Your data won’t care whether you had unrestricted access to lab equipment. But your ability to generate that data will.
In 2026, raising seed and Series A funding is tough. Investors are asking for data. Sometimes even proof-of-concept data at seed stage. And in order to generate that data, you need access to lab equipment.
This is where things get tricky. Setting up your own wet lab can easily cost between $500,000 and $2 million before you’ve run a single assay. For founders from underrepresented groups, this is an even greater barrier. As people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or first-gen entrepreneurs, you’re disproportionately impacted by barriers to capital. Generational wealth and extensive investor networks aren’t an option for everyone, so founders from underrepresented groups are forced to find alternative options for raising.
The result is that promising technologies languish while founders run the fundraising gauntlet, wasting precious time in a funding environment that leaves little room for error.
The Equipment Tax Nobody Talks About
The problem is more insidious than many realize. Investors want data. Generating that data requires equipment. Equipment costs a lot of money. It’s a cycle that impacts early-stage researchers everywhere, and founders from underrepresented groups feel its effects the most.
Some examples:
- A mid-range flow cytometer can cost $250,000 to $500,000
- RT-PCR can cost as much as $90,000
- A good mass spec can be upwards of $500,000
All told, a flow cytometer, a couple of PCR units, a few cabinets, incubator, freezer, centrifuges, etc. can run anywhere from $750,000 to over $1.2 million. And that’s assuming you have lab space already. The U.S. biotechnology laboratory equipment market was valued at $30.4 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach a valuation of $76 billion by 2035. That’s a lot of cash. Cash that could be spent on your proof-of-concept data instead of expensive pieces of machinery.
And that’s assuming you have lab space already. Six-time serial biotech entrepreneur, Dr. David Kiewlich spent 18 months looking for lab space to start his new venture. With a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Davis and Harvard University, David knows what he needs to generate data and move his ideas along. But the hunt for lab space delayed his ability to get started.
The Answer Is Simpler and More Infuriating Than You Think
Here’s the thing. There are shared labs out there. Why aren’t entrepreneurs flocking to them en masse?
In our experience, it’s because entrepreneurs have limited access to the labs’ equipment. The idea of a shared lab is that it saves you money, they can shave startup costs by ~$200,000/year, and lab costs are typically 60–70% less compared to setting up your own, but they aren’t set up to prioritize research. Many times, shared labs are limited to business hours. The equipment isn’t necessarily cutting-edge. You may be filling out sign-up sheets to use them. You might even be booking equipment weeks in advance. The idea is to save money. Not necessarily conduct world-class research. And while there are labs out there that do everything right, many times, startups find themselves waiting for access to lab equipment and conducting experiments during business hours.
Science shouldn’t be limited to weekdays and business hours. Especially when you’re conducting groundbreaking research that could change everything.
What Real Equipment Access Looks Like
Here at BADASS Labs, we offer 24/7 access to lab equipment. All the equipment you need to generate the best data. Full-time staff to answer your questions. Support for everything from cell culture to AAV manufacturing. Access to flow cytometers and PCR machines. Biosafety cabinets, ultralow freezers, all without booking them out weeks in advance. We’re here to get you started on your experiments as soon as possible so that you can prove out your technology, raise, and save the world.
We offer flexible agreements with a three-month minimum. Flat-fee pricing with no add-ons for equipment, no equity taken from your company, no ownership of your IP. We’re a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) dedicated to the success of your venture.
We know the importance of generating good data to raise. But more importantly, we know the importance of your research. We want to get you into a lab and onto your experiments ASAP.
Succeed or learn, there is no fail is our motto at BADASS Labs for good reason. Your experiments will go well and you’ll raise. Or, the experiments won’t pan out exactly how you’d like, but you’ll learn something valuable along the way. Either way, you’ll come out ahead. We know because we’ve seen it time and time again with our startups.
With our expansion into Salt Lake City, we’re excited to continue this work and support founders wherever they are.
The Math That Changes Everything
Startups in our program have raised over $900M and our companies have an 89–95% success rate compared to the industry standard of 10%. These startups have access to our Alameda labs’ state-of-the-art equipment with zero barriers.
Here’s what happens when you give entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. Here’s what happens when you can walk into a lab at 10 pm because your experiment requires it. Here’s what happens when you’re supported by a nonprofit whose sole goal is your success. Here’s what happens when you remove barriers to entry for founders.
Entrepreneurs build incredible things. Companies that raise hundreds of millions of dollars. Therapies that save lives. Breakthrough technologies that redefine their field.
When you give entrepreneurs access to the tools they need to prove out their science and technologies, incredible things happen. We know this because we’ve seen it again and again in our Alameda labs. And now, with expansion into Salt Lake City, more founders will have the ability to access the labs and equipment they need to move their ideas along and build incredible companies.
The Real Cost of Inaction
The longer you wait to get into a lab and generate preliminary data, the further behind you’ll be in fundraising. Investors aren’t going to write checks left and right in this environment, which means that raising can be more of a slog than it needs to be.
Generate proof-of-concept data and you’ll be ahead of other founders who are scrambling to get into a lab or purchase the equipment they need to raise. Entrepreneurs who’ve gone through BADASS Labs have an edge that others don’t.
We’re a research incubator with a simple mission. Get you into a lab and onto your experiments as soon as possible. We know what equipment and materials you need to generate the best data. We know this because we’ve seen it from startups again and again.
Get into a lab with BADASS Labs so you can generate the best data, raise, and change the world. We’ll see you in the lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of equipment are available at BADASS Labs?
Our facilities include flow cytometers, real-time PCR systems, biosafety cabinets, CO₂ incubators, ultralow freezers, centrifuges, and specialized equipment supporting cell therapy, gene therapy, and AAV manufacturing workflows.
Is equipment access truly unlimited, or are there restrictions?
Access is genuinely 24/7 with no sign-up sheets, usage caps, or business-hours limitations.
How does the flat-fee pricing model work?
Members pay a single flat fee covering lab space, equipment access, and comprehensive support services, with no per-instrument charges or hidden fees.
Does BADASS Labs take equity or claim intellectual property?
No. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), BADASS Labs takes zero equity and makes zero intellectual property claims. Your data, IP, and innovations belong entirely to you.
What if my startup outgrows the incubator space?
BADASS Labs has no forced exit. Companies can stay as long as needed to achieve their milestones. We also support scale-up transitions and offer expansion capabilities, including our Salt Lake City location.