Applications from a range of sectors across the UK continue to arrive for Bio-start, the competition to incentivise innovative early-stage companies and people with great engineering biology ideas. The not-for-profit competition offers the winner a combination of £100k equity-free cash plus laboratory space, a ten-week accelerator programme with mentorship, consumables and professional services valued at ~£100k.

The competition, run by SynbiCITE and Rainbow Seed Fund, and sponsored by Twist Bioscience, Gen9, Keltie, Cambridge Consultants and Imperial Innovations, continues to draw applications from across the UK. “We are very pleased with the amount of interest we have generated for Bio-Start,” said Stephen Chambers, CEO of SynbiCITE. “This has been reflected in the numerous applications from startups and Universities around the country.”

A quick look at applications received so far revealed almost equal numbers of startups and Universities applying to take part in Bio-Start. Universities with strong synthetic biology research centres have shown a particular interest, with Imperial College, Bristol, Cambridge, and Oxford all entering multiple applications. Bio-start is also attracting applications from across a number of industrial sectors, reflecting the diversity of the work undertaken by the synthetic biology community in the UK. The hope is that these positive trends, seen in the applications received so far, will continue as more register to apply to Bio-start.

Entrepreneurs and startups can apply to join the Bio-start competition until the end of December, at which point all applications received will be reviewed. The 25 teams chosen to enter the competition will then take part in a 10-week accelerator programme of mentoring and workshops, providing the support and tools needed to build and pitch a compelling business proposal. Following the submission of business plan and investor slide deck, the top 10 teams in the programme will be announced. These finalists will then deliver a pitch to judges and guests at the award ceremony, after which the winner will be announced and the prize awarded.

This is a unique opportunity for all those working in synthetic biology who are passionate about translating their ideas into commercial opportunities, and looking to solve global problems through synthetic biology.

There is still plenty of time between now and December to register and apply to Bio-start. Sign-up and register to apply now at: www.bio-start.uk