Celsius
Synthetic Biology
Pre-Accelerator

• The Pre-Accelerator follows a 90-day curriculum-based instructional and milestone approach, with 6 additional months of support
• We are focused on industries and adjacencies in the Blue Economy, where Braid Theory has been a long established leader and expert, with a proven track record of success with startups and scale-ups, and can provide exceptional value, domain expertise, and connections to industry
• Startups will work with a team of advisors and instructors on reaching milestones, to accelerate business growth, that puts teams on a path to commercialization
• Work with Braid Theory's market partners to find a path forward for your technology
• Access to our unique waterfront facility, located at the AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles campus, which includes a small synthetic biology/biochemistry lab and a comfortable coworking space
• Access to our MOANA Investor Network, and other connections to seed and venture capital, other funding including grants, and sources of undiluted capital
• Package of services valued at over $200,000, including use of lab space and instruments, coworking space, legal services package, perks and other value-added program support
• A 2% warrant is taken in each company accepted into the program (3 year vesting period)
• No fees are associated with the program
• First-time Founders, and Technology and Scientist Founders from Underrepresented Communities are strongly encouraged to apply!
• Startups may be selected from university teams conducting research or entertaining a commercialization pathway for their discoveries and ideas

Startups should be working on key scientific research and exploring real-world applications/use-cases in synthetic biology

Startups should be working on key scientific research and application in bioinformatics, omics, platform/tools, automation or product. We are primarily looking for teams working on discoveries around (but not limited to):

🧬 Platform technologies: circuits, switches, chassies, biodesign, cell-free and gene-free engineering

🦠 Omics: genomics, proteomics, metagenomics, metabolics, phenomics, transcription and function 

💻 Bioinformatics: tools and software that enables synbio, AI/ML, computational biology

🏭 Automation: machinery, robotics and high throughput methods, including (but not limited to) microfluidics, biorefining, fermentation and biomanufacturing

🍣 Product: lab-grown/cultured food technologies, biofuel technologies, biosensors, biocomputers and storage, bioprinting, biofilms, genetic barcoding, biosafety/containment, biosecurity, track and traceability 

Startups should have a a strong technology and market readiness

• TRL 3-5
• MRL 2-4

Teams should be prepared to focus on these three areas when accepted into the program, for company success

• Strong and defensible IP
• Business model
• Product-market fit 

Teams should:

• Have at least one PI (Principal Investigator) co-founder
• Have at least one EL (Entrepreneurial Lead) co-founder
• At least one founder must be full-time
• Teams do not have to be located in the US to apply, however, while he program has a hybrid-virtual component, at least one team member should be prepared to be in the Los Angeles for most or all of the program (let’s discuss, if you have travel issues)
• Have at least a beta/prototype and/or a proof-of-concept level product, to create an MVP (not just a procedure, protocol, or an idea phase)

Teams will be chosen on the basis of:

• Uniqueness of concept
• Be a Synthetic Biology solution to a real world problem

Not sure you qualify? Reach out to us with any questions you may have regarding eligibility requirements, and if you’re the right fit. We’d like to hear from you!