Turning iGEM Projects into SynBio Ventures - Celebrating iGEM Startups Milestones at the Grand Jamboree 2024
As a pre-accelerator, iGEM Startups guides iGEMers in exploring, validating, and bringing their SynBio ideas to market. In 2024, the Venture Foundry Program has been a pivotal step for 300+ iGEMers, supporting them in evolving their scientific concepts into startups.
This year, the program onboarded a record 82 startups (110% increase compared to 2023) through the Venture Creation Labs, a four-week program which equips biofounders with the tools and strategies they need to bring their idea to venture. 45 teams then advanced to the mentorship stage and the Fast Track Program, where they met potential VCs or accelerators to take their ideas to the next step. Finally, the top 15 startups were selected to pitch at the 2024 Startup Showcase. This was a unique opportunity for fledgling startups to present their ideas in front of the 4500+ attendees at the Grand Jamboree and meet potential investors or industry collaborators. [Read more about our program - startups.igem.org]
iGEM Startups judges (from left to right: Anna Belousova, Sara Holland, Jerome Moreau, John Cumbers, and Jake Wintermute)
The 2024 Startup Showcase was judged by an exceptional panel, with special thanks to our esteemed judges: John Cumbers, CEO of SynBioBeta; Sara Holland, Partner at Potter Clarkson; Jerome Moreau, Partner & Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG); Jake Wintermute, Developer Evangelist at Ginkgo Bioworks; and Anna Belousova, Associate from the Industrial Biotech Team at Sofinnova Partners.
“ … It’s interesting how biotechnology and synthetic biology aren’t limited to one industry: you can do practically anything if you can do synthetic biology. And yet, the startups in this year’s contest focused on specific areas, tackling the most essential problems … Now that iGEMers have identified the key priorities, let's see how quickly we can work to find or, in the case of iGEM, engineer a needle from a haystack solution to address the world's most pressing issues.” – Anna Belousova, Sofinnova Partners
“As usual, everyone is on their A game. It’s been really good, the pitches have been awesome and there are some strong themes around bioremediation, improving plant growth and nitrogen fixation, things along these lines which mirrors my experience with startups outside of iGEM. It’s really inspiring” - Sara Holland, Partner at Potter Clarkson
iGEM Startup Showcase 2024 Grand Prize Winner: ClearMark Biosciences
We’re thrilled to announce ClearMark Biosciences as this year’s Grand Prize winner! Founded by former classmates and iGEMers from UOregon 2022, Oliver Loreto and Keane Deas, ClearMark is creating a groundbreaking concussion diagnostic platform that’s rapid, accessible, and much-needed. Next on their journey? Pursuing patents to safeguard their technology and gearing up for larger fundraising rounds.
A special shoutout to runner-ups of the Startup Showcase:
Nitroduck
Nitroduck is tackling agricultural waste by converting it into a sustainable, cost-effective, protein-rich feedstock for livestock.
Chloropept
Chloropept is developing a novel animal feed designed to treat bacterial infections in livestock while minimizing the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance.
ClearMark Biosciences at Startup Showcase 2024
iGEM Startups is the Launchpad of your SynBio Entrepreneurship Journey
“We aim to Empower the Next Generation of Biofounders. From March to October we are dedicated to providing support and guidance to our teams. Whether through mentorship, peer-to-peer support, or introducing our teams to their next big opportunity — we help you build a company,” - Alya Masoud, Director of iGEM Startups.
Our Venture Foundry Program is designed to help iGEMers take their synbio projects from concept to startup-ready solutions. Through this pre-accelerator, teams receive dedicated mentorship, guidance, and resources to develop, validate, and refine their ideas. (Read more about Venture Foundry program here)
“I think it’s a really good step, going from the iGEM team which is more of science and human practices, to the business side. It’s really important. I was a [iGEM Competition] judge as well this year and I saw some of the teams that went into entrepreneurship and I think that was a really good step for them and I think a program like this [Venture Foundry Program] is the ideal next step.” - Keane Deas, Co-founder at ClearMark BioSciences
Take Your iGEM Project or SynBio Idea to the Next Level
“If you believe that your project can be impactful, I think this is the one of best approaches that you can take to get closer to that impact” - Oliver Loreto and Keane Deas, Co-founders at ClearMark BioSciences
Are you ready to transform your iGEM project or SynBio idea into a full-fledged startup? Applications for the 2025 Biofounders Program are now open!
If you’re interested in mentoring these promising startups and joining a network of extraordinary mentors—industry leaders, founders, VCs, and scientists—apply to become a mentor today.
Read more about our 2024 achievements, Discover how iGEM Startups is shaping the future of SynBio ventures—bit.ly/StartupsReport2024.
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