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!
‍

Pilanda Watkins-Curry: AuraChrome

From: Hampton, VA
Currently: Henrico, VA

Pilanda is a Ph.D. material scientist and chemist with a cosmetology license building safer, ethically sourced alternatives to cosmetic and personal care products, with a focus on developing a more resilient supply chain for the industry.

‍Q: What first sparked your interest in entrepreneurship?
A: Entrepreneurship was modeled for me early. My mother ran a business while also working full time, so I grew up understanding that entrepreneurship meant ownership, but also uncertainty and risk. I saw both the freedom and the trade-offs. 

My first real step into building a company came when my Spelman [College] sister, Lacey Reddix, invited me to co-found Olokun Minerals. That experience gave me hands-on exposure to building from zero. Now, as a second-time founder, I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and build what’s next with more intention and technical depth. 
‍

Q. What problem is your startup solving?
A. I’m focused on strengthening supply chain resilience in the cosmetics industry. Many cosmetic formulations, from makeup to sunscreen, rely on ingredients with limited sourcing transparency and performance trade-offs, especially for melanated skin tones. 

I’m developing improved chemical ingredients that can be more broadly compatible across diverse skin tones while also reducing dependency on fragile supply chains. The goal is to create technically superior, scalable inputs that brands can rely on long-term.
‍

Q. Why are you excited about this LabStart cohort?
A. I’m excited to see how each founder leverages the program differently, because what we put into the LabStart curriculum will directly shape our outcomes. 

What’s especially meaningful to me is the opportunity to work on my business full-time. That’s something my mother didn’t have when she was navigating entrepreneurship. Access to capital and protected time to build is often the missing piece in marginalized communities. LabStart provides that jump start—not just funding, but focus.
‍

Q. Why did you apply to the LabStart fellowship specifically?
A. I applied to LabStart because it has a strong reputation for supporting founders entering entrepreneurship with clarity and structure. 

I initially used the [LabStart] Discover Phase to deeply evaluate problems worth solving. Now, I’m combining my background in materials science, technology commercialization, and startup operations to build a solution for the cosmetics industry with real technical differentiation.

Q. How is LabStart transforming your journey?
A. LabStart is giving me three critical assets: funding, structured curriculum, and a high-quality network. That combination is accelerating my path to a prototype that can transform the industry by connecting me with collaborators, technical advisors, and potential partners who can help translate research into a commercially viable product.

‍

Meet our other fellows!

‍