The BioInnovation Institute's Venture Lab Program: Accelerating Innovative Start-ups in Life Sciences

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The BioInnovation Institute (BII), a renowned international non-profit foundation dedicated to incubating and accelerating world-class life science research, has recently welcomed eight new companies into its prestigious Venture Lab acceleration program. This program focuses on supporting early-stage start-ups that are driving innovation in human and planetary health. Through the Venture Lab program, BII offers a comprehensive suite of support, including business acceleration, scientific and team development, funding, and infrastructure. The selected start-ups will also have the exclusive opportunity to apply for additional follow-up funding through BII's Venture House program.

Supporting Early-Stage Start-ups in Life Sciences

The Venture Lab program, designed to span 12 months, provides a unique platform for early-stage start-ups to develop their businesses and accelerate their growth. Each selected company receives a founder-friendly convertible loan of EUR 500,000 (approximately 4M DKK) and gains access to state-of-the-art labs and offices at the BioInnovation Institute's headquarters in Copenhagen.

Bobby Soni, Chief Business Officer at BioInnovation Institute, expressed enthusiasm about the eight new additions to the Venture Lab program. He emphasized their potential to drive innovation in addressing current challenges in human and planetary health. Soni highlighted BII's commitment to supporting these start-ups by providing knowledge, network, funding, and infrastructure to help them build successful companies.

A Holistic Approach to Start-up Support

The Venture Lab program offers comprehensive support to the selected start-ups, guiding them through the necessary steps to achieve proof-of-concept, develop a robust business plan, and establish a strong team. Each start-up receives assistance from a dedicated scientific advisor, a leadership coach, and a BII business development expert.

Together, they help the entrepreneurs develop detailed milestone plans and overcome the challenges associated with growing a business, enabling rapid progress towards market entry.

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Introducing the New Venture Lab Cohort

The eight companies selected to join BII's Venture Lab program are pioneering innovative solutions across various domains within the life sciences sector. Let's take a closer look at each of them:

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1. Loma Therapeutics

Loma Therapeutics focuses on developing targeted immunotherapy for the efficient and safe treatment of patients with HPV infection, dysplasia, and cancer. By leveraging their expertise in immunotherapy, Loma Therapeutics aims to improve patient outcomes and revolutionize cancer treatment.

2. MetaLead

MetaLead is dedicated to developing groundbreaking therapies for metal-related diseases, with a current focus on Wilson disease, lead poisoning, and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Their innovative approach has the potential to transform the treatment landscape for these conditions, offering hope to patients worldwide.

3. Leopard Biosciences

Leopard Biosciences is democratizing diagnostics by bringing the power of molecular testing to where it's needed most: in the hands of doctors and patients at the point of care. Their mission is to make accurate and timely diagnostics accessible, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

4. Novozymes' Venture (Corporate Sponsored Project)

As a corporate-sponsored project, Novozymes' Venture explores the development and large-scale production of cell culture media ingredients for the cultivated meat industry. By leveraging their expertise in biotechnology, Novozymes aims to play a vital role in advancing sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional meat production.

5. Amalus Therapeutics

Amalus Therapeutics is on a mission to reshape the lives of people affected by cancer and fibrotic diseases. Through innovative therapeutic approaches, they aim to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and bring hope to individuals battling these challenging conditions.

6. BioHalo

BioHalo is revolutionizing the halogenated chemicals industry by prioritizing sustainability and bio-based solutions. Their initial focus is on the production of more sustainable and bio-based fluorinated polymers and high-performance materials, offering environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional chemicals.

7. Visibuilt

Visibuilt is developing an innovative solution for road construction that aims to replace fossil ingredients in asphalt and reduce energy consumption during production. Their sustainable approach to infrastructure development aligns with the global efforts to mitigate climate change and create a greener future.

8. Rapidemic

Rapidemic is dedicated to developing a molecular point-of-care test for fast and accurate diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. Their innovative diagnostic solution has the potential to revolutionize the field of STI testing, enabling timely and effective treatment for patients.

BioInnovation Institute's Track Record of Success

Since its establishment in 2018, the BioInnovation Institute has provided support to 87 start-ups and projects, with a total funding commitment of EUR 77 million. In addition to financial support, BII offers invaluable industry expertise and access to venture capital, contributing to the success of these start-ups. Collectively, BII-supported companies have raised over EUR 424 million in external funding from both local and international investors.

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Some notable success stories from BII's portfolio include:

• Embark Laboratories: Pioneering advancements in gene therapies for rare diseases.
• Adcendo: Developing innovative antibody-drug conjugates for targeted cancer therapies.
• Stipe Therapeutics: Revolutionizing the field of immunotherapy for infectious diseases.
• Twelve Bio: Transforming the treatment of chronic pain through innovative neurostimulation techniques.
• Octarine Bio: Developing sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to petrochemicals.
• Cirqle Biomedical: Pioneering advancements in regenerative medicine for tissue repair and regeneration.

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Empowering Life Science Start-ups for a Better Future

The BioInnovation Institute Foundation is committed to accelerating life science start-up innovation for the benefit of people and society. Through their Bio Studio, Venture Lab, and Venture House programs, BII provides start-ups with knowledge, network, infrastructure, and funding of up to EUR 3 million per project and EUR 1.8 million per start-up. This comprehensive support empowers entrepreneurs to succeed and harnesses the transformative power of life science innovation.

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To learn more about the BioInnovation Institute's Venture Lab program and the impactful work of its start-ups, visit their website.

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