact) 
    
    
  • SBIR/STTR Commercialization Assistance Programs (DOE, USDA, others) 
    
    
• Applications involve pitching the idea or venture, team background, and alignment with the program’s mission (often focused on sustainability or societal impact).
  
  

• Accepted founders participate in immersive, cohort-based experiences with mentorship, workshops, strategic guidance, and ecosystem introductions tailored to commercialization and investment readiness. 
  
  

• Venture Fellows Program: ~8-month immersive accelerator supporting climate and community resilience innovators (no cost, non-equity). 
  
  
• Heal.LA Bioscience & Healthcare Accelerator: Focused on advancing health and wellness solutions in underserved communities. 
  
  
• SBIR/STTR Commercialization Programs: Government-aligned support for startups that have secured or are applying for federal R&D funding. 
  
  
• Seed & Series-A Funding Accelerator (selective): Intensive cohort to refine readiness and connect to curated investors post-program. 
                                                                                    

Eligibility

• Science & Technology Commercialization: Foundational science and technology innovations with potential for broad impact. 
  
  
• Sustainability & Impact: Solutions that contribute to sustainable ecosystems, community resilience, energy systems, health technologies, and climate adaptation. 
  
  

• Early- to mid-stage ventures, often participants in SBIR/STTR programs or founders with prototype and early validation seeking commercialization pathways and investor engagement. 
  
  

• U.S.-based founders are common participants given partnerships with federal agencies, though ecosystem connections are broader. 
  
  

• Founding teams with demonstrated technological capability, commitment to impact goals, and focus on translating research into scalable enterprises.
  
  

Process

1. Application Submission: Founders apply online with company details and impact alignment.
   
   
2. Screening & Interviews: Programs assess fit with mission, technology maturity, and market potential.
   
   
3. Cohort Acceptance: Selected ventures join with tailored mentorship and programming.
   
   
4. Acceleration / Commercialization Assistance: Founders engage in guided activities, workshops, and ecosystem introductions.
   
   
5. Investor & Funding Connections: Programs culminate in pitch opportunities and follow-on support, including investor matchmaking and, for alumni, potential investment via Larta Ventures.
   
   

What an Applicant can Obtain

• Commercialization Assistance: Hands-on guidance from experienced mentors and industry experts on moving innovations from lab to market. 
  
  
• Non-Dilutive Funding Pathways: Support securing SBIR/STTR and other government and foundation grants. 
  
  
• Investor Readiness: Preparation for future capital raises — refining pitch decks, business models, and investor engagement strategy. 
  
  
• Network Access: Introductions to government partners, corporate collaborators, research institutions, and investors through Larta’s ecosystem. 
  
  
• Long-Term Support: For alumni ventures, potential access to Larta Ventures for downstream investment.