The Venture Fellows is an eight-month immersive, no-cost program that supports innovators addressing key challenges of our time: unpredictable and variable weather events, health-related concerns from dirty air, water and energy sources, and lack of nutritious and affordable sustainably grown food.
Launched in 2022, the Venture Fellows Program aims to identify, nurture and scale promising innovations in responding to these challenges through strategic guidance and connections to ecosystem partners. We are committed to enabling participants to develop pilot and validate projects for the most promising innovations in sites that can be scaled to larger use cases and communities.
Since it’s inception the Venture Fellows program has had the following collective impact, impact that continues to grow.
startups have enrolled in the Venture Fellows program.
in follow-on capital raised.
jobs created or persevered by Fellows.
There are many ways to get involved! We welcome mentors, community-based organizations, investors, and ecosystem partners to collaborate, share expertise, and help our Fellows turn their innovations into real-world impact.
From clean water to climate-ready infrastructure, this year’s cohort is tackling big challenges with bold solutions. These innovators are building a more resilient, equitable future—starting with the communities who need it most.
Since 2022, the Venture Fellows program has supported 22 incredible innovators, who are developing solutions to address environmental-related resilience and adaptation challenges in communities that are most at-risk.
Be the first to receive updates and opportunities with our monthly VF newsletter. Learn about program activities, upcoming events, ways to support, and follow our Fellows and Alumni on their journey through features and highlights.
Applications are now open through March 20th to join our next cohort. The program begins in April 2026. Tell us about your idea & vision and our team will be in touch with next steps & more info.
Since 2022, the Venture Fellows program has supported 22 incredible innovators, who are developing solutions to address environmental-related resilience and adaptation challenges in communities that are most at-risk.
Be the first to receive updates and opportunities with our monthly VF newsletter. Learn about program activities, upcoming events, ways to support, and follow our Fellows and Alumni on their journey through features and highlights.
Sign up to get on our mailing list.
Join a cohort of social entrepreneurs who are innovating to build a better future for local urban communities.
Innovators interested in the Venture Fellows Program, should be developing solutions that address the most pressing environmental challenges facing communities across Los Angeles County.
We seek innovators who:
The 2026 Venture Fellows seeks solutions within three specific “challenge” areas that have impacted communities across Los Angeles. In addition to these areas, we welcome all impactful technologies and innovations to apply.
The recent severity of catastrophic wildfires in California, driven by high-wind weather events, highlights the urgent need for weather-resilient solutions to strengthen urban infrastructure. Additionally, wildfire prevention, prediction, power outage management, and first responder support tools must be redesigned for both urban and suburban settings. Lower-income communities bear the greatest burdens from evacuation, property damage, and recovery when these fires threaten urban centers, as seen in places like Altadena and the Tahiti Mobile Park in Malibu.
Extreme heat has now become the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, surpassing fatalities from storms, floods, and lightning combined. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, prolonged, and severe, posing a significant threat—especially to lower-income communities, which are often located in urban areas with minimal tree cover and green spaces.
The same is true for higher-intensity storms, earthquakes, and other large-scale natural disasters, which are increasingly impacting urban settings, causing widespread flooding, loss of life, and destruction of critical assets.
Ambient air pollution is a significant global health risk, contributing to an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths each year. A UCLA-led study found that pollution in Los Angeles is not only greater, but more toxic in communities facing the most socioeconomic disadvantages. Many of these communities are located closer to highways, industrial zones, and other pollution sources.
As a result, lower-income neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from higher rates of asthma, respiratory diseases, and other health issues. In addition, the recent wildfires have left a trail of destruction and will continue to threaten air quality for months to come due to the toxic combination of materials burned in the fires. This prolonged exposure exacerbates existing health disparities, placing already vulnerable communities at even greater risk.
Currently, only about 40% of L.A. County’s water supply comes from local sources such as groundwater and recycled water, with the City of L.A. relying on just 20%. Once a dependable resource, federal water supplies from the Colorado River are rapidly dwindling as Lake Mead approaches dangerously low levels.
Meanwhile, low-income communities and urban farming areas face persistent challenges, including poor water quality, high costs, and inadequate funding for infrastructure improvements. These disparities threaten public health, agricultural resilience, and long-term sustainability.
We are seeking innovative, community-centered solutions that enhance water conservation, improve access, and advanced treatment methods to ensure a more secure and equal water future.
Join a cohort of social entrepreneurs who are innovating to build a better future for local urban communities.
Fellows benefit from one-on-one mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to Larta’s extensive network of ecosystem partners, including sustainability leaders, community-based organizations, investors, and academic institutions. The program also offers workshops, pilot development support, and visibility opportunities to help innovators refine their solutions and scale their community impact.
“Throughout the Venture Fellows program the Larta team advocated for us within the greater Los Angeles ecosystem. The team was providing relevant programming while simultaneously connecting us with mentors and decision- makers across the region. We are deeply grateful for Larta’s support and highly recommend this opportunity.”
Stay up-to-date with our monthly Venture Fellows Newsletter. This newsletter includes program activities, such as upcoming events and ways to support, alongside Fellow and Alumni features and highlights.
The program runs for eight months and is designed to fit the busy schedules of innovators. Most activities are virtual, with select in-person opportunities to connect, collaborate, and showcase your work. Selected solutions will be chosen based on their intent to test and scale in Los Angeles, even if the company is not based locally, ensuring they generate meaningful impact in the communities the Venture Fellows Program aims to serve.
No. Applicants can be U.S.-based companies with the goal of designing and/or piloting their product to meet the needs of communities across Los Angeles County, with the potential to scale to other regions.
This program is open to established startups interested in testing or advancing their innovations. Your solution may follow a nonprofit, hybrid, or traditional business model.
The program is free for all accepted applicants.
Participants are expected to engage fully throughout the 8-month period, which may vary slightly depending on the cohort year.
The 2026 cohort is proposed torun from March 2026 through November 2026. Sign up to receive updates when the application window opens.
Each month includes up to 1.5 hours of workshops, 1–2 meetings with your principal advisor, and optional office hours with the Larta team for support. It is clear that you get more from what you put in.
The program is designed so you can stay focused on the day-to-day operations of your business while we help layer in strategic guidance for you to achieve key milestones, reduce friction, and minimize risks.
Your idea can be between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and 7. If you’re unsure what your TRL is, please see the Government Accountability Office definition here or reach out to Laura Macias (lmacias@larta.org) with brief information about your stage of innovation development.
Please fill out this Contact Us Form and select “Join a Start-up Program”. In the notes box, please add “Question about Venture Fellows” followed by your question. Someone will contact you shortly.
Larta Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our mission is to foster science and technology innovation for a sustainable planet.
