Activate Louisiana - LSI BRIDGE

What will you Activate?

Louisiana’s labs and classrooms hold discoveries the world hasn’t seen yet.

LSI BRIDGE is a six-month program that helps scientists and engineers explore whether their research could become a company.

Louisiana already has the science

Now it needs a path beyond the lab.

Every year, brilliant scientific research stalls before reaching the people who need it. Not because of a lack of ideas, but because of gaps in entrepreneurial skills, capital, and community.

Activate exists to help close that gap.

In Louisiana, we’re creating opportunities for scientists, engineers, students, and technical talent to explore what’s possible. You don’t need a business plan. You don’t need to have it all figured out. What matters right now is the question and passion.

More than one path forward

Connect with us to receive hands-on guidance that pressure-tests your assumptions.

Entrepreneurship isn’t the only destination.

LSI BRIDGE PROGRAM

“I want to explore what my research or skills could become.”

Six months of self-paced content, monthly virtual sessions, peer learning forums, and cohort events. You don’t need a company yet.

STARTUP PATHWAYS

“I want to see where my skills could take me.”

For students & early-career professionals. Join career panels and see roles beyond being a founder, from technicians to analysts and operators.

From research to real-world impact

The Louisiana Science Innovator (LSI) BRIDGE is a six-month program built on Activate’s proven curriculum and developed with FUEL

Hands-on curriculum & frameworks

Entrepreneurial mindsets, technoeconomic framing, and technology cost and value assessment.

Learn what your technology needs to prove to work at scale, at cost, and in the market.

Fundraising readiness & pathways

Learn and prepare for different funding pathways available to take the next step with your idea that fits your vision.

Understand what funders look for before you need to ask.

Peer learning & coaching

Group discussions and peer learning forums that pressure-test your assumptions as you go and build a personal network of champions.

Option to add 1:1 coaching and mentorship from Activate’s network.

Curated connections & network

Cohort events, a shared platform, and connections to experts in Louisiana and nationwide across industries and technical areas.

Join the network behind 280+ companies instead of starting one from scratch.

LENGTH

Six months

FORMAT

Virtual, self-paced

LIVE SESSIONS

Monthly, online

IN PERSON EVENTS

Hosted in Baton Rouge and New Orleans

ELIGIBILITY

Louisiana residents

EQUITY

None taken

BRIDGE Participant Eligibility

A graduate student or postdoc in science or engineering
An industry professional at any career stage who's curious about starting a company
An early-stage company with initial funding already in place
Planning to incorporate within the next year
Committed to building your work, and your roots, in Louisiana
Working on carbon management or other carbontech solutions

Questions? Contact Leroy Brown at leroy.brown@activate.org

Nominate a Participant

Do you know someone who could benefit from the LSI BRIDGE Program? Nominate them to receive exclusive information about the program and the application process.

Nomination Form

Apply Now

Ready to apply for the LSI BRIDGE program? Applications will open soon. Fill out the form to gain access to updates and further information about the program.

GET INVOLVED

Help us find Louisiana’s next critical thinkers

For faculty, advisors, and campus partners

Tell us about a student or researcher

No commitment. It helps us know who to reach out to first when applications open.

Host an info session

We’ll come to your campus, class, or lab group.

Start a partnership conversation

For departments, centers, and career offices thinking further ahead.

Partner with us

For Louisiana industry

Open doors for internships and jobs

Tell us what you’re hiring for, and we’ll connect candidates to your pipeline.

Share a problem you’re trying to solve

Tell us about your technical or operational challenges so we can point Louisiana’s researchers toward work that matters to industry.

Lend your expertise

Mentor a participant, speak to a cohort, or help pressure-test early ideas.

Work with us

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