Harvard Innovation Labs

Harvard Innovation Labs. A university-wide innovation ecosystem and initiative designed to foster entrepreneurship and venture creation across all of Harvard University's schools. Founded in 2011 and anchored at Harvard Business School in Allston, it provides a collaborative physical space, educational programming, and venture support to students, alumni, and faculty. Its mission is to connect the diverse Harvard community to accelerate ideas from conception to impact.

History and founding

The initiative was launched in 2011 under the leadership of then-Dean Nitin Nohria of Harvard Business School, with a foundational gift from The Bertarelli Foundation. Its creation was a strategic response to the growing student demand for entrepreneurial resources and the university's desire to break down silos between its disparate schools. The opening of its dedicated building in Allston in 2011 physically cemented its role as a cross-university hub, adjacent to other major institutional developments like the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The model was intentionally designed to be inclusive, welcoming participants from Harvard College, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and all other degree-granting institutions within the university.

Structure and programs

The ecosystem is structured into three primary, tiered labs: the **Harvard i-lab** for any Harvard student exploring entrepreneurship, the **Launch Lab X GEO** for alumni-led ventures, and the **Harvard Life Lab** for biotech and life sciences startups. Core programming includes the **President's Innovation Challenge**, a university-wide venture competition offering significant prize funding, and the **Venture Incubation Program**, which provides tailored mentorship and workshops. It also hosts numerous specialized programs like the **Harvard College Venture Program** and collaborates closely with other centers such as the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and the Harvard Kennedy School's Social Innovation and Change Initiative. This layered approach ensures support for ideas at every stage, from initial concept to scalable startup.

Impact and notable ventures

The initiative has supported the launch of hundreds of ventures that have collectively raised billions of dollars in capital. Notable alumni companies include **Mark43**, a cloud-based software platform for public safety agencies, **Ribon Therapeutics**, a biotechnology company developing cancer treatments, and **Ginkgo Bioworks**, a pioneer in synthetic biology now listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Social impact ventures like **SIRUM**, which redistributes unused medicine, and **Proximity Designs**, serving farmers in Myanmar, have also emerged from its programs. The annual **President's Innovation Challenge** has awarded millions in grants to winning teams, significantly de-risking early-stage innovation. Its influence extends globally, with ventures operating across sectors from fintech and edtech to climate technology and advanced therapeutics.

Leadership and governance

The Managing Director is Jodi Goldstein, a seasoned venture capitalist and entrepreneur who oversees daily operations and strategic direction. The initiative operates under the auspices of Harvard Business School and receives guidance from a senior leadership committee that includes deans and faculty from across Harvard University. An external advisory board composed of prominent figures from the venture capital, technology, and biotech industries, such as those from General Catalyst and Flagship Pioneering, provides further counsel. This governance structure ensures it remains closely integrated with the university's academic mission while maintaining strong connections to the global entrepreneurial and investment communities.

Facilities and resources

The primary facility is a modern, multi-story building located at Harvard Business School's campus in the Allston neighborhood of Boston. The space features open-plan worktables, dedicated team rooms, prototyping labs, and event spaces designed to encourage serendipitous collaboration. Residents and program participants gain access to a vast mentor network, including successful founders, investors from firms like Andreessen Horowitz, and industry experts. Additional resources include legal clinics from Harvard Law School's Transactional Law Clinics, specialized workshops on intellectual property with the Office of Technology Development, and connections to regional innovation assets like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ecosystem and Venture Café.

Category:Harvard University Category:Organizations based in Boston Category:Entrepreneurship organizations