So you’ve got the science down, the vision nailed, and the pitch deck perfected. But what’s stopping you from running your first experiment? It might just be one big, expensive hurdle: a lab.
You need a full-on wet lab, complete with biosafety cabinets, CO2 incubators, flow cytometers, cold storage, fume hoods, permits, insurance, specialized HVAC, and robust IT systems.
The cost of building your own lab can be astronomical—and it can eat up a biotech startup’s runway before the science ever sees the light of day.
The Hard Numbers on Lab Construction
In its Life Sciences Fit-Out Cost Guide, Cushman & Wakefield found the average cost of life sciences facilities to be approximately $837–$846 per square foot. This means a small 1,500 square foot lab will set you back over $1.25M before you’ve run a single test—and that’s without factoring in equipment.
A biosafety cabinet goes for around $8,000–$15,000. Flow cytometers run $75,000–$300,000. CO2 incubators, centrifuges, ultralow freezers, qPCR machines, spectrophotometers… Early stage biotech companies may need over $500,000 worth of equipment alone.
But there are many other expenses involved, including permitting and compliance, infrastructure upgrades, maintenance contracts for equipment (which usually range from 5–10% of purchase price each year), specialized insurance, and months spent building out a lab rather than collecting data.
All told, founders could easily sink $1.5–$2M before getting to a meaningful experiment. With biotech’s share of U.S. startup funding falling to just above 8% in 2025, you can’t afford to waste a single dollar.
The Real Price Tag Is Time
It’s not just the money that matters though—it’s time. And in biotech, that’s a non-renewable resource.
Dr. David Kiewlich brings over 28 years of experience in the biotech sector, mostly working in oncology and cell-based therapies. He’s been part of six startups and earned a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology at UC Davis, conducting research at Harvard along the way.
Still, after years in the field, his recent search for lab space took eighteen months.
Some labs lacked ventilation, some weren’t equipped for his equipment, others required costly build-outs. It was that experience that eventually led him to launch BADASS Labs.
“I spent a year and a half looking for lab space,” says Dr. Kiewlich. “That’s a year and a half where I wasn’t doing science. That’s a year and a half of runway burned. No founder should have to go through this.”
Enter The Biotech Incubator Model
A properly equipped biotech incubator can completely change the economics of starting a company.
Rather than spending $1.5M building a lab and then waiting months to use it, founders can walk into BADASS Labs and begin running experiments within the week. The lab is built, the equipment is calibrated, permits are in place, and biosafety protocols are set up.
Founders at BADASS Labs have 24/7 unrestricted access, pay a flat monthly fee that includes support services, enjoy flexible terms (the minimum contract is three months), and don’t give up any equity or intellectual property rights. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the mission of BADASS Labs is to promote scientific advancement—not to profit off of founders.
Where an incubator taking equity might charge more than $2,200+ per bench/month, the founders end up spending more money while giving away a piece of their company. At BADASS Labs, founders get an equipped wet lab, office space, shared instrumentation, mentorship, and a supportive network of fellow founders.
What Does $900M and a 95% Success Rate Look Like?
To date, companies incubated by BADASS Labs have raised over $900 million in venture funding. The lab claims a success rate of around 89–95%, as opposed to the industry average of 90%.
When a founder doesn’t have to worry about infrastructure, they can spend their funds on hiring scientists, doing experiments, collecting data, and pitching investors. When a founder doesn’t have to wait months for permitting and construction, they can get to milestone quicker and demonstrate their technology before their runway runs out. But community also counts. When founders are surrounded by people who have gone through the FDA process before, have connections to investors, have dealt with equipment vendors and supply chain issues, they can learn from each other and avoid some of the pitfalls that cost others time and money.
Real Infrastructure, Not Just Square Footage
BADASS Labs provides space for work in many areas of biotech science, including cell therapy and immuno-oncology in BSL-2 labs equipped with CO₂ incubators, biosafety cabinets, flow cytometers, and cold chain equipment; molecular biology and genomics with qPCR systems, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometers, and nucleic acid analysis systems; climate tech and bio-manufacturing with fermentation, biofuels, and materials characterization infrastructure; and general lab infrastructure with microscopy, centrifugation, ultra-low-temperature freezers, and autoclaves. This isn’t a co-working space with a few extra sinks. This is a real research space designed by someone who knows what founders need.
The Community Multiplier Effect
Another hidden cost of traditional lab build-outs is the cost of isolation.
By bringing together cell therapy companies, gene therapy companies, AAV manufacturers, climate tech companies, sustainable bio-manufacturing companies, and more, BADASS Labs offers founders an opportunity to share technical knowledge, regulatory experience, and business advice. This is Dr. Kiewlich’s philosophy: “Kindness should be the key factor for everything.” And it’s reflected in the community.
The Bottom Line for Biotech Founders
For biotech founders weighing their options in 2026, the equation is clear:
Build your own lab: $1.5–$2 million upfront, 6–18 months of delays, and your runway spent on drywall and HVAC instead of on the science.
Join a nonprofit incubator: A fraction of the cost, equipment ready on day one, peers and mentors around you, no equity given up, and room to grow.
The choice is whether to spend investors’ money building walls or to spend it on the science that’s going to change the world.
At BADASS Labs, the mission is to “usher in the next generation of scientists and products that will change our world.” No equity grabs. No IP claims. No forced graduation timelines. As Dr. Kiewlich says, “Succeed or learn, there is no fail.”
Ready to Stop Building and Start Discovering?
If you’re tired of applying for construction permits and ready to start growing cells, BADASS Labs is ready for you. Book a tour of the Alameda facilities, join the community, or apply for lab space today.
Your science is waiting. The only question is whether you’ll spend the next 18 months building walls or tearing them down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build a biotech lab from scratch?
According to industry averages, fit-out costs range from $837 to $846 per square foot. A 1,500-square-foot lab can exceed $1.25 million in construction alone, plus $500,000 or more for equipment. Total costs often reach $1.5–$2 million.
How does BADASS Labs’ pricing compare to building my own lab?
With its flat-fee pricing model, BADASS Labs includes the cost of lab space, equipment access, and support services, eliminating major upfront construction, maintenance, and repair costs as well as months-long delays.
Does BADASS Labs take equity or claim my intellectual property?
No. BADASS Labs takes zero equity and makes zero IP claims. Your intellectual property stays yours.
How long does it take to set up experiments once I’m a member?
Typically, members can begin running experiments within days, rather than 6–18 months to build a lab from scratch.
What kinds of biotech companies does BADASS Labs support?
BADASS Labs supports cell and gene therapy companies, AAV manufacturing companies, immuno-oncology companies, molecular biology companies, genomics companies, climate tech companies, and sustainable bio-manufacturing companies.
Do I have to leave after a certain period of time?
No. There is no forced graduation timeline. Terms are flexible, starting with a three-month minimum.
Where is BADASS Labs located?
BADASS Labs is located in Alameda, California. It is expanding to Salt Lake City.