The Application Process

The New Mexico LEEP application cycle is open for approximately eight weeks each spring. The next application cycle closed May 8th, 2026 for Cohort 6 applications. To keep up to date on New Mexico LEEP throughout the year, sign up for our newsletter.

2026 Selection Timeline

February 26: Applications Open
April 7: Informational Webinar
May 8: Applications Close
Deadline for our annual application cycle.
May, June, & July: Virtual Interviews
Applicants are interviewed by a panel of staff, advisors, and subject matter experts.
July & August: Alignment Workshop
Selected applicants are paired with national laboratory researchers to determine synergy for collaboration.
September 22: Final Pitch Events
Finalists present in New Mexico to our Strategic Leadership Council, reviewers, and staff for final selection.
Fall 2026: New Mexico LEEP Cohort Announced
Announcement includes press release, bios, and project description.
January 2027: Fellows Onboard
All new Fellows are onsite in northern New Mexico.

2026 Info Webinar Recording

2026 Info Webinar Slides

Enjoy the 2026 application info session and see how NM LEEP empowers visionary entrepreneurs to bring their deep tech innovations to market while solving some of our nation’s toughest challenges.

Selection Criteria

An innovation that fits into one or more of our five technology areas: advanced materials, AI & advanced computing, biotechnology, space systems, or energy security.
You intend to transition your technology into a product and build a company. (This is not a program for funding R&D.)
You have conducted early customer discovery and have found there is interest in your solution.
You meet most of these benchmarks: You have a prototype, less than four full-time employees, have received less than $1.5M in funding.
You need the technical expertise of a national laboratory for testing, validating, de-risking, modeling, etc.
You need business mentorship and training. (This program is not intended for serial entrepreneurs.)
You can commit to New Mexico LEEP for two years.
You will relocate to New Mexico for the two-year program duration or longer.
Recommended that your technology development matches New Mexico’s national laboratory expertise. Contact us if you need help discovering which capabilities and focus areas match your innovations.

Application Tips

We evaluate applications on a rolling basis, so it’s encouraged to apply early.
Watch the recorded Info Webinar to learn how to submit a strong application.
Preview the application below to see what questions you might need to spend more time on.
In case the application portal (Zintellect) logs you out mid-completion, use the Preview Application below and craft your answers in advance on a local computer, then login into the application portal to copy and paste your answers into the Zintellect response fields.
Update your resume/CV in advance.
Ensure your resume/CV is three pages or less. We do not review any information from your resume/CV beyond the third page.
If you don’t already have a standard pitch deck, prepare a general deck. The file must be less than 10MB. Reach out if you have questions about this.
Contact our program staff if you have questions about the application, the program, or to learn more about what it’s like to be a New Mexico LEEP Fellow.

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