Overview
I launched the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) with my counterpart at Shell and the NREL technical team, then directed it from 2018 to 2020. I was responsible for the founding vision, strategy, annual targets, P&L, partner agreements, and mentorship of the participating companies across a multimillion-dollar portfolio. I managed the contract between Shell International and NREL, ran the down-selection that built each startup cohort, and led a team of technical, project management, and communications staff.
Portfolio Outcomes (as of 2025 Annual Report)
- $1.048B raised by cohort companies to date
- 954 new startup hires since joining GCxN (374% growth since 2022)
- $140:1 leverage ratio on Shell project funding
- 30 companies in portfolio across fuels, solar, storage, grid, and industrial electrification
- Average TRL progression from 4.1 to 5.9
- First GCxN portfolio company to launch an IPO (eXoZymes)
- Program received renewed multiyear funding commitment from Shell
Program Design
- Directed the accelerator model from concept to sustained operation
- Selected companies receive up to $250,000 in nondilutive funding via access to NREL’s technical experts and facilities
- Built an ecosystem of Channel Partners (incubators, accelerators, universities) for deal flow
- 18-24 month engagement cycle with technical validation and commercialization support
Legacy
GCxN demonstrated that national laboratories can serve as effective innovation platforms for early-stage companies. The program continues to operate and grow under Shell and NREL leadership, having expanded to include Channel Partner Strategic Awards and the Worldwide Innovation Network. The model has influenced how DOE labs engage with the startup ecosystem nationally.
