Chain Reaction Innovations
Climate & Energy · Run by Argonne National Laboratory (DOE LEEP node) · Lemont, IL
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Jul 22, 2026- Terms model
- Non-dilutiveGives money that does not take equity: grants, prizes, or credits. Your ownership is untouched.
- Investment
- $115,000/year stipend for two years plus healthcare benefits
- Equity taken
- Not publishedApply page states: 'Stipend of $115k per year for two years plus healthcare benefits', resolving the previously null stipend figure, and confirms 'Neither Argonne nor DOE take an equity stake in the startup.' Cohort 2026 applications closed; site states applications for Cohort 2027 will open in September 2026, with no exact dates posted yet. US citizenship or lawful permanent residency required at time of application.
- Program length
- 104 weeks
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Lemont, IL
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Cohort size
- 4-6 innovators
- Stage focus
- pre-company / first-time science founders
- Sub-vertical
- energy and science hard tech
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- U.S. Department of Energy (EERE / LEEP), Argonne National Laboratory
- Notable alumni
- Rivalia Chemical, memQ
Terms notes: Apply page states: 'Stipend of $115k per year for two years plus healthcare benefits', resolving the previously null stipend figure, and confirms 'Neither Argonne nor DOE take an equity stake in the startup.' Cohort 2026 applications closed; site states applications for Cohort 2027 will open in September 2026, with no exact dates posted yet. US citizenship or lawful permanent residency required at time of application.
Get Climate & Energy deadline alerts
One digest a week. Deadline alerts only for verticals you pick. Unsubscribe anytime.
Terms in plain English
Chain Reaction Innovations is a two-year entrepreneurship fellowship embedded at Argonne National Laboratory that funds founders to build their companies full time. Fellows receive a stipend of $115,000 per year for two years plus healthcare benefits, along with access to Argonne's technical experts, facilities, and capabilities. Neither Argonne nor the Department of Energy takes an equity stake. The program is in person at the lab in Lemont, IL, and applicants must be US citizens or lawful permanent residents at the time of application.
Who this is actually for
Pre-company or first-time science founders building energy and hard-science technologies that need national-lab-grade R&D resources to de-risk. Open only to US citizens and lawful permanent residents who can be based at Argonne, outside Chicago, for the two-year fellowship.
Application windows
Cohort 2027 (site states applications open September 2026): Timing expected, exact dates not yet confirmed.
Verified date not recordedSource
Compare this program
Put Chain Reaction Innovations side by side with up to two others to weigh cash, equity, and timing.
Compare Chain Reaction InnovationsGuides that explain these terms
Plain-English mechanics, with worked hypothetical numbers.
More like Chain Reaction Innovations
Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Jul 22, 2026.