Nearly 90% of biotech startups fail.
This number is so ingrained in biotech that almost everyone treats it as a given. But maybe we are looking at things backwards. What if failing wasn’t the opposite of success, but what you needed to get there?
At BADASS Labs, our member companies maintain a 89-95% success rate. We do this by creating a place where every trial and error is a step towards success. Our motto is simple: Succeed or learn, there is no fail.
The Biotech Failure Machine
Most biotech startups do not fail because of bad science.
CB Insights lists the most common reasons for startups failing as running out of cash, lack of market need, and competition. In biotech these problems become amplified due to the cost of equipment, the time it takes to pass regulatory approval, and potential loss of funding. Setting up a laboratory can easily cost over $500,000 before real work has even begun.
Many traditional incubators take some sort of equity (2-20%) from the founder in exchange for the use of their equipment and facilities. These multiple funding rounds further dilute founders to the point that some barely own their own company.
It is a system that takes from founders instead of building them up. Ideas that could have saved lives don’t make it past the starting line.
But these startups aren’t failing because they’re bad. They’re failing because the system is bad.
18 Months That Changed Everything
Dr. David Kiewlich knows this all too well.
With a PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from UC Davis and Harvard, 28+ years in biotech, and six biotech startups under his belt, Dr. Kiewlich knew his way around a laboratory. He didn’t expect it to be difficult to find one, though.
After spending 18 months searching for a lab that was both affordable and viable, Dr. Kiewlich found himself facing expensive rent, equity claims, and labs set up for larger companies rather than new entrepreneurs.
So he did something about it.
Named to the Top 10 Inspiring Leaders of 2022 by IE Mag, Dr. Kiewlich created BADASS Labs based on a single guiding principle: Kindness should be the key factor for everything.
And he put that principle into action with an incubator that asks for no equity, has no IP claims, no forced graduation timeline, and no gatekeeping. It’s simply the best equipment, 24/7 access, and a community that will help you succeed.
What “Succeed or Learn” Looks Like
At BADASS Labs, we don’t view success and failure as two separate, opposing ideas. We view every successful experiment as one less failed experiment.
No Forced Graduation Timeline
Science does not follow a schedule. Whether you’re working on cell therapies, developing regulatory submissions, or anything in between, these things take time.
We offer a minimum of three months, but no maximum time, to allow our founders to take the time they need to make their science shine instead of rushing to meet the needs of a contract.
Zero Equity, Zero IP Claims
What you create is yours.
Our flat-rate fee includes access to our services, facilities, and other resources without taking equity, claiming IP, or requiring you to graduate within a specific timeframe. You get to keep your company, your IP, and raise money when and how you want.
World-Class Infrastructure
Biotech is expensive. That cost alone can prevent many great ideas from making it past the starting line.
We provide 24/7 access to high-quality equipment, allowing our founders to work when the work demands it rather than when a schedule allows. By removing the barrier of infrastructure, we allow researchers to focus on what they do best: advancing science.
A Community That Multiplies Success
In biotech, it’s easy to feel isolated, and easy to withhold knowledge from others in order to secure your own position.
Instead, we encourage collaboration among our member companies. Sharing knowledge and ideas is how we all move forward faster. Together, our member companies have collectively raised over $900 million in funding. When one company wins, we all win.
Why Growth Mindset Matters in Biotech
In any venture, a growth mindset is essential, but in biotech, it can be the difference between a breakthrough that saves lives and one that never gets out of the lab.
An experiment that doesn’t yield the desired result is often called a failure. At BADASS Labs, we don’t see it that way. We understand that every result yields data that allows us to narrow the scope, improve subsequent experiments, and strengthen our understanding as entrepreneurs.
Simply put, it’s how we do science.
Instead of shying away from the inevitable challenges, we help founders leverage them as opportunities.
Opening Doors for Underrepresented Scientists
Despite the advancements made in recent years, women still account for a minority of biotech leadership roles. People of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community struggle to secure funding and mentorship, let alone access to state-of-the-art labs.
BADASS Labs exists to change this.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we are committed to removing the barriers that hold back underrepresented founders. More diverse voices lead to better innovation.
Diverse teams bring diverse perspectives to the table, which leads to more creative solutions and ultimately, more successful biotech companies.
And that’s not just good business; it’s good science.
Our Mission: Scaling Up BADASS Labs
BADASS Labs started in Alameda, California, in one of the most densely populated biotech hubs in the world. But our reach isn’t limited to the Bay Area.
In Salt Lake City, we have opened a second location to serve the growing biotech industry in the Intermountain West. The decision was based on a simple philosophy: world-class biotech infrastructure shouldn’t require Bay Area prices.
At our Alameda and Salt Lake City labs, we are united by our mission: to break down barriers, build community, and provide the resources necessary for scientists to push the boundaries of biotech.
By the Numbers
Our results speak for themselves:
- A 89-95% success rate (versus ~10% in the industry)
- Over $900 million raised by member companies
- 0% equity taken. 0% IP claimed.
- 24/7 access to world-class lab equipment at two locations
But the numbers only tell half the story. They don’t convey the power of collaboration, the founder who was told “no” too many times and now has access to state-of-the-art equipment, or the experiment that succeeded because the last few failed.
Those are the moments that bring “succeed or learn” to life.
Join the Movement
Biotech startups fail at an alarming rate. That’s a problem if you’re a founder trying to make a breakthrough.
We believe that failure isn’t inherent to the process, but rather the result of a lack of access to world-class science, the right tools, and the right team.
If you’re a scientist with a life-changing discovery, a founder looking for lab space without giving up equity, or a climate tech innovator who needs a wet lab, we’d love to hear from you.
Take a tour of our Alameda or Salt Lake City facilities, learn more about our community, or apply for lab space now.
No equity. No IP claims. No gatekeepers.
Just world-class science and the support to make it happen.
Common Questions
What does “succeed or learn, there is no fail” mean?
Every experiment produces valuable data. Rather than impose arbitrary timelines and milestones, we allow you the time, resources, and infrastructure to keep iterating until you reach a significant milestone.
How did BADASS Labs achieve such a high success rate?
We’ve eliminated many of the roadblocks that prevent biotech companies from achieving their goals: prohibitive infrastructure costs, equity extraction, rigid timelines, and founder isolation. When combined with collaborative support and world-class labs, these advantages enable our companies to focus on doing great science.
Will I have to give up equity or intellectual property?
Absolutely not. We take zero equity and claim no intellectual property. You retain full ownership of your company and discoveries.
How long can my company stay?
There’s a minimum commitment of three months. Beyond that, there’s no limit. Your scientific progress dictates your timeline, not ours.
Is BADASS Labs only for established biotech founders?
No. We welcome all founders, from the earliest stages to mature companies. We also support underrepresented communities. If you have a world-changing idea and need world-class lab infrastructure, we want to hear from you.