About the program

Do you take equity (financial stake) in CSVS startups?

CSVS does not charge any fees or take any equity (financial stake) in companies for individuals to join and participate in the program. Our program supports people, first and foremost. We have a mission to help you find the optimal path for your project to go to market, regardless of the specific business model. The program provides optional funding opportunities that may take equity for additional flexible capital.

Who owns or controls the intellectual property (IP) produced during the program?

CSVS does not claim any ownership rights over startup's IP. Our goal is to support startups in developing their own IP. Startups are expected to find research and development space that allows them to retain IP rights to inventions consistent with their business objectives.

Can I participate in the program part-time?

Fellows are required to work on their proposed project full time. As such, you will have to give up any other primary employment in order to become a fellow. This does not mean that you are not allowed to work on your project using grants or other sources of funding. In fact, we actively help and encourage fellows to apply for grants, including SBIR/STTR, and raise private capital.

When does the program begin? What are the expectations of the program in the first few months?

Applicants will be selected in early spring and quickly begin the onboarding process for a successful start to the fellowship. We expect all fellows to begin their two-year appointments between June 1 and September 1. Fellows are also required to attend the fellowship kickoff events during the early summer. See the timeline at ___ for details.

What if I ultimately decide that a startup is not right for me or my technology?

That's ok. We believe that housing your effort within an incorporated entity provides the best structure to support you as an entrepreneurial innovator. That said, our goal from day one is to support you in finding the best path to drive your technology concept toward impact in the marketplace. That can take many forms, from building a high-growth venture to licensing or early acquisition. Or you may realize that the idea has a fatal flaw you didn't expect. In any case, our primary goal is your personal success and with it the impact of your idea, regardless of the form that takes.

Program eligibility

What are CSVS' eligibility requirements?

Please see our eligibility requirements and details on what we look for in a fellow at csvs.energysociety.org/apply.

Do you support fellows working on projects across all industries?

We support fellows whose innovations are based in the hard sciences and impact one of our four verticals. We encourage you to think broadly about the potential use cases and impact of your technology when determining if your project fits, and email us at [email protected] with specific questions.

What about software-based innovations?

We have supported pure software plays where there is a combination of a few of the following factors: the core innovation is rooted in a scientific discovery that needs additional technical de-risking, the application of the tech was unclear, the capital expenditure would need to be high, the core software innovation will need to be built into a hardware product, the impact potential was huge, and/or access to or collaboration with research facilities we partner with was essential.

I am based in a territory or commonwealth of the US. Does this limit my participation in the program?

Your participation in the fellowship from a US commonwealth or territory (Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and US Virgin Islands) is not limited. Just like all other applicants, you need to either commit to relocating/commuting to a geographically-connected community or convince the CSVS community that you can be successful developing your innovation from your current US-based location.

I am a foreign national. Does this limit my participation in the program?

All fellows must be authorized to work in the US for the duration of the program. Applicants who are foreign nationals need to explain their plans for obtaining a valid immigration status by the start of the fellowship. CSVS cannot hold, sponsor, or petition for fellow work visas.

CSVS continues to research and share resources for foreign nationals who wish to obtain permission to work as entrepreneurs. Such pathways include the Global GEIR program and the O-1 visa for Individuals of Extraordinary Ability. We encourage you to research pathways that align with your particular background and situation.

I'm still in a PhD program. By what date do I need to graduate to be able to participate in the next cohort?

The intention of CSVS is to give scientists the ability to pursue their entrepreneurial visions, which includes freedom from other commitments of their time and energy—including Ph.D. programs. To participate in the upcoming cohort, applicants currently in Ph.D. programs are expected to complete their degrees by September of the year the cohort starts. (Cohort 2024 applicants should complete their Ph.D. by September of 2024.)

What projects are too early or too late for CSVS support?

We will consider applications for projects ranging from early concepts that have not yet been fully validated—if the applicant has performed convincing cost or technoeconomic modeling—to projects with early prototypes. Most applicants have established an early “proof of concept” supported by data that the innovation works by experimentally testing their ideas. Projects already at full-scale commercial deployment are too advanced for the fellowship.

Can I apply with a co-founder?

Yes, you can apply with a co-founder, and individuals working together on a project are required to apply together as a team (vs in two separate applications). We take up to two co-applicants from the same project on a single application, as long as both meet all other eligibility requirements. The Principal applicant is the individual who begins the application by completing the eligibility quiz, and optionally adds a co-applicant as a collaborator to the application. You cannot swap the Principal and co-applicants.

​If you are part of a team with multiple individuals who are eligible for the fellowship, we recommend you select the individual who most wants to participate in the fellowship education and community to be the Principal applicant.

What happens if I have a co-founder who is not eligible for the program?

If your co-founder is not eligible for the fellowship, you should not apply with that individual as a co-applicant. But do note that we have supported many projects for which one or more co-founders were not eligible. We understand it’s important for co-founders to stay aligned and mutually supported, and they are included in several fellowship community events.

Do I/we have to be incorporated to apply?

Applicants are not required to have an incorporated entity in order to apply, and applying after incorporation does not provide you with an advantage or a disadvantage. If selected for the fellowship, you may need to establish an appropriate legal and U.S.-based entity for your project with our support.

Have a question not answered above?

contact us