Preliminary Application submissions must be received by October 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT; incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Proponents submit ideas individually through a dedicated submissions platform, “Submittable,” accessed via the Lab Call for Ideas webpage: https://www.climatefinancelab.org/call-for-ideas/.

Individual entrepreneurs, public institutions, development finance institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations (including NGOs, think tanks, and academics), startups, boutique fund managers, and insurers are all welcome to submit ideas.

Successful vehicles are developed by an engaged team and backed by organizations committed to the Lab process and seeing the vehicle through to implementation.

Generally, applicants with experience in return-seeking capital management and deployment have been well-received by Lab Members, but the Call for ideas is open to all innovators in the sustainable finance space.

The idea must be a return-seeking 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.

In the context of the Lab, a financial vehicle is a tool, structure, or approach to investment that can mobilize private capital. Vehicle types include funds, special purpose vehicles (SPVs), facilities, and platforms.

Financial mechanisms deployed by vehicles include alternative assets (private equity, venture capital, and project finance); debt solutions (private debt, syndicated loans, asset finance/leasing, and bonds); structured products (securitizations, derivatives); results-based financing (results-linked bonds and payments for ecosystem services); servitization (pay-for-use models); and credit enhancement (insurance and guarantees).

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). Ideas are not eligible if they focus on developing or selling a climate technology product (e.g., a climate tech startup) or use grant funding to directly implement climate projects (e.g., climate education, equipment purchase, or farmer subsidies).

For example:

• – A company that is developing new innovative materials that are low-carbon 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.
• – A startup developing sustainable cookstoves would NOT be eligible. A startup deploying a fund that offers short-term loans so households can purchase sustainable cookstoves would be eligible.
• – A non-profit providing grants to farmers to buy climate-smart tools would NOT be eligible. A non-profit developing a fintech platform to improve the bankability of regenerative businesses would be eligible.
• – A project developer developing renewable energy assets would NOT be eligible. A private debt fund deploying loans to project developers of renewable energy projects would be eligible.
• – To get an idea of what we are looking for, review the Lab Portfolio here.

The Lab typically seeks relatively well-defined concepts in the Initial Development: Market Assessment and Design stage or Feasibility and Structuring stage that could benefit from vehicle design, financial modeling, and technical support. Successful ideas typically have some evidence of the likelihood of success in practice, but the maturity of the vehicle structure, pathway to market, and financial modeling varies.

A useful gauge for applicants to assess their stage of development and Lab fit is to review the curriculum and determine how many of the listed activities have already been developed.

For additionality to exist (a selection criterion), the Lab team expects that some activities have not yet been developed or remain in progress or in draft form. Balance is key; some key decision factors should be researched and established. Flexibility for change is important as the concepts are stress-tested; however, a lack of a concrete vehicle definition may require a longer development period beyond the parameters of the Lab program. The ideal applicant is somewhere in the middle, already having dedicated time to idea development, but not yet in a rigid state where components can’t be questioned.

The full classification of vehicle stages of development under the Lab is below:

STAGE 0: BASIC IDEA

• – The vehicle remains at the concept stage. Preliminary research may have been undertaken to define the problem or market opportunity, but the proposed financial solution has not yet been developed.
• – The instrument structure, target market and/or implementing partners have not yet been identified.
• – No capital-raising activity has begun.
• – The concept is not yet sufficiently developed to be presented to investors, and the capital requirements, investor types and proposed capital stack have not been defined.

STAGE 1: INITIAL DEVELOPMENT – 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.

STAGE 2: FEASIBILITY & STRUCTURING

• – 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.

STAGE 3: PROOF OF CONCEPT / PILOT

• – The proof of concept has been demonstrated through one or more pilot transactions.
• – Early-stage market validation has been achieved and partnerships secured.
• – Investor conversations are underway to obtain feedback on the structure and to prepare for more formal fundraising.
• – A limited amount of capital may have been raised, usually in the form of grants, concessional finance, technical-assistance funding or other risk-tolerant capital required to support the pilot.
• – The concept has been validated in the market.
• – Pilot transactions are underway or have been completed.
• – The core structure has been established, and an initial impact measurement and management framework is under development.

STAGE 4: EARLY MARKET ENTRY

• – The operating model has been tested through the pilot, and the vehicle is beginning to move toward broader market deployment.
• – Mission-critical implementation partners have been formalized, and initial investors or anchor investors have made commitments.
• – A transaction pipeline has been identified, and initial transactions beyond the pilot may be underway.
• – Anchor commitments have been secured or are nearing commitment, and an active fundraising process is underway.
• – Partnerships and implementation arrangements have been formalized.
• – The vehicle has begun executing its initial pipeline beyond the pilot stage with first transactions underway.
• – The vehicle’s impact measurement and management framework is developed.

STAGE 5: VEHICLE CAPITALIZATION & DEPLOYMENT

• – The vehicle has reached financial close.
• – The vehicle has begun actively deploying and managing the portfolio.
• – The fundraising target has been achieved, or the vehicle is close to being fully capitalized.
• – A meaningful investor base has been secured, potentially including commercial investors alongside catalytic, public or concessional capital providers.
• – The vehicle is ready for or already undertaking full deployment.
• – It has an operational investment process, established governance and portfolio-management systems, and a functioning impact measurement and management framework.

STAGE 6: SCALING: EXPANSION & REPLICATION

• – The initial vehicle has deployed a substantial proportion, or all, of its committed capital and has demonstrated that the model can operate at scale.
• – Expansion into additional geographies, sectors, or market segments, or replication through follow-on vehicles is underway.
• – The proponent is raising capital for successors or follow-on vehicles or is onboarding existing and new investors to support expansion.
• – Fundraising is supported by the vehicle’s operational track record, portfolio performance, and evidence of impact.
• – The vehicle has demonstrated scalability and a sustained ability to originate, finance, and manage transactions.
• – Scaling may involve larger vehicle sizes, additional funding rounds, new geographic or sectoral markets, repeat investor participation, or replication of the structure by other proponents.

A submission 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. It should also show that the idea fits the Lab’s criteria and outline the main financial barriers it addresses and its potential climate impact. Part of the Lab process is further developing and defining the finance needed for implementation.

If any aspects of the vehicle design are not yet fully defined, this is understandable because 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.

AI may be used to develop the application, but please avoid submitting responses that rely excessively on AI-generated content, as such content may not provide relevant answers and may confuse the reviewer. CPI may use AI-based tools to identify applications that appear to rely heavily on AI-generated content. This may be used as an indicator during the review process, but all final assessments and decisions will be made by the Lab Secretariat. If needed, please identify any tentative answers or unknown elements in your response.

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 seven-month vehicle development period (from March to September). This time is often split across team members, but successful proponents designate 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 decisions on vehicle design 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.

Generally, after assessing the vehicle’s stage of development and current design, financial model, and implementation plans, the analysts will tailor the standard curriculum as needed. If certain activities have already been undertaken, the Lab will stress-test and refine elements as necessary. Design elements or activities not yet developed will be completed with the support of Lab research and analysis.

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

Please see Section 3 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 climate-focused instruments. Confidential information will not be publicly shared, and further information-sharing arrangements will be agreed upon between the proponent and CPI through an MoU.

However, as a non-proprietary knowledge-sharing initiative, key outputs (including vehicle design, implementation pathway, and impact frameworks, among others) 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 per idea, as well as robust marketing and communications support throughout the Lab Cycle.

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

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, and the target market must be ODA-eligible and match the active Lab stream geography; the proponents and capital sources can be based anywhere globally.

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

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

The Lab does not provide direct funding or seed capital as part of the annual incubation cycle, and it does not guarantee investment. The Lab program provides technical assistance valued at USD 250,000 per selected vehicle.

Separately, the Lab established the Pre-Seed Capital Facility in 2024 to provide working capital grants to eligible Lab-endorsed vehicles as they advance toward implementation and market launch. While the Facility is separate from the annual incubation cycle, it is connected to the broader Lab program and provides a potential pathway for further support following endorsement. We will announce any future funding windows and eligibility requirements separately as they become available.

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.

English is the primary language of the Lab; convenings such as Endorsement will be held in English, published materials will be released in English, and applications should be submitted in English. The working language during vehicle development may be in Portuguese or Spanish if applicable.