{"id":26962,"date":"2021-02-09T10:48:22","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T15:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/?page_id=26962"},"modified":"2025-11-24T14:08:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:08:24","slug":"bring-to-market-funding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/research\/collaboration-partnership\/otd\/bring-to-market-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Funding Opportunities to Bring Ideas to Market"},"content":{"rendered":"

BU Ignition Awards<\/h2>\n

The Ignition Award program<\/a> awards funds to researchers to advance an idea with clear commercial potential to a valuable inflection point milestone. Designed for researchers who are committed to bringing an idea to market, Ignition Awards funds are often used to achieve milestones such as generate compelling data, show proof-of concept, create a prototype, etc. Letters of intent are due on November 1 of each year.<\/p>\n

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External Funding Opportunities<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nAUDIENCE<\/strong><\/td>\nDESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\nFUNDING<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Abbvie
\nGlobal Grant<\/a><\/td>\n		Educators, medical professionals, and occasionally researchers<\/span><\/td>\nSeeking self-proposed grants that focus on education and therapeutics in
\nimmunology, oncology, virology, neurology, women’s health.<\/span><\/td>\n		Proposed by applicant<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alexandria Seed Capital Platform<\/a><\/td>\nEarly stage life science companies<\/span><\/td>\nAn innovative funding model that brings together leaders from the life science
\ncommunity to catalyze early-stage investment in cutting-edge companies. Interests include drug
\ndiscovery, diagnostics that are highly differentiated.<\/span><\/td>\n		N\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amgen
\nVentures<\/a><\/td>\n		Seed-stage R&D in therapeutics and digital health<\/span><\/td>\nSeeking R&D with a focus on oncology, immunology, cardiology, nephrology,
\nneurology, and metabolic disorders.<\/span><\/td>\n		~$5M-$15M<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boston-based
\nVC<\/a><\/td>\n		See link<\/span><\/td>\nFull list of VCs in link.<\/span><\/td>\nN\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bristol
\nMyer Squibb Independent Research<\/a><\/td>\n		Any individual or team of researchers<\/span><\/td>\nFocus areas of  hematology, immunology, and oncology are more likely to be funded.
\nCompetitive research grants are also offered but none available as of 1\/15\/21.<\/span><\/td>\n		N\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BusinessUSA<\/a><\/td>\nSmall businesses not qualified for SBIR\/STTR seeking local – federal
\nfunding<\/span><\/td>\n		Government loan programs that will offer financial support for a new or expanding
\nbusiness.<\/td>\n		Varies based on funding program.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge<\/a><\/td>\nStartups in “deep tech” (AI, medical and industrial biotech, drug development,
\nenvironment, energy, aeronautics)<\/span><\/td>\n		A competition for startups at least a year old that have raised less than $250K and are
\nseeking equity-free funding.<\/td>\n		~$120K for first prize, $10K for winner in each industry track<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Johnson & Johnson Innovation
\n(JJDC)<\/a><\/td>\n		Seed-level R&D companies<\/span><\/td>\nFocus on early-state, pre-POC innovation in medical devices, infectious disease,
\nimmunology, neurology, and oncology.<\/span><\/td>\n		N\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Khosla
\nVentures Seed Fund<\/a><\/td>\n		Early stage tech startups (biotech, pharmacy, consumer tech, industrial tech, full
\nlist on link)<\/span><\/td>\n		Seeking a team of skilled individuals and unique and\/or original ideas over
\nrefinement of existing experiments and products.<\/span><\/td>\n		N\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
M2D2 $200K Challenge<\/a><\/td>\nAny company (existing legal entity) centered in MA with demonstrable
\ntechnology<\/span><\/td>\n		International competition for early-state medical device and biotech technologies.<\/td>\nUp to $200K split between up to 20 finalists<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Merck
\nCompound Challenge<\/a><\/td>\n		Individual or teams of scientists from around the world (not open to healthcare
\nprofessionals)<\/span><\/td>\n		Competition identifying the best submitted synthetic route for a given small molecule as
\ndetermined by number of synthesis steps, obtained yield, achieved purity, and feasibility of
\nsubsequent steps not performed.<\/td>\n		$12K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Merck
\nMachine Learning Challenge<\/a><\/td>\n		Anyone, individual or teams<\/span><\/td>\nCreate a software tool to predict future citation counts of peer-reviewed
\nscientific publications (Only the first 50 submissions are judged).<\/span><\/td>\n		$12K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Merck
\nResearch Grants <\/a><\/td>\n		Scientists affiliated with research-based institutions, universities or
\ncompanies<\/span><\/td>\n		A series of research grants focusing on drug discovery, machine learning, AI, and
\nnovel infectious diseases (you may apply for more than one focus topic).<\/span><\/td>\n		$122K – $608K per year for up to three years<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NSF’s America Seed Fund<\/a><\/td>\nTransformative, high-risk, scalable small research-based businesses<\/span><\/td>\nSeeking companies with <500 employees operating in the US that are looking for
\nequity-free funding under SBIR.<\/td>\n		Up to $256K for Phase I funding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pfizer Ventures<\/a><\/td>\nEarly stage companies with focus on transformative therapeutics<\/span><\/td>\nFunding opportunity with emphasis on inflammation, immunology, rare diseases,
\noncology, neurology, and internal medicine. Pfizer may receive board seats, collaborate with
\nother Pfizer groups, Pfizer may guide\/advise research focus, product rights negotiable.<\/span><\/td>\n		Up to $10m in first investment<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SBIR\/STTR Seed Fund<\/a><\/td>\nSole proprietors and small businesses (defined by SBA regulations)<\/td>\nSeeking small businesses looking to collaborate with the government agencies listed in
\nthe link. Can apply prior to establishing business fully.<\/td>\n		Varies based on department of interest, average $50-$250K<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Y Combinator<\/a><\/td>\nStartup owners looking to participate in a biannual incubator-style program (Demo
\nDay)<\/span><\/td>\n		Provides seed funding for about 140 tech startups (including life sciences) per biannual
\nbatch, with 7% equity in return for investment.<\/td>\n		~$125K ($100K for non-profits)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\nBrowse other external funding opportunities<\/a>\n
\n

Lab Space, Incubators & Accelerators<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nNAME<\/strong><\/td>\nAUDIENCE<\/strong><\/td>\nDESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/td>\nLOCATION<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nAgility Labs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nEmerging life science and medical device companies, product development<\/span><\/td>\nFull wet lab with maintenance, conference rooms, office space, machine shop + 3D printer<\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nAlexandria LaunchLabs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nSeed to early stage life science companies<\/span><\/td>\nShared wet lab space, operational support, connections to other Alexandria companies; Fees vary, starting at $2K<\/span><\/td>\nCambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nCambridge Scientific Arsenal Lab Space<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAny science start-up<\/span><\/td>\nWet lab (PCR, microscopy, HPLC, LCMS lab)<\/td>\nWatertown, MA<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nLabCentral<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nBioresearch startups and individuals<\/span><\/td>\nLarge shared wet lab space, office, meeting rooms; $3610-$4340 monthly for an individual lab bench<\/span><\/td>\nCambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nLabShares<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nLife science and biotech startups<\/span><\/td>\nWet lab (tissue culture, lentiviral work, rDNA, bacterial research), shared office space<\/td>\nNewton, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nNest.Bio Labs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nLife science and biotech startups<\/span><\/td>\n24\/7 wet lab, bio focused<\/td>\nCambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab Space<\/td>\nSmartLabs<\/a><\/td>\nScientific discovery and therapeutics, teams of any sizes<\/td>\nExtensive wet and dry labs (focus towards biotech and pharmacology) and private office space with fees varying by team size<\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/p>\n

Cambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Lab Space<\/td>\nTufts LaunchPad Biolabs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nBiotech and life science startups<\/span><\/td>\nFully equipped wet lab (linked), seminars, connections, MassBio membership; $3600\/month per bench, $400\/month per person, $600\/month per workstation<\/span><\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/p>\n

Cambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Accelerator<\/td>\nMassChallenge<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nOcean, enterprise, and security tech. Partnered with US Air Force for aeronautics<\/span><\/td>\nZero-equity model, global network, mentorship, potential scholarships<\/span><\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accelerator<\/td>\nTechstars<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAny sort of startup, take co-ownership status of company (seems less focused on research)<\/span><\/td>\n3 month program with a $20k+ stipend, mentorship, office space, Demo Day event for investors – Must work at techstar facility, techstar takes co-ownership of your startup<\/span><\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incubator<\/td>\nCambridge Innovation Center<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nMost tech startups, some life sciences<\/span><\/td>\nShared workspace with office resources; $1400 per person per month (negotiable)<\/span><\/td>\nCambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incubator<\/td>\nCogo Labs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nMainly tech start-ups (web and consumer tech)<\/span><\/td>\nContact for further details<\/span><\/td>\nCambridge, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Incubator<\/td>\nQubic Labs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nFinancial , government, and civic tech early stage businesses<\/span><\/td>\nOffice space, global network fo capital providers connections, mentorship<\/span><\/td>\nQuincy, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hybrid (Incubator\/Accelerator + Lab Space)<\/span><\/td>\nUMASS Boston Venture Development Center<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nSeed stage life science\/innovative tech company<\/span><\/td>\nExtensive wet and dry labs, private offices, work spaces, mentorship, interns, connections; 13% acceptance rate, pay monthly fee ($750-$10k) to use spaces and services<\/span><\/td>\nBoston, MA<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hybrid (Incubator\/Accelerator + Lab Space)<\/span><\/td>\nMedChem Partners<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nEarly to mid stage drug discovery and chem companies<\/span><\/td>\nChemistry lab w 24\/7 access, start-up support and management, program initiation and due diligence assistance; Comfortable with high risk projects and moving targets<\/span><\/td>\nLexington, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hybrid (Incubator\/Accelerator + Lab Space)<\/span><\/td>\nGreentown Labs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nClimate and clean tech startups<\/span><\/td>\nWet lab, prototyping space, electronics lab, machine shop, desk space<\/span><\/td>\nSomerville, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hybrid (Incubator\/Accelerator + Lab Space)<\/span><\/td>\nCreagen C2I Life Science Accelerator<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nMust be in life sciences<\/span><\/td>\nShared\/private lab and office space, tissue culture labs, chem labs, conference rooms, mentorship, network access, business dev workshops<\/span><\/td>\nWoburn, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Additional Search Terms & Listings<\/h2>\n

No list will be comprehensive of every funding source, which is why it’s also essential to know how to research opportunities via web search when you’re on the hunt. Below is a list of search terms and listings that may be helpful if you’re just getting started.<\/p>\n

Insert industry<\/strong>, application<\/strong>, company<\/strong>, or subject of interest<\/strong>, then add any of the following keywords:<\/em><\/p>\n