Cohort 2018: A Brief Impact Report

Aug 31

This summer, we celebrated Cohort 2018 with a Zoom dance party and pick-your-own mortarboard scavenger hunt. Now, we are happy to share some of the accomplishments of these 13 scientists and engineers over the course of two intense years.

These results show that funders and partners believe in Cohort 2018 fellows and the impact they will make on their respective sectors. And that while much work remains, Cohort 2018 fellows are making progress toward building teams that reflect the richness and diversity of the talent pool.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

The reflections of three Cohort 2018 fellows, told here, illustrate the qualitative transformations fellows often experience as they build their companies and blossom as leaders. On the latter front, Cohort 2018 set a new standard, pioneering technical breakthroughs and emerging as thought leaders in their industries during their fellowship. Key milestones included:

Antora Energy broke the world record in thermophotovoltaic efficiency. (And we're excited to share details about a second record-braking result by a 2018 team, soon.)
Miguel Sierra Aznar (Noble Thermodynamics) and Tim Latimer (Fervo Energy) advised regulators about California’s clean energy transition. And Latimer testified before Congress on opportunities to boost geothermal energy development.
Cohort 2018 fellows and their startups earned awards and recognition from Shell, Grist, Forbes, Ocean Exchange, the Global Warming Mitigation Project (the Keeling Curve Prize), and others.
They engaged with more than 175 different organizations and forged more than 12 corporate partnerships.
Cohort 2018 fellows completed 16 laboratory-scale prototypes and demonstrations, and have 5 commercial or pre-commercial prototypes.

Congratulations, Cohort 2018 fellows! This is the just the beginning. We can't wait to watch you continue to grow as leaders and innovators. And thank you for all you have done to give back to our community, push us to be better, and support subsequent cohorts by sharing your experiences!