Scientists and bio-founding teams often say that the biggest problem in biotech is not the science, but the business. The scientific innovator, startup founder, or just plain scientific rebel often has an innovation that changes the world or at least the industry but struggles with the barriers of getting the scientific work to translate into a viable company. How often have we heard of great innovation being abandoned because of the inability to raise the funds, the time, and/or the resources to take it all the way to commercial success? This is especially true for biotech, which requires very significant upfront capital investment for lab space, equipment, and reagents and where it is almost impossible to scale up the equipment and facility size and move on to a new location in one go.
Traditional incubator models, which include equity and IP claims, often require a company to make a premature investment or compromise its science in order to gain the incubation and funding resources needed. A typical incubator will take equity and/or IP in addition to charging exorbitant rental rates as a means to cover costs and recoup their investment. BADASS Labs is here to change the equation. BADASS Labs is the nation’s #1 nonprofit biotech incubator designed to advance science for humanity by removing as many barriers as possible for founders.
BADASS Labs is the nation’s #1 nonprofit biotech incubator created by founder and entrepreneur Dr. David Kiewlich in response to his own frustrations as a scientist-entrepreneur who spent 18 months unable to secure wet lab rental space, let alone affordable wet lab rental space for a biotech startup. We wanted to be the kind of incubator we needed when we were starting our first company and that is exactly what we built, an incubator for startups that we ourselves would want, not one that required us to give up equity, compromise our science, or pay for the privilege of using lab space and equipment we cannot afford.
Badass Labs is the nonprofit wet lab rental company of choice for early stage biotech and climate tech startups that are based in California and need access to world class wet lab facilities and equipment without paying the high prices.
- No equity and IP claims, your science remains yours! Our nonprofit model means there is no need for us to take equity, claims on IP or to make you exit prematurely. We are in business solely to help founders advance their science and we have the incentives to provide the best rental experience possible at the lowest possible rental price.
- 501c3 nonprofit model, Our incentives are 100% aligned with the company. Every dollar we raise we are reinvesting into our company to improve the lab, buy more equipment, and provide even better services to our members!
- 24/7 Lab Access, Our facilities and world class equipment are available to you 24/7! Your scientific schedule is what we follow and not ours.
- Flexible terms, Our leases only require a 3-month commitment minimum. There are no set graduation dates, and you can stay for as long as you need or want.
- Flat-Fee Pricing: Our simple flat-fee pricing includes all utilities, maintenance, and support, giving you full control over your budget and letting you concentrate on the science.
Succeed or Learn: It’s Our Track Record of Fearless Innovation
It’s not hyperbole, BADASS Labs has a proven track record of success and innovation. While traditional biotech incubators boast a success rate of approximately 10% in the industry, our community of members have achieved an astounding 89-95% success rate. To date, our members have collectively raised over $900 million, breaking boundaries in the fields of cell therapies, gene therapy, oncology, AAV manufacturing, battery materials, biofuels, carbon capture and more.
Because we believe “Succeed or learn, there is no fail,” we are committed to helping you succeed in building your startup, whether by fostering collaboration and innovation, providing mentorship, or connecting you with a community of fellow scientific rebel founders and investors. Whether you’re a pre-seed to Series B founder, we offer the infrastructure, mentorship, and support you need to get your world-changing startup up and running.
Join the Revolution: Your Lab Bench is Calling
Ready to accelerate your biotech or climate tech startup, without the traditional roadblocks? Ready to join the community of fearless scientists who are truly changing the world?
Ready to join BADASS Labs? Take a tour of our Alameda facilities, learn more about our community of fearless scientists or apply for lab space.
Commonly Asked Questions About BADASS Labs
- Q: What makes BADASS Labs unique to other biotech incubators? A: We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization driven by our “founder first” philosophy. No equity. No IP. 24/7 unrestricted access to world class equipment. Flexible terms. We’re dedicated to funding humanity, not profits.
- Q: What kind of startups are supported by BADASS Labs? A: We’re dedicated to supporting early-stage biotech founders from pre-seed to Series B, scientists looking to start companies, and climate tech innovators. Our members range across disciplines including cell therapies, gene therapy, oncology, AAV manufacturing, battery materials, biofuels and carbon capture, among other things.
- Q: Where are BADASS Labs’ physical spaces located? A: We are currently located in Alameda, California, with two full-service state-of-the-art wet lab, wet lab and office spaces. We are expanding to Salt Lake City, too!
- Q: How does BADASS Labs’ member access to equipment work? A: Our community of scientists enjoy unlimited 24/7 access to our comprehensive range of world class equipment, from the basic lab tools to advanced analytical equipment. With all this equipment available to you, your individual startup doesn’t need to make big upfront equipment investments.
- Q: Does BADASS Labs fund startups? A: BADASS Labs doesn’t provide funding and we don’t take equity in our startups, but we do have connections to investors and can assist with funding strategies. Our members have collectively raised over $900 million, which speaks to the supportive network available to BADASS Labs members.