HiveBio is a virtual accelerator program designed to support early-stage life science entrepreneurs from underserved communities. Created by underserved founders for underserved founders, the program aims to reshape the landscape of life science startups by providing essential resources, mentorship, and connections needed for growth and scalability. The inaugural program, powered by WorldUpstart Impacts, is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to enhance funding opportunities and outcomes for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Program Mission and Vision
• Vision: To foster a future where funding opportunities for minority-owned life science startups flourish, breaking down barriers and promoting broader representation across the global innovation ecosystem.
• Mission: To provide life science entrepreneurial support and resources, including hands-on fundraising coaching, to elevate minority-owned startups, with a long-term goal of global impact.
Founder Focus
HiveBio is dedicated to supporting founders from a range of underserved communities, including:
• First-generation founders
• Women
• Nonbinary individuals
• LGBTQ+ community members
• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
• Immigrant entrepreneurs
Core Curriculum
The accelerator program educates and coaches entrepreneurs on six key elements to prepare them for success:
• Storytelling: Crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with investors and stakeholders.
• Customer Discovery: Utilizing research techniques to identify and solve the right problems for the right people.
• Strategic Planning: Navigating business planning from preclinical stages to commercial market entry.
• Financial Projection: Mastering the art of projecting financial success to ensure the startup is sound and attractive to investors.
• SBIR/STTR Application: Unlocking strategies for securing funds through Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer programs.
• Angel/VC Funding: Tailoring a fundraising strategy to attract capital from angel investors and venture capital firms.
Eligibility Requirements for Cohort 1
• Geography: Applicants for the first cohort were required to live in the Greater Philadelphia area, which includes Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties in New Jersey.
• Company Types: The program accepts startups in the following categories:
• Biopharma & Drug Development: Therapeutics, including small molecules, biologics, gene and cell therapies, and precision medicine.
• Medical Devices & Diagnostics: FDA-regulated medical devices, diagnostic tools, or lab testing innovations.
• Digital Pharma & Precision Medicine: AI, machine learning, or digital tools that enhance drug development, personalized medicine, or clinical trial efficiency.
• Healthcare Data & AI for Life Sciences: Solutions leveraging real-world evidence, predictive analytics, or AI for clinical decision support.
Inaugural Cohort Participants
The first HiveBio cohort featured ten startups from the Greater Philadelphia area, driving innovation across various life science sectors:
• Ajaya Bio: Developing BOLT-360™, a bispecific platform for autoimmune diseases and oncology.
• BioLattice Ophthalmics: Innovating biomimetic, cell-friendly scaffolds for ophthalmic tissue replacement and corneal treatment.
• Bound Therapeutics: Creating novel cancer therapies with a preclinical program for triple-negative breast cancer.
• Cerespectus: A medical device startup pioneering gene therapy delivery pathways for neurological health.
• DRS.LINQ: Redefining remote cardiovascular monitoring with mHeart for mobile triage and real-time diagnostics.
• Higher Medicine: Developing epigenetic health restorative therapies for rare pediatric disorders and age-related conditions.
• QuneUp: A biotech software startup digitizing quality control operations for laboratory and biomanufacturing equipment.
• Trevarx Biomedical: Utilizing PARP inhibitor analogues with radiopharmaceutical platforms for oncology treatments.
• Valfard Therapeutics: Pioneering biomaterial-based growth factor delivery for treating Stage I & II diabetic foot ulcers.
• Vasowatch: Developing technology for continuous monitoring of a mother’s risk for postpartum hemorrhage.
Application Details for Cohort 1
Applications for the inaugural cohort are now closed. The program was offered at no cost to participants. Key dates for the cohort were as follows:
• Applications Opened: January 23
• Applications Closed: February 21 (Deadline Extended)
• Cohort 1 Announced: Early April
• Cohort 1 Meetings: 2025–26 (program duration; virtual and in-person)
By empowering entrepreneurs from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds, HiveBio aims to cultivate a more inclusive and innovative biotech ecosystem. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up for the program’s newsletter to receive key insights, industry updates, and information on future events and opportunities.