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  • June 16-19, 2025
  • Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

Start-Up Stadium at BIO 2025

Start-Up Stadium is designed to provide start-up companies with the opportunity to engage key members of the investment community, venture philanthropy groups, strategic partners, and non-dilutive capital at the world’s largest biotechnology partnering event.

Applications are now open for 2025!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for Start-Up Stadium?

Eligible Start-Up Stadium applicants must have:

  • Raised less than $10M since inception
  • Previous business pitch or competition experience
  • Fewer than 20 full-time employees
  • Not previously been named a BIO Start-Up Stadium winner

What is the application process and submission deadline for Start-Up Stadium?

Submit a Start-Up Stadium application as well as upload your company logo and PowerPoint pitch presentation deck by the submission deadline, Thursday, February 13, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time).

What is the maximum number of pages allowed in the pitch presentation deck?

PowerPoint pitch deck should include no more than 20 slides. Applications with a pitch deck exceeding 20 slides will not advance to the initial review stage.

Is there any cost to apply for Start-Up Stadium?

There is no cost to apply for Start-Up Stadium. Please note that applying for Start-Up Stadium does not guarantee participation in the event. BIO will notify all Start-Up Stadium submitters of the status of their application in late-March/early-April 2025.

If selected to be a Start-Up Stadium finalist, do I need to register for BIO International Convention to give a pitch presentation?

If selected, finalists receive a highly discounted Premier Access registration rate to attend and present in front of our esteemed panel of judges in Boston.

How many Start-Up Stadium finalists are typically chosen?

Approximately 40 finalists will be chosen to pitch their presentations before a panel of Start-Up Stadium judges.

How many prize winners are typically chosen each year?

Two prize winners are chosen from two categories: a Seed-Stage Company winner (companies with less than $1M raised); and an Emerging Company winner (companies with more than $1M but less than $10M raised).

What do prize winners receive?

  • A complimentary one-year membership for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, including access to benefits from BIO Business Solutions®, the largest cost-savings purchasing program for the life sciences industry and discounted registration to other BIO events
  • One complimentary Premier Access registration (includes BIO One-on-One Partnering™) for the 2026 BIO International Convention

When will BIO announce the Start-Up Stadium prize winners?

BIO will announce Start-Up Stadium prize winners, post-convention.

Who can I contact for more information?

Please email program@bio.org if you have any additional questions about applying for the 2025 BIO Start-Up Stadium.

During the 2024 BIO International Convention, 47 select finalists from 13 different countries each shared a quick pitch showcasing new technologies and therapeutic solutions to a panel of investor judges, followed by live feedback.  Finalists were eligible for a highly discounted registration rate to attend the 2024 BIO International Convention.

Evaluation of the presentations from seed-stage company finalists (less than $1M raised) occurred separately from emerging company finalists (more than $1M but less than $10M raised to date), with a winner identified for each category.

Winners are listed after the finalists below.

 

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  1. AcroCyte Therapeutics Inc
    AcroCyte Therapeutics is a cell-based precision medicine company. Our current focus lies in utilizing our core technology R3CE—rapid, reproducible, rare cell expansion— to assist clinical treatment and scientific research.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Tools/Drug Development Support Tech
    5B
    Ying Chih Chang
    Ying Chih Chang, Chief Executive Officer - AcroCyte Therapeutics Inc
  2. AgenT
    AgenT is a French life sciences company on a mission to defeat Alzheimer's by targeting the silent phase.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Baptiste Billoir
    Baptiste Billoir, Co-founder - AgenT
  3. Aluda Pharmaceuticals
    Aluda was founded to reexamine how fundamental cell processes are altered by disease, combining rational drug design with holistic objectives to make wider impact.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Immunology
    5B
    Deebie Symmes
    Deebie Symmes, CBO/COO - Aluda Pharmaceuticals
  4. BioLattice Ophthalmics, Inc.
    We are addressing the need for tissue repair solutions, beginning with cornea.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Ophthalmology
    5B
    Amelia Zellander
    Amelia Zellander, CEO - BioLattice Ophthalmics, Inc.
  5. Black Canyon Bio
    Black Canyon Bio (BCB) is developing novel products for treating cancer using our proprietary Specific Neo-Antigen Peptides (SNAPTM) Technology platform.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Ken Carter
    Ken Carter
  6. Celine Biotechnologies
    We are pioneering a novel approach by integrating proprietary synthetic biology methods and de novo protein designs with the power of generative AI to automate the discovery process and develop patient-tailored immune-mediated therapies at scale for Chronic and Age-Related diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Nina Keshavarzi
    Nina Keshavarzi, Founder & CEO - Celine Therapeutics
  7. CELLeBRAIN, Ltd
    CELLeBRAIN is an R&D biotechnology company specializing in the development of gene and cell therapy for the treatment of solid cancers, with a particular focus on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Haeyoung Suh-Kim
    Haeyoung Suh-Kim, CEO - CELLeBRAIN
  8. Cha Therapeutics, Inc
    Cha Therapeutics seeks to realize the untapped potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Eric Paulson
    Eric Paulson
  9. Coastar Therapeutics Inc.
    Coastar Therapeutics is a venture-backed biotech company based in San Diego, CA focused on next generation gene delivery technology.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Cell and Gene Therapy and Genome Editing
    5B
    Eddie Chung
    Eddie Chung, CEO - Coastar Therapeutics Inc.
  10. CytoArm Co.,Ltd.
    CytoArm focuses on untreatable diseases through a next generation T cell therapy, Armed-T cell.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Kuo-Hsiang Chuang
    Kuo-Hsiang Chuang, Chief Executive Officer - CytoArm Co.,Ltd.
  11. Endure Biotherapeutics, Inc.
    Endure Biotherapeutics (“Endure Bio”®) is developing engineered engraftable live biotherapeutics for metabolic diseases by genetically engineering human native bacteria to express therapeutic compounds.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Mark Wilson
    Mark Wilson, CEO - Endure Biotherapeutics, Inc.
  12. Everfront Biotech
    The mission of Everfront Biotech is to address unmet medical needs by developing orphan drugs to treat some of the world's deadliest diseases, including high-grade gliomas and pancreatic cancer.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Jui-Hao Lee
    Jui-Hao Lee, Director of Clinical Affairs Dept. - Everfront Biotech
  13. FELIQS
    FELIQS is a clinical-ready stage company. The Company has a portfolio of two patent-protected drug product ophthalmology candidates.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Ophthalmology
    5B
    Kenichiro Kuninobu
    Kenichiro Kuninobu, Co-founder and CEO - Feliqs
  14. Fzata, Inc.
    Fzata (fzata.com) has solved the oral biologics problem with the BIoPYM platform.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Elizabeth Smith
    Elizabeth Smith, Chief Business Officer - Fzata, Inc.
  15. GelSana Therapeutics, Inc.
    GelSana's novel polymers improve healing in impaired wounds, particularly in chronic wounds with high inflammation.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Inflammation
    5B
    Melissa Krebs
    Melissa Krebs, CEO - GelSana Therapeutics, Inc.
  16. Human Biome Institute
    HBI is a private company focused on developing cutting-edge Microbiome-Based Therapeutics.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Jarek Bilinski
    Jarek Bilinski, AI-powered Drug Development Platform for creating microbiome based therapies - Human Biome
  17. ImmunoShield Therapeutics
    ImmunoShield Therapeutics seeks to enable the high-throughput biomanufacturing of hydrogel-based regenerative medicine products and the application of allogeneic cell products in the absence of chronic systemic immunosuppression.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Matthew Becker
    Matthew Becker
  18. Incircular
    Incircular's mission is to advance Biotech and Pharma applications by effective stabilization of proteins using INCYPRO, a cutting-edge chemical protein engineering technology.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Tools/Drug Development Support Tech
    5B
    Saskia Neubacher
    Saskia Neubacher, CEO - Incircular
  19. Isosterix, Inc.
    Isosterix is developing a differentiated small-molecule inhibitor of Kat6A, an epigenetic oncogene which is amplified and implicated in multiple tumor types, including breast cancer.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Roopa Rai
    Roopa Rai, Founder and CEO - Isosterix, Inc.
  20. Jaan Biotherapeutics
    Jaan biotherapeutics is a pre-investigational new drug application company developing treatments that target microRNAs to regenerate heart muscle withing the heart and treat heart disease, the largest cause of death of man.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Cardiovascular
    5B
    Bhawanjit Brar
    Bhawanjit Brar, Chief Executive Officer - Jaan Biotherapeutics
  21. KaloCyte, Inc.
    KaloCyte is a pre-clinical biotech therapeutic startup company developing ErythroMer, a bioengineered artificial red blood cell (RBC) substitute that can be freeze-dried for long-term storage.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Cardiovascular
    5B
    Elaine Haynes
    Elaine Haynes, President and CEO - KaloCyte, Inc.
  22. Keliomics, Inc.
    Keliomics is an emerging biotechnology company whose breakthrough platform for organ-scale biology preserves the full composition, structure, and function of primary human tissues.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Tools/Drug Development Support Tech
    5B
    Frank Lau
    Frank Lau, CEO - Keliomics, Inc.
  23. Leverna Therapeutics
    Leverna Therapeutics is a Boston-based preclinical RNA therapeutics company developing a portfolio of CNS-focused antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) programs.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Avery Yan
    Avery Yan, Co-Founder, President & CSO/COO - Leverna Therapeutics
  24. Lixa Pty Ltd
    Biotech company with the goal to solve the antimicrobial resistance pandemic for anyone, anything, anywhere.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Infectious Disease and Vaccines
    5B
    Maud Eijkenboom
    Maud Eijkenboom, Managing Director - Lixa
  25. LonGieva Therapeutics
    Longieva has been developing novel therapeutics for validated targets for CNS disorders with utility in neurodegeneration (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) and addictive disorders.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Mehrdad Shamloo
    Mehrdad Shamloo
  26. Mabswitch Inc
    Mabswitch Inc, is a leading biotechnology firm specializing in the development of regulatable immunotherapies based on the groundbreaking invention of affinity switches for antibodies.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Yemi Onakunle
    Yemi Onakunle, CEO - MabSwitch Inc
  27. Matrubials Inc.
    Matrubials Inc. is developing milk-inspired therapeutics to address infectious diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Infectious Disease and Vaccines
    5B
    Ishita Shah
    Ishita Shah, CEO and Co-founder - Matrubials Inc.
  28. Merlin Biotech, Inc.
    Merlin has a pre-clinical mRNA-delivered immune activator with strong IP with in-vivo and human epi survival data in both pediatric ($100M PRV) and $2B adult markets.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Randall Hyer
    Randall Hyer, CEO - Merlin Biotech, Inc.
  29. Mikrobiomik Healthcare Co. S.L.
    Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Derio (Bizkaia), Mikrobiomik is a bio-pharmaceutical company created to conduct research, develop and manufacture of medicines based on the human microbiome.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Patricia Del Río
    Patricia Del Río, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION DIRECTOR - Mikrobiomik Healthcare
  30. Minutia
    Minutia is developing a regenerative medicine platform that improves safety and success outcomes of transplanted cells, our first therapy is a functional cure for Type 1 and Insulin Dependent Type 2 Diabetes with a simple outpatient procedure.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Cell and Gene Therapy and Genome Editing
    5B
    Katy Digovich
    Katy Digovich, CEO - Minutia
  31. NemaGen Discoveries
    NemaGen Discoveries is a New Jersey-based biotechnology company that is advancing therapies for patients suffering from allergic disorders and pulmonary fibrosis.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Immunology
    5B
    Nicholas Shubin
    Nicholas Shubin, CEO - NemaGen Discoveries
  32. Neuroene Therapeutics
    Neuroene is developing mitochondrial-protective small molecules for epilepsy, Parkinson's and mitochondrial diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Sherine Chan
    Sherine Chan, CEO and Co-Founder - Neuroene Therapeutics
  33. Neuronascent, Inc.
    Neuronascent Inc. discovers and develops novel neuron regenerative therapies for neurodegenerative and rare pediatric neurological diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Judith Kelleher-Andersson
    Judith Kelleher-Andersson, Founder and CEO - Neuronascent
  34. Oniria Therapuetics SL
    Oniria Therapeutics aims to revolutionize cancer treatment by bringing to market the first-in-class drug ONR-001, designed for solid and liquid aggressive tumors unresponsive to current treatments, paving the way for novel therapeutic combinations or standalone treatments.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Héctor Garcia Palmer
    Héctor Garcia Palmer, Chief Scientific Officer - Oniria Therapeutics
  35. Orakl Oncology
    Orakl Oncology stands at the forefront of the techbio landscape, pioneering the use of patient tumor avatars to meticulously accelerate and de-risk drug development.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Fanny Jaulin
    Fanny Jaulin, Co-founder and CEO - Orakl Oncology
  36. Origami Therapeutics, Inc.
    Origami Therapeutics is developing curative therapies that target and degrade disease-related proteins.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Beth Hoffman
    Beth Hoffman, Founder and CEO - Origami Therapeutics, Inc.
  37. Orlia
    Orlia provides optimization tools to maximize yield and improve cell health and viability in bioreactors and fermenters.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Tools/Drug Development Support Tech
    5B
    Christina McGraw
    Christina McGraw, Associate Professor - University of Otago
  38. Papillon Therapeutics, Inc.
    Papillon Therapeutics is a biotechnology company advancing genetic medicines for life threatening conditions with neurologic disease.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Carter Cliff
    Carter Cliff, CEO - Papillon Therapeutics, Inc.
  39. PHIOGEN
    PHIOGEN is a spin-off from Baylor College of Medicine and was born out of innovation from the globally renowned team at TAILOR Labs, one of the US's only bacteriophage therapy centers, now being commercialized to combat the AMR infection crisis.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Infectious Disease and Vaccines
    5B
    Amanda Burkardt
    Amanda Burkardt, CEO - PHIOGEN
  40. SiNON Nano Sciences
    SiNON has developed a patented tunable carbon nanoparticle that acts as a ‘Trojan horse' drug delivery platform that allows drugs to cross the blood brain barrier to treat many different neurological diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • CNS/Neurological
    5B
    Afreen Allam
    Afreen Allam, Founder & CEO - SiNON Nano Sciences
  41. SLAM BioTherapeutics, Inc.
    SLAM Bio is a preclinical stage biotech company developing a platform of antibodies and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) against signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) protein family.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Steven Potts
    Steven Potts, CEO
  42. Suntec Medical
    Suntec has a proprietary MINC (Multi-target Immune-modulation Nanocomplex) technology platform to develop highly effective and safe immunotherapies.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Pauline Lau
    Pauline Lau, Founder - Suntec Medical
  43. Synergy Therapeutics Inc.
    Synergy Therapeutics Inc. has discovered and developed a novel and disruptive way to potently upregulate p53, the "guardian of the genome", in both wildtype and mutant cancer cells.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Oncology
    5B
    Michael Atkin
    Michael Atkin, CEO - Synergy Therapeutics Inc.
  44. Tachmed Healthcare, Ltd.
    Tachmed develops revolutionary, proprietary technologies designed to detect chronic and infectious diseases.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine
    5B
    Paul Christie
    Paul Christie
  45. Trust Bio-sonics Inc.
    Trust Bio-sonics Inc. is a Taiwan based pharmaceutic company (Private) and a world leader in microsphere technologies for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-mediated drug delivery technologies.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Chung-Hsin Wang
    Chung-Hsin Wang, General Manager - Trust Bio-sonics Inc.
  46. VoxCell BioInnovation
    VoxCell is creating human-like vascularized tissue models as a screening platform in drug development; by combining Canada's first high-resolution 3D bioprinter, VoxCell's proprietary universal bioinks and VoxCell's vascularization software.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Tools/Drug Development Support Tech
    5B
    Kevin Vos
    Kevin Vos
  47. Vyro Bio Inc
    Vyro is a worldwide pioneer in the development of therapies and drug-delivery viral vectors based on Zika.
    Start-Up Stadium Session
    • Platform for Therapeutics
    5B
    Carolini Kaid
    Carolini Kaid, CEO/CSO - Vyro Bio Inc

The Seed-Stage winner receives:

  • Fast-track admission in the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 cohort of The Innovation Space’s Science Inc. virtual accelerator program and/or spotlight position in The Innovation Space’s monthly Spark Factory virtual event.  Moreover, the company will also be considered for up to a $240k First Fund investment (residency in The Innovation Space required for First Fund investments).

The Seed-Stage winner and the Emerging Start-Up winner each receive:

  • A complimentary one-year membership for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, including access to benefits from BIO Business Solutions®, the largest cost-savings purchasing program for the life sciences industry.
  • One complimentary registration including BIO One-on-One Partnering™ access to attend the 2025 BIO International Convention, June 16-19, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Congratulations to our 2024 Seed-Stage and Emerging Winners

2024 SEED-STAGE START-UP WINNER

SiNON Nano Sciences

Learn More

2024 EMERGING START-UP WIINNER

Neuroene Therapeutics

Learn more

BIO Thanks the Participating BIO 2024 Start-Up Stadium Judges:

  • Ibraheem Alinur, Vice President, 2Flo Ventures
  • Rebecca Allan, PhD, Senior Analyst, BoxOne Ventures
  • Michael Alvarez, Advisor, SIC Venture Studio
  • Souad Amiar, PhD, Scientific Consultant, Plexus Ventures
  • Mara Aspinall, Partner, Illumina Ventures
  • Emily Atkinson, PhD, Venture Analyst, IU Ventures
  • Giulia Balconi, Life Sciences Venture Capital, Adjuvant Capital
  • Max Baumann, Co-Founder & Execution Lead, Treehill Partners
  • Patti DuBois, Assistant Executive Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI)
  • Onne Ganel, Principal, Corporate Development, OGAdvisors
  • Gail Christine Gannon, CEO, Ensanté
  • Deborah Hemingway, PhD, Managing Partner, Ecphora Capital
  • Ted Jeong, D. Mgt., Founder and Managing Partner, Adelphi Ventures
  • Jeremiah Kelly, Partner, Venable LLP
  • David Kim, Partner & COO, Adelphi Ventures
  • Amanda Christine Maldonado, PhD, Manager, Innovation Portfolio, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Ari Marcellino, Program Manager, BioTools Innovator
  • Stephanie Marrus, Managing Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation Ventures, UCSF
  • Vinit Nijhawan, Managing Director, MassVentures
  • John Pennett, Investor, Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
  • Jon Popke, PhD, Investor, Mid Atlantic Bio Angels
  • William Provine, PhD, President & CEO, The Innovation Space
  • Sonal Vinay Rangnekar, PhD, Entrepreneurial Fellow, Chicago Biomedical Consortium
  • Alicia Russo, Partner, Venable LLP
  • Sally Wang Liang, Venture Partner, Viva BioInnovator
  • Samuel Wu, MD, PhD, Venture Partner, 7G BioVentures
  • Jian Zhang, PhD, Partner, Bojian Capital

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