The iGEM Entrepreneurship Program

by Will Wright

As is becoming more widely known and appreciated, iGEM is and always has been the birthplace of innovation. Each year after the iGEM competition comes to a close, the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of iGEM teams continue on – building upon the proofs of concept tested during the competition, turning prototypes into innovative products, and answering the calls of the marketplace to engineer safe and responsible biological systems for sustainable agriculture, affordable and accessible healthcare, and preservation of the environment.

Some of the companies that have been created from iGEM projects

With Ginkgo Bioworks, PVP Biologics, OpenTrons and Puraffinity serving as lead examples, there are now over 150 companies with roots in iGEM that are turning their ideas and proofs of concept into real world applications. And these companies have raised over 1.8 billion dollars in funds towards developing their vision into products that serve the needs of their local communities and address global challenges by advancing the life sciences, creating new therapies for cancer, increasing crop yields, and more.

Today, it is my great pleasure to announce the official launch of the iGEM Entrepreneurship Program designed to build upon and further support the success of iGEMers in entrepreneurial ventures. The intention of the program is to become the driving force behind hundreds of SynBio based start-ups globally to help accelerate our transition to a more sustainable bioeconomy. The core of the program is focused on supporting iGEM founders by connecting them to relevant co-founders, mentors, accelerators, investors and partners. We will do this though a range of activities globally including venture creation labs, mentor programs and an annual startup showcase – celebrating their impact.  You can join at any stage as long as at least one of your co-founders is an iGEMer or you are working on a BioBrick part from the iGEM Registry of Standard Biological Parts.

Venture Creation Labs*
The pilot for the first venture creation labs will run from April through June 2020 in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific and the Americas timezones and will run online so you can participate safety and remotely. The venture creation labs will provide an opportunity for iGEMers to further engage with the synthetic biology community to find co-founders and develop an impact-based venture with a challenge-based focus on sustainability and climate issues related to food, water and health. The week will also provide skill based coaching and the opportunity for founders to connect with investors and corporate partners relevant to their ventures. Please find more info to sign up and share here.

*Updated on 23 March to reflect changes to program due to COVID-19 

Mentor Program
The regional mentor programs will be running in connection with the venture creation labs, and will be facilitated for up to three months following each lab connecting your venture to serial synthetic biology entrepreneurs from your region.

Fast Track Program
The fast track program be open all year and will be in-line with the regional Accelerator programs deadlines.

Start-up Showcase
The Start-up Showcase is designed to provide the opportunity for selected iGEM ventures to meet with the various stakeholders engaged with iGEM entrepreneurship, as well as provide inspiration to the current iGEMers considering starting their own ventures. The Start-up Showcase, which was piloted at the iGEM 2019 Giant Jamboree, will include a series of exclusive events and workshops and will be available throughout future Giant Jamborees at the Entrepreneurship Hub.

In addition to each of the features described above, the Entrepreneurship Program International Committee (EPIC) will be hosting a series of team challenges and Hackathons as part of national meet ups and synthetic biology conferences focused on climate-related challenges in food, water and health.

It is my sincere hope that the iGEM Entrepreneurship Program will enable our community to celebrate all of iGEM – not just the projects at the competition level but also the projects that have gone on to have impact in the world. If you are interested in joining the iGEM Entrepreneurship Program or becoming a member of EPIC, please contact me at Will@iGEM.org