Conscious Venture Lab

Conscious Venture Lab (CVL) is a Baltimore-based accelerator focused on supporting early-stage, purpose-driven startups that are committed to using innovation to tackle societal challenges. Launched in 2013, CVL operates a four-month immersive program designed to help founders build businesses that balance profit with a social mission. CVL specifically seeks out underrepresented and diverse entrepreneurs who are passionate about creating equitable solutions, with a focus on sectors like big data, IoT, cleantech, and cybersecurity. With a curriculum centered around stakeholder capitalism, CVL emphasizes the importance of fostering businesses that deliver value not only to shareholders but also to communities and the environment. Founders gain access to mentorship, strategic guidance, and a broad network of investors and industry leaders. The lab's portfolio includes companies like EcoMap Technologies, which focuses on democratizing data access, and other tech-driven ventures that address food security, climate resilience, and urban innovation. CVL, led by founder Jeff Cherry, has a hands-on approach to helping startups scale, providing a support system that ranges from early seed funding to Series A investments. Startups in the program benefit from connections to thought leaders and strategic partners, including both financial and governmental institutions​.