Charles River Laboratories Expands Support for Early-Stage Biotechs with Crowdfunding Initiative
Charles River Laboratories, a leading contract research organization (CRO), is set to broaden its support for early-stage biotechnology companies through a new crowdfunding collaboration. This move comes as an extension of the company's recently launched incubator and accelerator programs, aimed at nurturing cell and gene therapy startups.
Crowdfunding Portal Partnership
Charles River is working to secure a partnership with BioTech Social, which would grant companies in the Charles River Incubator (CIP) and Charles River Accelerator (CAP) programs access to BioTech Social's crowdfunding portal. This initiative would allow participating early-stage cell and gene therapy companies to raise up to $5 million annually through the BioTech Funding Portal.
Dr. Neva West, CEO of the BioTech Funding Portal, emphasized the platform's mission: "The mission of the BioTech Funding Portal is to harness the power of non-accredited investors to support research that might otherwise go unfunded—despite it addressing clear, unmet medical needs. We aim to help selected applicants cross the notorious funding 'valley of death' that so often threatens innovative, early-stage companies."
Incubator and Accelerator Program Details
Charles River launched its incubator program in December 2024, building upon its existing cell and gene therapy accelerator program. The CIP focuses on biotechs in the discovery phase, while the CAP is designed for companies 18 to 24 months away from submitting an investigational new drug or clinical trial application.
The inaugural CIP cohort, unveiled in April, includes six cell and gene therapy biotechs. One participant, Chih-Wen Ni, founder and CEO of NVI Therapeutics, highlighted the program's value: "As a new pharmaceutical company, there are many aspects where you need consulting support. For instance, navigating regulations and conducting pre-clinical studies require expert assistance."
Applications for the second CIP cohort are currently open, signaling Charles River's continued commitment to fostering innovation in the cell and gene therapy space.
References
- Charles River collaboration aims to bring crowdfunding to early-stage cell and gene biotechs
After launching an expanded incubator for early-stage biotechs late last year, Charles River Laboratories is now looking to give participants access to crowdsourced cash. The CRO is working to secure a collaboration with BioTech Social to grant incubator companies entry into the latter’s crowdfunding portal.
Explore Further
What is the background and experience of the executive team at startups participating in Charles River's incubator and accelerator programs?
What is the pipeline overview for early-stage biotechs participating in the Charles River Incubator and Accelerator programs?
Who are the competitors of Charles River Laboratories in providing support and funding initiatives for early-stage cell and gene therapy companies?
What is the historical funding success rate through the BioTech Funding Portal for similar biotech companies?
What are the highlights and advantages of the startups' core pipelines within the Charles River Incubator and Accelerator programs compared to market competitors?