The Lab’s call for ideas is open to all innovators in sustainable finance. Individual entrepreneurs, public institutions, development finance institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations (including NGOs, think tanks, and academics), start-ups, entrepreneurs, boutique fund managers, and insurers are all welcome to submit ideas. An engaged team develops successful vehicles, backed by organizations committed to the Lab process.  

The Lab typically looks for well-defined ideas that are beyond the initial concept stage but are not yet ready for implementation or active fundraising. Market assessment and vehicle design should be underway, with the structure, business model, capital needs, and investor value proposition still being developed. Ideas should not yet have executed pilot transactions or secured formal investor commitments. 

Most commonly accepted ideas fall into one of the following development stages. See the Lab Guidelines for the full explanation of vehicle stages of development.  

Initial Development Stage: market assessment and design 

• Initial market assessment and concept design are underway 

• The proponent is beginning to define an execution roadmap, which includes vehicle structure, business plans, and staffing requirements 

• The overall capital requirement and potential capital stack are beginning to be scoped, but the proponent is not yet actively engaging investors 

• The concept is more developed than a basic idea but remains at an early design stage 

• Early structuring options are being explored, and preliminary financial modeling may be underway with initial market validation commenced 

Feasibility & Structuring  Stage 

• Market assessment has been substantially completed, and the execution roadmap has been identified  

• The structure of the vehicle is actively being designed 

• No pilot transactions have yet been executed 

• The investor value proposition is under development.  

• The proponent may be conducting informal investor soundings to test appetite, identify concerns, and refine the proposed structure, but there are not yet formal investor commitments or active fundraising processes. 

The idea must be a financial vehicle (described below) that targets climate-relevant sectors in ODA-eligible developing countries and does not require legislative or regulatory changes to be implemented. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate that the idea meets the Lab’s core criteria: Innovation, Actionability, Catalytic Potential, Financial Sustainability, and Lab fit. For more on these criteria, see the Lab Guidelines.  

In the context of the Lab, a financial vehicle is a tool, structure, or approach to investment that can mobilize private capital. The Lab does not support ideas for individual projects or the deployment of new technologies unless there is an innovative financial product associated with these projects or technologies.   Vehicles selected by the Lab include alternative assets (ie private debt and equity funds), guarantee facilities, asset financing structures, pay-per-service models, securitization and facilities leveraging approaches such as results-based financing, insurance, bonds, derivatives structures, etc. 

For example, a company developing new, low-carbon materials would NOT be considered a financial vehicle and would therefore not be eligible. A fund that invests in multiple companies developing innovative materials would be a vehicle and therefore eligible. To get an idea of what we are looking for review the Lab Portfolio or see the Lab Application Guidelines for more examples. 

For the 2027 cycle, the idea selection will be guided by the Lab’s priority regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Brazil, India, and Latin America & the Caribbean. 

Globally focused ideas are invited to apply to the region that best matches the initial target implementation geography. 

Submissions should provide a short description of the idea, its purpose, and how it works. It should be clear what the vehicle invests in, how financing will be deployed, and how the vehicle can be expected to generate returns. They should also show that the idea fits the Lab’s criteria, outline the main financial barriers it addresses, and the potential climate impact. If any aspects of the vehicle design are not yet fully defined, this is understandable, given the Lab works with early-stage vehicles and the purpose is for the Lab and Proponents to co-create a catalytic financial vehicle. Please indicate uncertainties or unknown variables in your application. 

The co-creation and intensive technical development distinguish The Lab from other incubation programs. Proponent teams are expected to dedicate 2-3 days per week across a 7-month vehicle development period (from March to September). This time is often split across team members, but successful proponents dedicate 1-2 focal points to work directly with the two CPI analysts assigned to each vehicle. While CPI analysts guide Lab Proponents through the Lab curriculum, Proponents are expected to provide sufficient information on the vehicle, make vehicle design decisions informed by analysis, and produce technical outputs as needed. Following Endorsement, proponents remain responsible for leading fundraising and pilot implementation. 

The Lab Cycle follows a robust pre-defined curriculum focused on the key elements of vehicle design and development necessary to move ideas into implementation and unlock capital for climate impact. Vehicle incubation processes have been developed over ten years of launching ideas into the wider climate finance ecosystem and continuously refined based on expertise from the Lab Members.  

Lab analysts will tailor the curriculum based on the vehicle’s stage of development. If certain activities have already been undertaken, the Lab will stress test and refine elements as necessary. The Lab will develop design elements or activities not yet developed, supported by Lab research and analysis.  

CPI and the Lab are independent, neutral third parties, and the Lab process rests on thorough evaluation of concepts. A key value-add for proponents is questioning underlying vehicle assumptions and testing whether planned innovations will meet desired climate and financial targets.  

Please see the Lab Guidelines for further details on the Lab Curriculum. 

Neutral learnings from the vehicle incubation will be compiled into an analytical deliverable and widely shared with the Lab Network to foster innovation in incubating innovative climate-focused instruments. Confidential information will not be shared publicly, and the proponent and CPI will agree on further information-sharing arrangements through an MoU. However, because the Lab is a non-proprietary knowledge-sharing initiative, key outputs, including vehicle design, implementation pathways, and impact frameworks, will be made publicly available upon Endorsement. Therefore, proponents must be comfortable with sharing these insights publicly. Please explore the Lab Portfolio to see examples of published materials. 

In turn, Proponents will benefit from the in-depth analysis provided by the Lab, including input and guidance from a wide range of high-level public and private experts, exposure to prominent public and private sector investors, analytical support from the Lab Secretariat equivalent to approximately USD 250,000 in-kind per idea as well as robust marketing and communications support throughout the Lab Cycle. 

A complete Lab Cycle operates for over 12 months. Selection typically runs from late September through early March. Then, successful proponents complete seven months of intensive analytical vehicle development culminating in Endorsement. Post-endorsement, vehicles receive 30 days of light-touch assistance over a 12-month period, including bespoke go-to-market support.  

Yes, you can submit more than one idea. Confirm that all submissions meet the Lab’s eligibility criteria and geographic priorities before submitting. 

The idea must target implementation in ODA-eligible developing economies recognized by the OECD. While the target market must be ODA-eligible and match the active Lab stream geography, proponents and capital sources can be based anywhere globally. 

Ideas that integrate gender considerations are strongly encouraged. Proponents are requested to describe the gender-sensitive approaches and gender equality impacts of their vehicles during the application process (if available). Gender strategies and related components can be further developed during the Lab cycle for selected ideas.