The Housing Lab Launches Third National Search

Press Release

Berkeley, CA - February 15, 2022 - Terner Housing Innovation Labs announced today its annual open call for applications for The Housing Lab accelerator program - a nationwide search for entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to improve housing equity and sustainability.

‍Each year, The Housing Lab selects four to six of the strongest business and nonprofit applicants. Selected organizations receive $50,000 - $100,000 in seed money, six months of intensive coaching with national thought-leaders in housing innovation and entrepreneurship, and technical support to assist them as they navigate the complex regulatory and policy requirements that impact the housing industry.

‍The 2022 cohort will be The Housing Lab’s third group of supported ventures in a program with a proven track record of success. Since starting work with The Housing Lab, ventures have raised $295 million and improved outcomes for over 23,000 people looking to find affordable housing, build credit, or pay a mortgage. Several alumni have secured significant government partnerships and advanced policy change.

“The connections, coaching, and relationships built during this process are priceless,” said Aishatu Yusuf, Vice President of Impact Justice, a 2021 Housing Lab cohort venture. “The Housing Lab understood what we are doing, why we are doing it and helped us refine the how and importantly, help us craft a pathway toward expansion. Not only will we keep in touch with this community, but we are partnering together to innovate and transform the housing industry."

‍The lab is primarily focused on organizations that address its core mission of advancing housing affordability and equity, with an added focus on sustainability for 2022. To read more about the Housing Lab’s focus this year, please see the Housing Lab 2022 areas of interest.  Past ventures have included venture-backed companies, housing developers, nonprofits, and spinoffs or programs of existing organizations, tackling everything from predatory home lending practices to housing formerly incarcerated individuals. 

‍“As we look forward to our third year selection process, we are excited to find entrepreneurs with tremendous drive and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Carol Galante, co-founder of The Housing Lab and founder and advisor of U.C. Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation. “Today’s housing challenges require creative solutions, and innovators need to be provided with the resources to implement those solutions in order to improve housing outcomes for all people, and for the planet.”

‍Interested ventures can apply by visiting housinglab.co/apply. The early application deadline is March 11th and the final deadline is March 30th. 

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About The Housing Lab

The Housing Lab, founded in 2019, is a program of Terner Housing Innovation Labs, the sister 501(c)3 nonprofit associated with Terner Center for Housing Innovation at U.C. Berkeley. With a mission to identify and accelerate early-stage ventures with the potential to make housing more affordable and fair, The Housing Lab is the first national innovation lab focused exclusively on lowering the cost of housing. 

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Media Contacts

‍Michelle Boyd
Director, The Housing Lab
michelle.boyd@ternerlabs.org

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