Does STAR Labs have a revenue model?
In the most recent episode of The Flash, "Family Matters Part 1," Cisco mentions that he doesn't want to be "stuck" working at STAR Labs for the next 40 years while everyone else moves on. And I realized something: Barry, Joe, and Iris all have their own jobs outside of Team Flash, but for Cisco and Caitlin (and apparently Chester as well now,) STAR Labs is their day job.
Before the particle accelerator explosion, it was a well-regarded research lab that was presumably funded either by grants or by selling their research or similar, but since then, it seems to have been transformed into a full-time superhero team headquarters almost exclusively. I don't believe we've seen it producing any products or services since the Flash started his crimefighting work.
So I have to wonder, where does it get its revenue from? How is it keeping the lights on? Where does it get the money to pay the salaries of its employees, Cisco and Caitlin?
Best Answer
Well, essentially this is "plot wealth" but the general explanation is...
From Harrison Wells' estate.
It's indicated at the start of Season 2 that Thrawne/Wells made a video about how he killed Barry’s mother and that all the wealth in name of Star Labs will be inherited by Barry.
This would include Wells' patents (which must be considerable). STAR Labs is a multi-billion dollar business with considerable real estate holdings (for instance the hanger that becomes the Hall of Justice).
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How does Star Lab make money?
In the "Flashpoint" timeline, S.T.A.R. Labs had been renamed "Ramon Industries," due to Cisco Ramon making lots of money from his meta-human app and buying out the building.Who funds S.T.A.R. Labs?
Cisco and Catlin are inventing lots of new gadgets for the flash. Royalty of the few patents will be enough for them to survive. Also Cisco is working with police to capture Metahuman. This will be enough funding for the Star Lab and its two employees.What is S.T.A.R. Labs stand for?
Laboratories (S.T.A.R. stands for Scientific and Technological Advanced Research) is a research facility found within the DC Comics Universe. It first appeared back in December 1971 in Superman #246. The tie to the show is pretty obvious here. Many of the main characters work at S.T.A.R.Does Barry OWN S.T.A.R. Labs?
In the second season, Barry, having defeated Eobard, is given ownership of S.T.A.R. Labs by Eobard through his will.S.T.A.R. Labs Mission 220 Made Easy w/Commentary
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