2011
On November 18, the Harvard Innovation Labs officially opens its doors.
What we have done on Western Avenue is create a space that increases the likelihood of planned and unplanned encounters among our students, faculty, staff, and members of Boston's innovation community, a space where one ought to expect the unexpected. Drew Faust, former president of Harvard University
2012
The first annual President’s Innovation Challenge awards funds to four outstanding student ventures.
We know Harvard is a seedbed for innovation. With this challenge, we have seen students’ inspired ideas take root, with the assistance of University resources. Alan Garber, current Harvard University president and former provost
The PIC has come a long way since 2012 — learn about this year's challenge.
2013
Harvard Innovation Labs ventures surpass $50 million in combined funding. By its second anniversary, the i-lab had supported over 300 unique ventures and founders from every Harvard school.
I view this as an extension of each school’s campus...I don’t know of any other space that has everything we offer under one roof. Gordon Jones, former Harvard Innovation Labs director
2014
The Alumni Launch Lab opens, extending the i-lab’s mission to support Harvard alumni founders as well as current students.
The Launch Lab originally occupied a physical space at 114 Western Avenue, across the street from the i-lab. Today, it's integrated into our main co-working space.
2015
Our Maker Studio doubles in size to support prototyping projects.
From developing bicycle helmets and robotic arms to wearable health sensors for elite athletes, the Maker Studio’s high-caliber tools and equipment play a pivotal role in supporting our student entrepreneurs and startups.
2016
The Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab opens as a home for biotech and life science startups.
We believe innovation in the life sciences is critically important to the future of our region from an economic standpoint and equally important to all of our futures in its potential solve complex health problems. Steve Pagliuca (MBA '82), Co-Chair, Bain Capital
2017
Our new AR/VR studio levels up the i-lab’s tech toolbox.
The augmented and virtual reality equipment in our AR/VR studio allows students to explore and experiment with cutting-edge immersive technologies — physically and imaginatively.
2018
Launch Lab X — our flagship alumni incubator — hits the ground running.
We’re looking for founders and teams that are really looking to make sustainable ventures that are going to have a real impact on the world. Whatever point you enter at, the staff will design a customized program. Jodi Goldstein, former i-lab executive director
Also in 2018: The i-lab was named The Boston Business Journal’s Top Startup Ecosystem Supporter.
2019
The Allston Venture Fund and the Social Impact Fellowship Fund transform our available funding opportunities.
Also in 2019: Forbes named the i-lab one of 5 Amazing College Incubators.
2020
Launch Lab X goes global, with fully virtual programming designed to support alumni startups in any region.
This is the first time that Harvard Innovation Labs has launched a global alumni accelerator, achieving a larger strategic goal to extend the reach of our programming beyond Boston. Bringing together diverse perspectives will not only optimize our cohort's learnings, but will also help the i-lab evolve and be more representative of the global community that is part of the Harvard ecosystem. Thara Pillai, Director of Alumni Engagement
2021
The Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle announces its inaugural cohort.
A partnership among the i-lab, Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, and Harvard Business School's Business and Environment Initiative, the Climate Circle is an online incubator for founders working on innovative solutions to tackle climate change.
Also in 2021: The i-lab turns 10, having supported almost 5,000 Harvard founders in its first decade.
2022
Our new Student i-lab membership model debuts, with three stages (Explore, Test, and Propel) to serve the needs of all student innovators.
Also in 2022 (and for the second time in five years): The i-lab was named The Boston Business Journal’s Top Startup Ecosystem Supporter.
2023
The NextGen Accelerator, a partnership between the i-lab and Amazon Web Services, convenes student founders from HBCUs and universities in Sub-Saharan Africa for a two-week bootcamp.
Also in 2023: The Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Centers recognizes the i-lab for “Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation” among university entrepreneurship centers.
2024
The i-lab reaches nine known unicorns — alumni ventures that are valued at over $1 billion.
