Innovation Space
Innovation Space is a Delaware-based non-profit science startup incubator providing state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, equipment access, funding (The First Fund up to $200k), and accelerator programming to early-stage life sciences, clean tech, and advanced materials startups in the Mid-Atlantic region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersWilmington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Innovation Space does
The Innovation Space is a Delaware-based non-profit science startup incubator founded in 2017 by William D. Provine, operating state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region to support early-stage companies in life sciences, clean technology, and advanced materials. The organization's core product is shared laboratory infrastructure — configurable as full labs, half labs, and lab pods — paired with access to specialized scientific equipment that individual startups could not afford to procure independently. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly lab space subscriptions, supplemented by program fees from the cohort-based Science Inc.™ Accelerator and the Spark Factory™ virtual pitch events, and by equity participation in portfolio companies funded through The First Fund™, which deploys up to $200k per startup in cash, expertise, equipment access, and lab space.
Innovation Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Innovation Space
- Legal name
- The Innovation Space
- Website
- https://deinnovates.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Innovation Space is a Delaware-based non-profit science startup incubator providing state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, equipment access, funding (The First Fund up to $200k), and accelerator programming to early-stage life sciences, clean tech, and advanced materials startups in the Mid-Atlantic region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Innovation Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Science Startup Incubator / Laboratory Space Rental
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Science & STEM Lab Equipment & Supplies (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Makerspaces) (EDAEAIAC), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)
Keywords
Where Innovation Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Innovation Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lab Space Rental: Revenue generated from renting state-of-the-art laboratory spaces to science-based startups and entrepreneurs. Spaces are offered at competitive pricing with flexible configurations.
- Accelerator and Program Fees: The Science Inc.™ Accelerator and Spark Factory™ programs provide cohort-based support to early-stage startups, likely with associated program costs or equity stakes.
- Investment Returns from The First Fund: The First Fund™ provides up to $200k investment resources to early-stage startups in the form of cash, expertise, equipment access, and lab space. Returns generated through equity participation in successful portfolio companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Lab Space - Full Lab |
| Subscription | Monthly | Lab Space - Half Lab |
| Subscription | Monthly | Lab Space - Lab Pod |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Innovation Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Innovation Space provides state-of-the-art laboratory space and shared scientific equipment to early-stage science-based startups in life sciences, clean tech, and advanced materials, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. It complements the physical lab offering with cohort-based accelerator programs (Science Inc.), virtual pitch/mentorship events (Spark Factory), and direct investment capital (The First Fund, up to $200k) plus early-stage growth grants. Customers subscribe to lab space on monthly terms and gain access to coaching, investor introductions, and a curated science-startup community.
Product overview
Innovation Space is a physical lab space provider and startup accelerator ecosystem. The core offering consists of state-of-the-art laboratory spaces (Life Sciences Lab Space, Clean Tech Lab Space) with equipment access, complemented by funding programs (The First Fund™ investment up to $200k, Early Stage Growth Grant), mentorship programs (Spark Factory™ virtual pitch events), and the Science Inc.™ Accelerator cohort-based virtual accelerator. These offerings are designed to support science-based startups and entrepreneurs in life sciences, clean technology, and advanced materials sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The First Fund™: Investment program providing up to $200k in investment resources to early-stage startups, including cash, business building expertise, access to scientific equipment, and multi-use laboratories.
- Spark Factory™
- Science Inc.™ Accelerator
Products and services
- Lab Space
Quantifiable outcome
- $1.24B+ in cumulative funding raised by Innovation Space startups
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Innovation Space
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Innovation Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Innovation Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- University of DelawarecoreStrategic partnership with University of Delaware provides access to research capabilities, talent pipeline, academic resources, and institutional credibility within the Delaware innovation ecosystem. The partnership supports the organization's mission as a hub for science startups.
- State of DelawarecorePartnership with the State of Delaware provides institutional support, regulatory navigation assistance, and public funding access for startups operating within Delaware. The state seal association signals credibility and local government endorsement.
- DuPontcoreStrategic partnership with DuPont provides science startups with access to industry expertise, potential commercialization pathways, mentorship from experienced professionals, and connections to one of the world's largest science companies focused on materials science and biotechnology.
- IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances)corePartnership with IFF provides Innovation Space startups with access to industry expertise in flavors, fragrances, and related materials science. IFF's global presence and commercialization capabilities offer potential pathways for startups developing relevant innovations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Innovation Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator offering programming, mentorship, and connections to capital across multiple verticals. Broader in scope than Innovation Space but comparable non-profit model supporting early-stage founders.
- JLABS (Johnson & Johnson Innovation): Johnson & Johnson's global network of life science incubators offering lab space, mentorship, and capital to healthcare and biotech startups. Directly comparable operating model, but backed by a Fortune 500 corporation and operating at a much larger global scale.
Direct peers
- Alexandria LaunchLabs: Alexandria Real Estate's startup incubator platform providing turnkey lab and office space to life science companies. Highly comparable core offering of shared lab infrastructure, though operated by a for-profit REIT and thus better capitalized for expansion.
- Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road): Berkeley-based fellowship supporting entrepreneurial scientists working on deep tech (advanced materials, energy, biotech). Comparable model combining infrastructure, funding, and mentorship for science-based founders.
- IndieBio: Science-focused accelerator providing lab space, mentorship, and seed funding ($250k-$500k) to biology and deep tech startups. Closely comparable in serving pre-revenue science founders with capital-intensive infrastructure needs.
- EvoNexus: San Diego-based non-profit tech startup incubator with a clean tech and life science focus, offering mentor-driven programming and connections to capital. Closely comparable non-profit incubator model targeting science and deep tech startups.
- LabCentral: Cambridge, MA-based non-profit life science incubator offering shared lab space, equipment, and programming to biotech startups. Most direct comparable to Innovation Space in mission, model, and core offering of shared wet-lab infrastructure for early-stage science companies.
- BioBAT Innovation Center: NYC-based life science and biotechnology incubator providing shared lab and office space to early-stage companies. Comparable wet-lab shared-infrastructure model serving science startups, with similar non-profit/government-affiliated positioning.
Regional players
- BioEnterprise: Cleveland/Northeast Ohio-based organization supporting health-tech and life science startups with programming, capital, and partnerships. Comparable model of regional science-focused startup support, though serving a different geography.
- The Venture Center: Arkansas-based accelerator and incubator supporting science and technology startups with programs, mentorship, and capital access. Similar non-profit/regional accelerator model, though with a different geographic focus than Innovation Space's Mid-Atlantic footprint.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Innovation Space social profiles
Digital presenceInnovation Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Innovation Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Innovation Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Innovation Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Innovation Space
What does Innovation Space do?
Innovation Space provides state-of-the-art laboratory space and shared scientific equipment to early-stage science-based startups in life sciences, clean tech, and advanced materials, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. It complements the physical lab offering with cohort-based accelerator programs (Science Inc.), virtual pitch/mentorship events (Spark Factory), and direct investment capital (The First Fund, up to $200k) plus early-stage growth grants. Customers subscribe to lab space on monthly terms and gain access to coaching, investor introductions, and a curated science-startup community.
Is Innovation Space a public or private company?
Innovation Space is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Innovation Space founded?
Innovation Space was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Innovation Space based?
Innovation Space is headquartered in Wilmington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Innovation Space make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Lab Space Rental is the primary driver. The others are accelerator and Program Fees and investment Returns from The First Fund.
Who are Innovation Space's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MassChallenge and JLABS (Johnson & Johnson Innovation). Direct peers are Alexandria LaunchLabs, Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road), IndieBio, EvoNexus, LabCentral and BioBAT Innovation Center. Regional players are BioEnterprise and The Venture Center.
Does Innovation Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Innovation Space.
What industry is Innovation Space in?
Innovation Space's product category is Science Startup Incubator / Laboratory Space Rental. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAI, Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming), with a secondary code of EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.