INSTAR Lab
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Public record

A timeline you can check.

Every entry below comes from a public record that was opened and read: the IRS determination letter, the Ohio Attorney General and ProPublica listings, and the public GitHub history of this website. Each one links to where you can verify it yourself.

What is not here is deliberate. Where no public record states a date, such as a first program or first event, we leave it out rather than guess. See the full public record.

Institutional timeline

16 dated entries, oldest first.

  1. Open code

    Public website repository created on GitHub

    The INSTARLab/Website repository was created with an initial commit holding a licence and a README. GitHub records the creation timestamp as 2019-12-08.

    Source: GitHub commit c4ac512 (Initial commit), retrieved 23 October 2026

  2. Open code

    First website files committed

    The next day a first commit added 188 files, among them the home, about and 404 pages: the earliest version of the site that survives in public history.

    Source: GitHub commit 30eb3a7 (Initial), retrieved 23 October 2026

  3. Legal status

    IRS 501(c)(3) exemption takes effect

    The IRS determination letter for INSTAR Lab Inc (EIN 85-0845517), dated 14 May 2020, gives 27 April 2020 as the effective date of exemption and classifies the organization as a public charity under section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).

    Source: IRS determination letter (PDF), retrieved 23 October 2026

  4. Public filings

    Ohio Attorney General record lists the date founded

    The Ohio Attorney General charitable registration record for INSTAR LAB INC shows "Date Founded" as 4/27/2020, organization type 501(c)(3), registration status Registered. The date is the one the state record publishes.

    Source: Ohio charity registration, retrieved 23 October 2026

  5. Public filings

    ProPublica lists the tax exemption as issued

    ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, keyed to the EIN, shows "Tax exemption issued: May 2020", matching the month of the IRS letter.

    Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, retrieved 23 October 2026

  6. Public filings

    First annual filing listed: fiscal year 2020

    ProPublica lists a Form 990-N (e-Postcard) filing for each fiscal year ending December from 2020 through 2025. A postcard carries no financial details; it is the filing used by organizations with gross receipts under $50,000.

    Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, retrieved 23 October 2026

  7. Open code

    Second public repository: startheory

    INSTARLab/startheory was created on GitHub, a second public repository in the organization. It has no published description; this entry records only that it exists and when it was created.

    Source: GitHub repository INSTARLab/startheory, retrieved 23 October 2026

  8. Public filings

    Most recent annual filings: fiscal year 2025

    ProPublica shows a Form 990-N postcard for the fiscal year ending December 2025, the latest year listed when the record was read.

    Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, retrieved 23 October 2026

  9. Public filings

    Ohio annual report on file for filing year 2025

    The Ohio Attorney General record shows 2025 as the most recent report filing year and answers "Yes" to compliance with registration and filing requirements. The figures in that report are self-reported; see the Record for how they are framed.

    Source: Ohio charity registration, retrieved 23 October 2026

  10. Website

    Site redesign: Bootstrap 5 and accessibility pass

    A commit upgraded the site from Bootstrap 3.3.6 to 5.3.3 and added accessibility structure (main landmarks, aria labels, alt text, heading hierarchy) and a shared set of interior page templates.

    Source: GitHub commit 67a16b0, retrieved 23 October 2026

  11. Website

    Dedicated Leadership page added

    A commit replaced placeholder cards on the home page with real leadership entries and added a dedicated Leadership page.

    Source: GitHub commit 4810579, retrieved 23 October 2026

  12. Website

    Accessible navigation overhaul merged

    Pull request #217 merged a site-wide, accessibility-focused rebuild of the navigation, touching 67 files.

    Source: GitHub merge 60dafd0 (pull request #217), retrieved 23 October 2026

  13. Open code

    Automated HTML, link and accessibility checks added to CI

    A merge added continuous-integration checks for HTML validity, broken internal links and accessibility, plus a scheduled site-health sweep.

    Source: GitHub merge 72efb62, retrieved 23 October 2026

  14. Open code

    Migration to the Astro 7 static-site framework begins

    The first commit of the Astro v7 foundation added the build configuration and package setup that the current site is built with.

    Source: GitHub commit b695800, retrieved 23 October 2026

  15. Website

    Research route published through the hardened Pages mirror

    A release merge published the research overview route and tightened the pipeline that mirrors the built site to GitHub Pages.

    Source: GitHub merge fe5b0cd, retrieved 23 October 2026

  16. Website

    Astro site promoted to the live branch

    The demo (staging) branch was merged into gh-pages, the branch GitHub Pages serves, carrying 27 changed files including the Astro configuration.

    Source: GitHub merge 647d560, retrieved 23 October 2026

Built in the open

Public code activity, week by week.

Commits to the public INSTAR Lab repositories on GitHub over the 52 weeks to the most recent snapshot. Each bar is one week; bars are scaled within their own chart, so compare shape rather than height.

startheory, main (default branch): 1 commit in 52 weeks
Weekly commit counts from 26 October 2025 to 18 October 2026. Busiest week: 18 October 2026 with 1. The table below gives every value.0 commits in the week of 26 October 20250 commits in the week of 2 November 20250 commits in the week of 9 November 20250 commits in the week of 16 November 20250 commits in the week of 23 November 20250 commits in the week of 30 November 20250 commits in the week of 7 December 20250 commits in the week of 14 December 20250 commits in the week of 21 December 20250 commits in the week of 28 December 20250 commits in the week of 4 January 20260 commits in the week of 11 January 20260 commits in the week of 18 January 20260 commits in the week of 25 January 20260 commits in the week of 1 February 20260 commits in the week of 8 February 20260 commits in the week of 15 February 20260 commits in the week of 22 February 20260 commits in the week of 1 March 20260 commits in the week of 8 March 20260 commits in the week of 15 March 20260 commits in the week of 22 March 20260 commits in the week of 29 March 20260 commits in the week of 5 April 20260 commits in the week of 12 April 20260 commits in the week of 19 April 20260 commits in the week of 26 April 20260 commits in the week of 3 May 20260 commits in the week of 10 May 20260 commits in the week of 17 May 20260 commits in the week of 24 May 20260 commits in the week of 31 May 20260 commits in the week of 7 June 20260 commits in the week of 14 June 20260 commits in the week of 21 June 20260 commits in the week of 28 June 20260 commits in the week of 5 July 20260 commits in the week of 12 July 20260 commits in the week of 19 July 20260 commits in the week of 26 July 20260 commits in the week of 2 August 20260 commits in the week of 9 August 20260 commits in the week of 16 August 20260 commits in the week of 23 August 20260 commits in the week of 30 August 20260 commits in the week of 6 September 20260 commits in the week of 13 September 20260 commits in the week of 20 September 20260 commits in the week of 27 September 20260 commits in the week of 4 October 20260 commits in the week of 11 October 20261 commit in the week of 18 October 2026

26 October 2025peak 1 a week18 October 2026

startheory, demo (staging branch): 1 commit in 52 weeks
Weekly commit counts from 26 October 2025 to 18 October 2026. Busiest week: 1 March 2026 with 1. The table below gives every value.0 commits in the week of 26 October 20250 commits in the week of 2 November 20250 commits in the week of 9 November 20250 commits in the week of 16 November 20250 commits in the week of 23 November 20250 commits in the week of 30 November 20250 commits in the week of 7 December 20250 commits in the week of 14 December 20250 commits in the week of 21 December 20250 commits in the week of 28 December 20250 commits in the week of 4 January 20260 commits in the week of 11 January 20260 commits in the week of 18 January 20260 commits in the week of 25 January 20260 commits in the week of 1 February 20260 commits in the week of 8 February 20260 commits in the week of 15 February 20260 commits in the week of 22 February 20261 commit in the week of 1 March 20260 commits in the week of 8 March 20260 commits in the week of 15 March 20260 commits in the week of 22 March 20260 commits in the week of 29 March 20260 commits in the week of 5 April 20260 commits in the week of 12 April 20260 commits in the week of 19 April 20260 commits in the week of 26 April 20260 commits in the week of 3 May 20260 commits in the week of 10 May 20260 commits in the week of 17 May 20260 commits in the week of 24 May 20260 commits in the week of 31 May 20260 commits in the week of 7 June 20260 commits in the week of 14 June 20260 commits in the week of 21 June 20260 commits in the week of 28 June 20260 commits in the week of 5 July 20260 commits in the week of 12 July 20260 commits in the week of 19 July 20260 commits in the week of 26 July 20260 commits in the week of 2 August 20260 commits in the week of 9 August 20260 commits in the week of 16 August 20260 commits in the week of 23 August 20260 commits in the week of 30 August 20260 commits in the week of 6 September 20260 commits in the week of 13 September 20260 commits in the week of 20 September 20260 commits in the week of 27 September 20260 commits in the week of 4 October 20260 commits in the week of 11 October 20260 commits in the week of 18 October 2026

26 October 2025peak 1 a week18 October 2026

Website, master (default branch): 1 commit in 52 weeks
Weekly commit counts from 26 October 2025 to 18 October 2026. Busiest week: 22 March 2026 with 1. The table below gives every value.0 commits in the week of 26 October 20250 commits in the week of 2 November 20250 commits in the week of 9 November 20250 commits in the week of 16 November 20250 commits in the week of 23 November 20250 commits in the week of 30 November 20250 commits in the week of 7 December 20250 commits in the week of 14 December 20250 commits in the week of 21 December 20250 commits in the week of 28 December 20250 commits in the week of 4 January 20260 commits in the week of 11 January 20260 commits in the week of 18 January 20260 commits in the week of 25 January 20260 commits in the week of 1 February 20260 commits in the week of 8 February 20260 commits in the week of 15 February 20260 commits in the week of 22 February 20260 commits in the week of 1 March 20260 commits in the week of 8 March 20260 commits in the week of 15 March 20261 commit in the week of 22 March 20260 commits in the week of 29 March 20260 commits in the week of 5 April 20260 commits in the week of 12 April 20260 commits in the week of 19 April 20260 commits in the week of 26 April 20260 commits in the week of 3 May 20260 commits in the week of 10 May 20260 commits in the week of 17 May 20260 commits in the week of 24 May 20260 commits in the week of 31 May 20260 commits in the week of 7 June 20260 commits in the week of 14 June 20260 commits in the week of 21 June 20260 commits in the week of 28 June 20260 commits in the week of 5 July 20260 commits in the week of 12 July 20260 commits in the week of 19 July 20260 commits in the week of 26 July 20260 commits in the week of 2 August 20260 commits in the week of 9 August 20260 commits in the week of 16 August 20260 commits in the week of 23 August 20260 commits in the week of 30 August 20260 commits in the week of 6 September 20260 commits in the week of 13 September 20260 commits in the week of 20 September 20260 commits in the week of 27 September 20260 commits in the week of 4 October 20260 commits in the week of 11 October 20260 commits in the week of 18 October 2026

26 October 2025peak 1 a week18 October 2026

Website, demo (staging branch): 399 commits in 52 weeks
Weekly commit counts from 26 October 2025 to 18 October 2026. Busiest week: 14 June 2026 with 193. The table below gives every value.0 commits in the week of 26 October 20250 commits in the week of 2 November 20250 commits in the week of 9 November 20250 commits in the week of 16 November 20250 commits in the week of 23 November 20250 commits in the week of 30 November 20250 commits in the week of 7 December 20250 commits in the week of 14 December 20250 commits in the week of 21 December 20250 commits in the week of 28 December 20250 commits in the week of 4 January 20260 commits in the week of 11 January 20260 commits in the week of 18 January 20260 commits in the week of 25 January 20260 commits in the week of 1 February 20260 commits in the week of 8 February 20260 commits in the week of 15 February 20260 commits in the week of 22 February 20262 commits in the week of 1 March 20260 commits in the week of 8 March 20260 commits in the week of 15 March 20260 commits in the week of 22 March 20260 commits in the week of 29 March 20260 commits in the week of 5 April 20260 commits in the week of 12 April 20260 commits in the week of 19 April 20260 commits in the week of 26 April 20260 commits in the week of 3 May 20260 commits in the week of 10 May 20260 commits in the week of 17 May 20261 commit in the week of 24 May 20260 commits in the week of 31 May 20260 commits in the week of 7 June 2026193 commits in the week of 14 June 202610 commits in the week of 21 June 202697 commits in the week of 28 June 20260 commits in the week of 5 July 20260 commits in the week of 12 July 202616 commits in the week of 19 July 20260 commits in the week of 26 July 20260 commits in the week of 2 August 20260 commits in the week of 9 August 202633 commits in the week of 16 August 202618 commits in the week of 23 August 20263 commits in the week of 30 August 20260 commits in the week of 6 September 202626 commits in the week of 13 September 20260 commits in the week of 20 September 20260 commits in the week of 27 September 20260 commits in the week of 4 October 20260 commits in the week of 11 October 20260 commits in the week of 18 October 2026

26 October 2025peak 193 a week18 October 2026

Commits per repository and branch, last 52 weeks. Snapshot retrieved 23 October 2026 from the public GitHub API.
RepositoryBranchCommits, 52 weeksBusiest weekLast active weekRepository created
startheorymain118 October 2026 (1)18 October 202620 June 2023
startheorydemo11 March 2026 (1)1 March 202620 June 2023
Websitemaster122 March 2026 (1)22 March 20268 December 2019
Websitedemo39914 June 2026 (193)13 September 20268 December 2019
All weekly counts
Commits in each week (weeks start on Sunday).
Week startingstartheory, mainstartheory, demoWebsite, masterWebsite, demo
26 October 20250000
2 November 20250000
9 November 20250000
16 November 20250000
23 November 20250000
30 November 20250000
7 December 20250000
14 December 20250000
21 December 20250000
28 December 20250000
4 January 20260000
11 January 20260000
18 January 20260000
25 January 20260000
1 February 20260000
8 February 20260000
15 February 20260000
22 February 20260000
1 March 20260102
8 March 20260000
15 March 20260000
22 March 20260010
29 March 20260000
5 April 20260000
12 April 20260000
19 April 20260000
26 April 20260000
3 May 20260000
10 May 20260000
17 May 20260000
24 May 20260001
31 May 20260000
7 June 20260000
14 June 2026000193
21 June 202600010
28 June 202600097
5 July 20260000
12 July 20260000
19 July 202600016
26 July 20260000
2 August 20260000
9 August 20260000
16 August 202600033
23 August 202600018
30 August 20260003
6 September 20260000
13 September 202600026
20 September 20260000
27 September 20260000
4 October 20260000
11 October 20260000
18 October 20261000

Public code activity, not a measure of research output. Commit counts say nothing about the quality or volume of INSTAR Lab research, and many weeks of quiet reflect how work is batched, not how much happens. The default branch of the website repository is rarely used; day-to-day work lands on the demo staging branch, so both are shown. Snapshot retrieved 23 October 2026; it is refreshed by hand and the site build never calls GitHub.