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Bakar Labs for Energy and Materials: rendering as seen from Oxford St to the east

Construction begins on Bakar Labs incubator for energy-efficient startups

UC Berkeley has begun construction on the Bakar Labs for Energy and Materials facility, which will be designed as a business incubator for startups working on innovating the energy and materials science industries. The incubator is a partnership between Bakar Labs, Turner Construction Company and campus. Architecture firm Gensler, as well as engineering and design services company A Squared Solutions, also collaborated with Turner on the facility. The planned five-story, 145,000-square-foot building will provide lab and office space for up to 75 early-stage companies with specialized equipment and support. It is intended to maximize UC Berkeley’s mission of providing long-term societal benefit. Read post
A group of people pose with shovels in a construction site

Turner Breaks Ground on Bakar Labs for Energy + Materials at UC Berkeley

“Turner is honored to partner with everyone on the Bakar Labs for Energy + Materials project," said Manu Garg, Project Executive, Turner Construction Company. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to excellence and innovation in delivering complex research facilities. We look forward to contributing our expertise to a project that exemplifies the power of collaboration in advancing research and innovation.” Read post
Three scientists look at a laptop in a lab

A playbook for university-driven climate innovation

From an op-ed on the investing site Impact Alpha, authored by Director Dave Schaffer & Director of Partnerships Shilpi Kumar: "Climate tech has matured, with dedicated funds, corporate commitments, and government programs helping the sector grow stronger than it was just a few years ago. The next step is ensuring the most technical, early-stage ventures can thrive within that ecosystem. Universities are showing how this can be done – by blending research, education, and entrepreneurship into a single model that supports founders over the long term. The Berkeley case demonstrates that public institutions can take equity in startups, reinvest returns into their mission, and provide the resources private markets alone cannot. The broader lesson is that universities can act as launch pads and long-term partners for climate ventures, helping ideas move from the lab into the marketplace." Read post
Seven men standing in dirt field holding shovels spray-painted gold

Golden Shovels, Green Vision: A Collaborative Effort Breaks Ground on the Future Home of Bakar Labs for Energy and Materials

The facility, scheduled to open in 2028 and located on the west side of campus (Oxford Street at University Avenue, in the new Berkeley Innovation Zone), will feature state-of-the-art labs, offices, and collaboration spaces designed to accelerate commercialization of clean energy, advanced materials, and sustainable technologies. Bakar Labs is central to the university’s efforts to enable solutions to one of society’s most vexing challenges and opportunities: the global transition to advanced energy systems. Read post
Joshua James

From Chemistry at Chevron to Investing in Clean Energy at BEVC, a Natural Progression for Joshua James

The instinct to roll up his sleeves rather than simply write checks is exactly drew James to BEVC. Founded by Risa Stack, Rowan Chapman, and Widya Mulyasasmita, the fund’s model is unusually immersive: it sits at the crossroads of Berkeley’s research depth and Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial speed. BEVC doesn’t just invest in companies; it helps form them, often spinning out startups directly from university labs. For investors like James, who combine scientific rigor with venture savvy, it’s a rare ecosystem — a place where they can stay close to the science while still driving real-world impact. Read post