It’s 2:47am. Your cells have reached the exact confluence you need for your assay. Your PCR is done running. Your western blot is ready to image. You have the data you’ve been trying to get for 3 months, and you need to review it.
The problem? You’re not allowed access to your lab until tomorrow morning.
This is the situation many biotech founders find themselves in as they work in traditional incubators, university labs, or research parks, where access is limited to normal business hours. The result is that valuable time is lost, time that could be used to accelerate development and launch a successful biotech venture.
The Real Cost of Limited Lab Access
Scientists can’t always follow the rules. Biological processes don’t adhere to strict 9-to-5 schedules. When time-sensitive experiments need to be completed, they often have to wait until the next business day, which means missed opportunities, lost resources, and delays in critical timelines.
For example, according to Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, biotech companies typically spend about 30% of their budgets on capital equipment, supplies and operating expenses. That means losing out on precious time because the lab is closed is far from ideal. In addition, there’s the risk of losing valuable data, which can delay progress and potentially delay fundraising opportunities.
The 18-Month Dilemma
Dr. David Kiewlich, founder of BADASS Labs, had an even worse experience when he tried to find lab space before starting his company. A serial entrepreneur, he had previously founded six biotech startups and had a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Davis and Harvard University.
However, during the 18 months he spent looking for lab space, he encountered obstacles like landlords demanding multi-year leases and personal guarantees, and lab spaces that were equipped with outdated or inadequate instrumentation.
These experiences inspired him to create a biotech incubator that meets the needs of scientists and researchers, and allows them to work on cutting-edge technology and research without worrying about restrictive lease terms or inadequate equipment.
24/7 Lab Access: Not Just a Perk, but a Competitive Advantage
With BADASS Labs, every member company has 24/7 access to its wet lab space, plus unlimited office space. No more fumbling for keys or fiddling with key cards to gain entry to the lab. All members have the flexibility to work whenever they want to conduct experiments and run assays.
In addition, BADASS Labs offers a wide range of state-of-the-art instruments at a fraction of the cost. This means that members have access to high-quality equipment that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford, allowing them to perform high-quality research and development.
Some advantages of having 24/7 lab access include:
- Speeding up experimentation by running assays at any time.
- Utilizing equipment efficiently by running assays in sequence.
- Maximizing research output by reducing the time needed to troubleshoot failed experiments.
- Saving money by reducing the amount of reagents and consumables needed for repeat experiments.
A single flow cytometer will set you back $100,000 to $500,000. A complete wet lab can cost you $500,000 to $1,000,000+ before you conduct your first experiment. Capital equipment is one of the largest line items in a pre-seed or seed-stage biotech startup budget, according to Excedr, let alone maintenance, calibration, depreciation and repairs.
At BADASS Labs, members pay a flat fee to use a fully-equipped lab infrastructure with support services included. There’s no surprise invoicing or extra charges when it’s time to upgrade equipment. And because BADASS Labs takes no equity and makes no claims on intellectual property, your company saves money and every scientific discovery belongs to you.
The Bottom Line: 89–95% Success Rate and $900M+ Raised
According to Pharmaceutical Executive and CB Insights, about 90% of all biotech startups fail, and only 28% of first-time product launches are above expectations.
Now, contrast that to the track record of BADASS Labs: 89–95% success rate for member companies versus a 10% success rate for the industry; $900 million+ in total fundraising by member companies; zero equity taken from founder(s); and no intellectual property claims on member companies.
These numbers speak for themselves.
This isn’t just a facility. It’s a business model that removes barriers between scientists and their research. 24/7 access. World-class equipment. Predictable pricing. Nonprofit status. A community of bio-innovators.
The 10% success rate in biotech isn’t the way it has to be. BADASS Labs shows you a better way.
Community: The Multiplier You Can’t Buy
Equipment gets you into the lab. Community gets you through the tough days when you’re trying to troubleshoot an assay at 11 PM.
Because members have unrestricted access, the lab doesn’t just come alive during networking nights. Scientists cross paths at the bench and strike up conversations. Some lead to collaborations. Others lead to new partnerships. The best cell therapy innovators, climate tech researchers and gene therapy pioneers are working side by side.
Dr. Kiewlich describes his philosophy as “kindness should be the key factor for everything.” He puts those words into action by ensuring successes and challenges are shared among members. The value of your community compounds when your colleagues know how you’ve solved a problem and where you went wrong.
Flexible Terms: Stay Until You’re Ready to Go
Traditional business incubators have a graduation date. If your company hasn’t “graduated,” it must lease space and begin building infrastructure. The result? You build the company you can afford instead of the company you need.
BADASS Labs requires a three-month minimum contract but does not require graduation. Members may stay for a few months while they gather proof-of-concept data, or a few years while they develop a pre-clinical pipeline.
Biotech timelines are notoriously long and unpredictable. When there are no artificial deadlines, founders can focus on what matters: the science.
Salt Lake City Expansion: Scaling the Model for More Founders
BADASS Labs began its journey in Alameda, California, in the heart of the Bay Area biotech ecosystem. Now, the nonprofit lab space is expanding to Salt Lake City, giving more founders access to 24/7 facilities, world-class equipment and a supportive community.
Salt Lake City has a growing biotech ecosystem, university talent, a more affordable cost of living than the Bay Area, and a growing investor community.
BADASS Labs is expanding its mission to remove barriers for founders with the brilliance, if not always the resources, to break through.
“Succeed or Learn, There Is No Fail”
“Succeed or learn, there is no fail” speaks to the truth of scientific entrepreneurship: not every experiment is successful, every hypothesis is validated, or every company reaches commercialization.
At BADASS Labs, the founder who pivots isn’t a failed founder; they’re a scientist who learned something. And if that knowledge is passed on, every failed experiment can make the next founder’s path easier.
Add to that unparalleled access, world-class infrastructure, and a founder-focused, nonprofit business model, and you get some impressive metrics: 89–95% success rate, $900 million+ raised, and zero equity.
Science doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Neither should your lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “24/7 unrestricted access” mean at BADASS Labs?
Member companies have access to wet lab and office space, equipment, and shared resources around the clock, including weekends and holidays. There’s no filling out forms to be let in after hours, no locked doors to knock on, and no scheduled closure days interrupting your research.
What’s the price of membership at BADASS Labs?
BADASS Labs uses flat-fee pricing, which includes support services, equipment access, shared resources, and community programming. BADASS Labs is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, so pricing is intended to keep lab space accessible for early-stage founders. For current pricing and availability, please contact us.
Does BADASS Labs take equity or make any claims on member intellectual property?
No. BADASS Labs doesn’t take equity and makes no claims on member intellectual property. Any discoveries, patents, and breakthroughs belong to the founder and their company.
What kinds of companies are a good fit for BADASS Labs?
We support life sciences and deep-tech companies including cell and gene therapy, oncology, AAV manufacturing, climate tech, biofuels, carbon capture, sustainable bio-manufacturing, and other biotech companies in need of wet lab space.
Can I stay at BADASS Labs long-term, or will I be asked to leave once I reach a certain milestone?
There is no forced graduation timeline. The minimum commitment period is three months, but you can stay as long as you need to hit your goals.
Want to Build Something BADASS?
If you’re a biotech founder who’s tired of locked doors, equity demands, and incubators focused on their own ROI rather than your science, then BADASS Labs is the place for you. We offer 24/7 access to world-class equipment and space, a community of fearless innovators, zero equity, and a nonprofit mission that puts the founder first.
Schedule a tour of the Alameda site, meet the BADASS Labs community, or apply for lab space today. The science is ready. Now the lab is too.