Innosphere
Innosphere is a 28-year-old Fort Collins-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) science and technology incubator and accelerator that runs fee-based programs—including the NSF ASCEND Engine, Life Sciences Incubator, Earth & Space Systems Accelerator, ARID, and SHIELD—for technical founders, university spinouts, and federal lab researchers across the Mountain Plains Region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersFort Collins, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Innosphere does
Innosphere is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science and technology incubator and accelerator founded in 1998 in Fort Collins, Colorado. It runs a portfolio of fee-based programs—the Life Sciences Incubator (38 startups from nine states and three countries in the 2026 cohort), the Earth & Space Systems Accelerator (inaugural 14-company cohort launched late 2025), the NSF ASCEND Engine (established 2024 with up to $45M over three years), ARID for wildfire resilience, SHIELD for soil health, the SAGE advisory program, and a gener8tor Skills workforce development track—that together serve technical founders, university spinouts, physician-entrepreneurs, federal lab researchers, and rural/tribal workforce participants across the Mountain Plains Region.
The organization operates two core technology platforms: the ASCEND Technologies stack, which combines distributed in-situ sensors (e.g., AirPen low-cost air quality monitors using smartphone components at one-tenth traditional monitor cost), satellite data, physics-based models, and deep-learning algorithms (as deployed in the RADSENSE wildfire smoke forecasting system with 48-hour predictive horizon); and the Innosphere Ventures Fund, an affiliated venture vehicle. Incubator companies have produced commercialized technology including NETxTEN methane detection software, PrecisionTerra GPS enhancement receivers, FloodID flood intelligence, Burst Diagnostics' Capillary Driven Immunoassay platform, and the Gutter Bin stormwater filtration system.
Innosphere's business model is fee-based and explicitly non-equity, meaning it charges program fees and grants rather than taking founder equity. Revenue is sourced from federal grants (NSF up to $45M over three years for ASCEND, EDA Build to Scale), state appropriations (Colorado OEDIT, Wyoming), program participant fees, wet/dry lab and office rentals in Fort Collins, and workforce program funding. The organization reports that 80% of its startups received funding and that its supported companies have collectively raised $2.1B in capital over 28 years.
Innosphere firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Innosphere
- Legal name
- Innosphere
- Website
- https://innosphere.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Innosphere is a 28-year-old Fort Collins-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) science and technology incubator and accelerator that runs fee-based programs—including the NSF ASCEND Engine, Life Sciences Incubator, Earth & Space Systems Accelerator, ARID, and SHIELD—for technical founders, university spinouts, and federal lab researchers across the Mountain Plains Region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Innosphere industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)
Keywords
Where Innosphere is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Collins
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Innosphere business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fee-Based Incubation Services: Innosphere operates as a fee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. They do not take equity in companies but charge fees for their incubation and acceleration programs, which include hands-on development, strategic mentorship, investor connections, and office/lab space access.
- NSF ASCEND Engine Grant Administration: Operates the NSF ASCEND Engine funded by U.S. National Science Foundation, distributing translational R&D funding ($750,000 in 2026 RFP) to projects advancing environmental sensing, AI, and decision-support technologies in Colorado and Wyoming.
- Workforce Development Programs: Partners with gener8tor Skills to deliver free, virtual, flexible workforce training in data analytics, project management, IT, and customer service through NSF ASCEND Engine.
- Lab and Office Space Rentals: Provides wet and dry lab space and office rentals for startups as part of their facilities offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Incubation program fees for startups |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Innosphere product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Innosphere operates as a fee-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) science and technology incubator and accelerator. It runs multi-stage commercialization programs (Life Sciences Incubator, Earth & Space Systems Accelerator, NSF ASCEND Engine ARID and SHIELD programs) that provide hands-on mentorship, investor connections, capital facilitation, and wet/dry lab plus office space to science and technology startups in the Mountain Plains region.
Product overview
Innosphere is a science and technology accelerator and incubator that operates multiple programs to commercialize innovation. The core offerings include the Life Sciences Incubator for biopharma, diagnostics, and medical devices, the Earth & Space Systems Accelerator for space, CleanTech, ClimateTech, quantum, and photonics companies, and the NSF ASCEND Engine which funds and accelerates ASCEND Technologies (Advanced Sensing and Computation for Environmental Decision Making) including ARID for wildfire resilience and SHIELD for soil health. Innosphere also provides workforce development through the gener8tor Skills Accelerator, SAGE advisory services, and wet/dry lab facilities. Additionally, companies within the Innosphere ecosystem have developed products including the NETxTEN methane detection app, RADSENSE wildfire smoke forecasting, FloodID flood intelligence, PrecisionTerra GPS enhancement, and Gutter Bin stormwater filtration systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NSF ASCEND Engine: A federally funded Regional Innovation Engine focused on advanced sensing, computational modeling, and AI-powered decision support for wildfire, drought, and extreme weather challenges in Colorado and Wyoming.
- Life Sciences Incubator
- Earth & Space Systems Accelerator
- SHIELD
- ARID
- SAGE Advisory Program
Products and services
- Life Sciences Incubator Eight-month incubation and commercialization program for life sciences startups covering biopharma, digital health, diagnostics, medical devices, and therapeutics; provides hands-on development, strategic mentorship, investor connections, and lab access to technical founders and university spinouts.
- Earth & Space Systems Accelerator Eight-month accelerator for high-impact startup companies in space, CleanTech, ClimateTech, quantum, and photonics sectors, helping founders become investor-ready and connecting them with advisors and corporate partners.
- NSF ASCEND Engine ARID Program Accelerator focused on wildfire modeling and resilience using intelligent digital twins, seeking technologies for fuel sensing, smoke monitoring, wind sensing, and infrastructure monitoring serving power systems, water systems, and insurance markets.
- NSF ASCEND Engine SHIELD Program Program focused on soil health using distributed sensing, satellite data, and AI tools supporting ranchers, land managers, and water utilities across the Mountain West with low-cost, trustworthy sensing capabilities.
- gener8tor Skills Accelerator Free, virtual, flexible workforce training program in data analytics, project management, IT, customer service, and AI for Leaders, delivered in partnership with gener8tor Skills to strengthen rural and tribal communities.
- SAGE Advisory Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of startups received funding
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Innosphere
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Innosphere technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature5 records
Innosphere partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- gener8tor SkillscorePartnership to deliver free, virtual, flexible workforce training in data analytics, project management, IT, and customer service targeting rural and tribal communities in Colorado and Wyoming.
- University of Colorado BouldercoreResearch partner for ASCEND technologies; CU Boulder ranked #1 nationally in university spinouts (43 new companies in FY2024).
- Colorado State UniversitycoreMajor research partner hosting RADSENSE project, CSU STRATA, and multiple startup spinouts participating in Innosphere programs.
- Elevate QuantumcoreEDA-designated Quantum Technology TechHub consortium collaborating with ASCEND Engine on quantum sensing and commercialization pathways.
- NVIDIAminorPartnered with NSF ASCEND Engine on hackathon to strengthen AI modeling approaches for RADSENSE wildfire smoke forecasting project.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreFederal laboratory partner providing research collaboration and fellowship opportunities through ASCEND Engine.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreFederal agency partner contributing to environmental sensing and ASCEND technology ecosystem.
- Colorado School of MinesminorUniversity partner contributing to advanced industries and STEM talent pipeline.
- University of WyomingcoreResearch partner and workforce development collaborator for ASCEND Engine initiatives in Wyoming.
- Fort Collins Chamber of CommerceminorLocal partner supporting regional innovation ecosystem and business community.
- Colorado Bioscience Association (CBSA)coreIndustry association partner for life sciences incubator program and regional bio cluster development.
- NISTminorNational Institute for Standards and Technology laboratory contributing to research infrastructure.
- ICorpsminorEntrepreneurship training program partner for customer discovery and validation methodology.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Innosphere competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Catalyst Accelerator: Colorado-based defense and space-focused accelerator with deep ties to the US Air Force and Space Force. Catalyst directly overlaps with Innosphere's Earth & Space Systems Accelerator for space and dual-use technology founders in the same region.
- gener8tor: National accelerator operating equity-free, cohort-based programs and a workforce/skills training arm (gener8tor Skills). Innosphere explicitly partners with gener8tor Skills for workforce delivery, and the two share a similar founder-friendly, fee-based nonprofit-friendly model with comparable program structures.
- MassChallenge: Large nonprofit accelerator with a comparable equity-free, fee-light model targeting high-impact, science- and tech-driven startups. MassChallenge serves as a direct nonprofit peer with similar program design and founder-friendly positioning.
- BioGenerator: St. Louis-based nonprofit life sciences startup accelerator that creates and funds biotech companies. BioGenerator is a direct peer to Innosphere's Life Sciences Incubator, operating with a similar nonprofit, equity-friendly model focused exclusively on life sciences commercialization.
Broad incumbents
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform running corporate-partnered accelerator programs across verticals. Plug and Play competes for corporate innovation dollars and startup mindshare, with broader verticals and a global footprint that overlaps with Innosphere's Earth & Space and ASCEND programs.
- Techstars: Global accelerator with multiple industry verticals and a strong corporate partner network. Techstars is a broader incumbent offering equity-based accelerator programs that overlap with Innosphere's Life Sciences and Earth & Space programs but at much larger national scale.
Regional players
- Capital Factory: Texas-based accelerator and innovation hub with a strong regional focus on energy, defense, and tech. While geographically separated, Capital Factory pursues a similar nonprofit/regional accelerator model with university and corporate partnerships comparable to Innosphere.
- 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit technology incubator/hub supporting digital and enterprise startups. 1871 is a regional nonprofit incubator peer offering mentorship, workspace, and corporate connections in a comparable structure to Innosphere.
Emerging players
- IndieBio: Biotech accelerator with strong climate biology, ag-tech, and life sciences programs. IndieBio overlaps with Innosphere's Life Sciences and ASCEND Engine climate sensing verticals, particularly for startups leveraging biology for environmental applications.
Others
- Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) - Advanced Industries Program: State-level economic development program providing grants and incentives for advanced industries in Colorado. While not a direct competitor, OEDIT is a key funder of Innosphere's programs and represents the policy/economic development ecosystem in which Innosphere operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Innosphere social profiles
Digital presenceInnosphere financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Innosphere leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Innosphere subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Innosphere funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Innosphere 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 Innosphere
What does Innosphere do?
Innosphere operates as a fee-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) science and technology incubator and accelerator. It runs multi-stage commercialization programs (Life Sciences Incubator, Earth & Space Systems Accelerator, NSF ASCEND Engine ARID and SHIELD programs) that provide hands-on mentorship, investor connections, capital facilitation, and wet/dry lab plus office space to science and technology startups in the Mountain Plains region.
Is Innosphere a public or private company?
Innosphere is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Innosphere founded?
Innosphere was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Innosphere based?
Innosphere is headquartered in Fort Collins, United States, in the North America region.
How does Innosphere make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fee-Based Incubation Services are the primary driver. The others are NSF ASCEND Engine Grant Administration, workforce Development Programs and lab and Office Space Rentals.
Who are Innosphere's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Catalyst Accelerator, gener8tor, MassChallenge and BioGenerator. Broad incumbents are Plug and Play Tech Center and Techstars. Regional players are Capital Factory and 1871. IndieBio is listed as an emerging player. Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) - Advanced Industries Program is listed as an others.
Does Innosphere have an API?
No public API is recorded for Innosphere.
What industry is Innosphere in?
Innosphere's product category is Startup Incubation and Acceleration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of BPAEAAAA, Strategy & IT Advisory. Its SIC code is 8731.