Biotech is the cutting edge of human advancement. Gene therapies are curing rare diseases. Cell-based immunotherapies are redefining oncology. Carbon-capturing biology and engineered materials are shaping climate change. The research has never been more exciting.
Yet those who build those solutions aren’t representative of the communities we seek to serve.
Underrepresented minorities represent only 24% of the STEM workforce, per the National Science Foundation. Hispanic workers represent 8% of the STEM workforce, despite representing 17% of the overall U.S. workforce. Fewer than 30% of black and Hispanic women stay in STEM fields over a decade, compared to 52% of white, non-Hispanic women. Underrepresented founders receive less than 2% of venture capital funding, and black female founders received only 0.34% of all VC funding in 2021.
These are not just data points. They represent missed discoveries and innovations that will never reach fruition because the journey from mind to bench was too difficult, costly, or unattainable.
At BADASS Labs, we are changing that narrative.
The Pipeline Issue Is Also an Infrastructure Issue
Most people who discuss the “pipeline issue” in biotech focus on the educational side of things: we need more scholarships, more programs, more support. But there’s a huge gap in the “post-pipeline” phase: What do you do once you have a degree?
Imagine you’re a highly-skilled scientist from an underrepresented community. You’ve completed your Ph.D., written papers for top-tier publications, and come up with an idea that you believe can help millions of patients. You want to start a business.
But then you realize…
Setting up a lab can easily cost anywhere between $500,000 to $2 million. There’s the biosafety cabinet, the flow cytometer, the PCR system, incubators, centrifuges, and other specialized equipment. You can’t skip these essentials. On top of that, many incubators expect equity in exchange for their services, which means that, upfront, you’re already giving up a piece of your startup to get off the ground.
If you’re already an underrepresented founder with little access to capital, investors, and mentors, this isn’t a small obstacle. It’s insurmountable.
This was Dr. David Kiewlich’s reality. A serial biotech entrepreneur, who’s founded six companies in 28+ years of oncology and cell therapy experience, had to spend 18 months looking for affordable lab space while other, more established founders moved on to the next stage of their businesses.
That was the inspiration behind BADASS Labs.
What Bridging the Gap Actually Looks Like
Many organizations talk about diversity and inclusion at conferences, panels, and town halls. At BADASS Labs, we focus on access. Access to the spaces and resources needed to translate brilliance into action.
- No Equity, No IP Claims We take no equity stake and assert no IP claims against our members. That’s huge for founders who might otherwise be excluded from the venture capital ecosystem. You don’t give up equity to have access to opportunity. You bring the science, and we provide the tools. The credit for the discovery remains yours.
- World-class labs at a fraction of the cost We provide equipment on par with leading research centers, including biosafety cabinets, flow cytometers, cell culture equipment, molecular biology instruments, and AAV production and cell therapy platforms at our Alameda sites.
As part of our shared lab, founders have 24/7 unlimited access for a single monthly fee, which is much lower than the cost of constructing a personal lab. Additionally, this fee includes services such as compliance consulting and other operations support. There are no additional charges, unexpected bills, or equity buyouts. Only pure science.
- A community of people that looks like the future Badass Labs provides access to necessary lab equipment. This removes the financial obstacles. However, it doesn’t address the cultural hurdles. That’s why BADASS Labs is committed to providing opportunities for people of color, LGBTQIA+ researchers, and other marginalized populations in the biotech industry.
Our community is intentionally diverse, inclusive, and collaborative. Dr. Kiewlich states: “Kindness should be the key factor for everything.”
Founders receive not only bench space but also a community of fellow entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry leaders, as well as access to networking opportunities, constructive criticism, and informal mentoring.
- No forced graduation schedule While most accelerators operate on a fixed schedule — grow, grow, grow, and leave — this system can be particularly harmful for founders who face structural disadvantages. BADASS Labs has a three-month minimum tenure and does not require founders to leave. Founders may remain as long as they need to develop their venture.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Companies that have been part of the BADASS Labs program have raised more than $900M in aggregate funding. Their rate of success is between 89% and 95%, while the industry average is around 10%. We are expanding our model to Salt Lake City.
This is what happens when barriers to entry — whether financial, technical, or cultural — are eliminated. Provide exceptional individuals with exceptional resources without requiring control or an arbitrary deadline, and they will produce exceptional results.
Why This Matters to Everyone
Biotech is working hard to address cancer, environmental destruction, rare diseases, and sustainable production and food security. We need all of the best minds to contribute to this effort — not just those who have the connections or qualifications to get into a lab.
McKinsey’s study of overlooked founders identified significant opportunities for marginalized founders. Failing to include a variety of perspectives is not only unethical but also suboptimal. It leaves discoveries untapped and hinders progress in areas that disproportionately impact underrepresented populations.
Increasing the diversity of the biotech workforce is not charity. It is strategy. And it is how we can move faster toward the solutions the world requires.
What You Can Do Today
If you’re a member of an underrepresented group in the sciences and have a revolutionary concept, BADASS Labs is eager to speak with you. A well-designed pitch deck or a signed term sheet isn’t required. What is required is your knowledge, your ambition, and your determination to create something significant. And we’ll take care of the rest.
For investors, industry partners, and philanthropic funders, the evidence is overwhelming: Diverse teams generate better outcomes. Underrepresented founders are serving underserved markets. And a nonprofit, non-equity model funnels more capital into science.
For scientists, please get involved. Be a mentor to a founder. Be an expert. Join a community where kindness is the differentiator and lifting all boats is the operating system.
BADASS Labs’ Promise
The systemic inequities that exist in biotech aren’t going away overnight. But each founder that creates a company that otherwise would never have existed shows the model works. And each discovery that emerges from a lab bench that would otherwise be inaccessible brings us that much closer to a biotech industry that looks like our entire population.
At BADASS Labs, we believe: succeed or learn, there is no fail. Every scientist should have an opportunity to attempt it. Every idea should have the opportunity to utilize world-class resources. And every founder, regardless of their background, identity, or starting point, should be given a fair shot at making the world a better place.
Want to join BADASS Labs? Book a tour of our Alameda locations, reach out to our community, or apply for lab space now. The bench awaits.
FAQs
Do BADASS Labs really take no equity and no IP?
Yes. This is essential to our nonprofit, 501(c)(3) mission. We provide lab infrastructure, 24/7 equipment access, and support services for a flat fee, but do not take equity and make no IP claims. Your science is yours.
I am a first-time founder from an underrepresented background. Is BADASS Labs a good fit for me?
Absolutely. BADASS Labs exists because Dr. David Kiewlich encountered these barriers when searching for lab space. We actively build pipelines for people of color, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented groups. We offer a highly collaborative environment that enables first-time founders to transition from idea to impact.
What types of equipment and facilities are provided?
Our Alameda sites include wet lab and office space equipped with biosafety cabinets, flow cytometers, cell culture suites, molecular biology tools, and cell therapy/AAV infrastructure. We also offer 24/7 unrestricted equipment access.
How long can my company stay at BADASS Labs?
There is a three-month minimum and no forced exit date. Founders may remain for as long as necessary to create a successful company.
What percentage of companies succeed while at BADASS Labs?
Member companies succeed at rates between 89–95%, versus a biotech average of 10%, and have raised more than $900 million together. These outcomes demonstrate the importance of reducing obstacles and providing talented scientists with the necessary tools and community.