At LabStart, we support brilliant entrepreneurs willing to bring bold climate ideas to market. Our 2026 Launch cohort includes six fellows with outstanding talent and hustle, and they inspire us every day. 

Let’s get to know them better!

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Emilio Balderas: Aura Life Science‍

From: Chicago, IL
Currently: Chicago, IL

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Emilio is disrupting the manufacturing industry by reducing production costs by up to 4x in biomanufacturing and enabling truly carbon-negative production. 

Q: What first sparked your interest in entrepreneurship?
A: I think it goes back to some innate qualities about myself. I'm a very curious person. I like challenges, especially those that allow me to be part of a mission or a greater purpose. 

Entrepreneurship helps check all those boxes because it's an opportunity to build something that is combating climate change, lowering prices for people, and doing it in a way that challenges me to learn and grow.

Q. What problem is your startup solving?
‍A. Biomanufacturing is very expensive—roughly threefold more expensive than status quo manufacturing methods like petrochemical synthesis. Because of that, there's a lack of adoption, which is really bad for the planet because the carbon-intensive methods continue to dominate. We're trying to break that cost barrier in biomanufacturing through our approach.

Q. Why did you apply to the LabStart fellowship specifically?
A. It was a unique opportunity, because at the time I already was working to commercialize science specifically to address climate change. 

One of the accelerators I was in at the time included a LabStart alumni, Adriana [Esparza], and she recommended that I apply, because it was [a fit for] exactly what I was doing. 

That was exciting, and I was even more excited when I saw that LabStart truly cares about supporting underestimated founders. That really spoke to me.

Q. How is LabStart transforming your journey?
A. Connecting me with [curriculum developers and mentors] Fractal Climate has been a game changer. [Fractal founders] Jen [Wagner] and Alice [Havill] really know their stuff, and it's good to know and learn from people who have already been on the startup journey before, specifically in the space that I'm building in. 

It helps me feel more comfortable in the unknown, knowing there's veterans in the room that can help guide me. 

Aside from that, being connected to my peers, the other fellows from the LabStart program, is very transformative, because they have a lot of great experience that I'm learning so much from. But more than that, I’ve been inspired by their work and stories.

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Meet our other fellows!

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