BioHackathon 2024: Midnight Ideation to Startup Creation, a Productive Weekend!
The BioHackathon held on March 8-10, 2024, emerged as an exhilarating hub for synbio ideas and collaborative discussions. This year, our global iGEM Startups welcomed a staggering 400 participants hailing from various corners of the world, forming 40 dynamic teams within a three-day span!
“Our team was formed via Slack messaging in the iGEM community. I have introduced myself and my idea briefly in the biohackathon channel. Sarvesh with a team of 3 and Ivan reached out to me and we formed a team for the BioHackathon.” - Ava Chan, Co-founder of EnviroVex
Imagine closing of the session with full of intense brainstorming and ideation with a midnight discussion that sparks ideas but also the birth of a startup. That's exactly the unique experience offered at the iGEM Startups BioHackathon.
Our Participants, some of whom had only met a few hours earlier, found themselves delving deep into conversations that usually take months to broach. Across several different time zones and manifested during late-night conversations - that’s how our synbio enthusiasts became co-founders at the annual BioHackathon.
“For a long time, I had this idea/ vision/ dream that I kept putting off. Finally, I decided to take a leap of faith and combine my creativity, research skills, sustainability advocate personality, passion for solving global issues, and leadership qualities into one "BIG IDEA." - Dr. Priya Srivastava, Founder of BioTextiles (read Priya’s full post regarding her BioHackathon experience here)
Congratulations to all the participants and winners for their outstanding contributions!
Grand Prize Winner: SUPER - a therapeutic platform for autoimmune diseases
Runner-Up:
Biowound: A wound care hydrogel dressing containing engineered bacteria
Unravel: Breaking down plastic and purifying cotton fibers for new textiles
Oncobiotica: Precision microbiome-based cancer therapy
Community Impact: Crisylis Bioworks - revolutionizing sustainable biodegradable bioplastics from seaweeds and water hyacinth
Most Innovative Solution: NanoXeno Therapeutics - aiming to improve the stability, cellular uptake, and safety of RNA-based therapeutics for undruggable cancer targets by designing corresponding XNA molecules and incorporating them into nanotubes
Best Presentation: HealTouch - a gelatin membrane for treating burn wounds
We also have special Judges’ Choice Awards that go to:
FemFlux: A wearable aptamer-based biosensor for real-time menstrual hormone level monitoring
Envirovex: Offering a next-generation antibiotic-contaminated wastewater treatment solution for bio-circular economy
NitroDuck: Optimizing nitrogen offsets in a modular, scalable vertical farming to grow duckweed
The launch of this year’s BioHackathon coincided with International Women's Day, adding a layer of significance to the event. iGEM is always committed to diversity and inclusion, celebrating the integral role of women in science and entrepreneurship, and fostering an environment where innovative ideas thrive irrespective of gender. The panel discussion served to celebrate the achievements of women in the field and inspired a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable future in synthetic biology entrepreneurship.
Many thanks to our fabulous speakers, who created a one-of-a-kind atmosphere in this fascinating panel.
International Women’s Day Panel Discussion with Sara Holland, Partner at Potter Clarkson, Rebecca Godfrey, COO of Expression Edits, and Kennedy McDaniel Bae, Associate Director of Product at Opentrons Labwork and moderated by Alya Masoud, Head of iGEM Startups Program.
Insights from the BioHackathon Participants
“The event was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration, showcasing the remarkable potential of biotechnology. We were thrilled to present our own project, which was met with enthusiasm and constructive feedback from fellow participants. From groundbreaking ideas to passionate founders, it was a true celebration of innovation. The BioHackathon left us inspired and eager to contribute to the ever-evolving biotech landscape.” - Muhammad Saad Latif, Co-founder of BioSpectra Team (Read Muhammad’s full post regarding the BioHackathon here)
“I was impressed by how well-organized the BioHackathon was, and I liked the workshops that were hosted. Considering the difficulty of bringing together people from vastly different regions, I'm happy with the outcome of the event.” - Mustafo Mustafokulov, Co-founder of BioWound“I was equally impressed by all the talks and panels, especially the workshops on team dynamics, ideation, and pitching. The days of the BioHackathon were packed with activities that were highly informative and pushed our creative thinking to the maximum. The whole experience gave me a chance to finally gain the necessary know-how to become a beginner player in the commercial industry.” - Nina Kurowska, Co-founder of NanoXeno Therapeutics
BioHackathon sets the stage for life-changing opportunities, ignited by unexpected connections and shared ambitions to kickstart a startup
Don't miss out on the next BioHackathon, coming up in March next year again! Sign up to our mailing list now to stay informed about BioHackathon 2025!
Skip the midnight sessions and virtual meetings and join engaging discussions live at the iGEM Grand Jamboree 2024 at our BioInnovation Fair.
Express your interests to BioInnovation Fair kiosk here
Book your ticket now and be part of the World Largest SynBio Expo - https://jamboree.igem.org/2024/tickets
