BioMed X Venture Labs: A Build-to-Solve Startup Creation Engine in the Heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts

At BioMed X Venture Labs, we co-create custom startups designed from day 1 to deliver solutions for gaps/needs defined by our partners.

A ā€œBuild to Solveā€ Startup Creation Engine


At BioMed X Venture Labs, we co-create custom startups designed from day 1 to deliver solutions for gaps/needs defined by our Partners.

We create the startups you couldn’t find


To fill your ā€œorphanā€ product pipeline gaps for patients.

With Speed in the Optimal Environment


Execute leveraging the Cambridge biopharma ecosystem to access experienced industry experts, investors, strategic partners and minimize wrong turns.

Early biomedical innovation is messy.

Ideal investment opportunities in startups are very rare.

Valley of Death is broadening.

Where will the next wave of innovation come from?

What if we had a de-risked startup process to solve this?

Discover BioMed X’ successful model

Why partner with us?

Key success factors for transformational innovation

Research Support:

  • Experienced, creative, coachable and 100% dedicated scientist founders
  • Clarity of end goal and singular focus – from day 1 – on predefined pharma product pipeline opportunity or gap
  • Exclusive ownership of key intellectual property
  • Suitable shareholder structure and investment model
  • Integrated with supportive innovation ecosystem
  • R&D talent is free to only focus on science
  • Combination of the creativity of academia and industry rigor and discipline standards

Operational Support:

  • State-of-the-art lab and office facility including special lab equipment & vendor access
  • IP & Legal support (patent strategy & portfolio management, MTAs, work with human materials, GMO applications, data protection, animal work, ethic committee, etc.)
  • HR support (recruitment via Career Space, relocation & visa, onboarding, payroll & benefits, training, personnel development, etc.)
  • Finance support (budget planning & management, shared materials, special equipment)

Company Building Support:

  • On-site on-going coaching by experienced serial entrepreneurs and R&D experts
  • Investor relationship building
  • Recruitment of leadership team (part-/full-time)

We apply design thinking-based co-creation process followed by best-in-class company incubation

Challenge Crowdsourcing Ideation Co-creation & Incubation
Format Workshop 8-week call 5-day boot camp 4-year (2+2) seed phase
Objective Identify high-impact gap/need Identify 15 top talents and startup ideas Identify top startup team and pitch Develop key IP and build investable company
Method Explore and articulate “challenge” ideas with partners Sources and evaluate 100-200 applicants and startup proposals Inspire and coach 15 talents to develop 5 startup pitches Build and mentor startup teams at BioMed X Venture Labs, embedded in Boston ecosystem

ABOUT US

Experienced leaders join forces to launch a unique startup co-creation engine in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusette

Dr. Michal Preminger

Co-Founder & CEO of BioMed X Venture Labs

  • Former Head of J&J Innovation E. North America
  • Executive Director Harvard Office of Tech Development
  • Biotech Senior Executive, Startup Founder
  • Board Member, for- and not-for-profit
  • >30 years in scientific translation, ecosystem building, leadership and startup founder mentorship

Dr. Christian Tidona

Co-Founder of BioMed X Venture Labs

  • Founder & CEO of BioMed X
  • Serial startup founder and builder (Multimetrix, Cytonet, HI-STEM)
  • Board member, advisor and mentor to for- and not-for-profit
  • >25 years in translation & ecosystem building (BioRN)

Dr. Thomas Rueckle

Global Head of Research at BioMed X

  • Extensive biopharma R&D hands on and leadership experience across TAs and functions
  • Former Global Head of Discovery – Serono/Merck Serono
  • Former Director of Translational Medicines for Malaria Venture
  • Former Chief Development Officer – GeNeuro

Dr. Bahar Eftekharzadeh

Head of Research BioMed X US

  • Harvard and Biogen-trained early- and late-stage small molecule drug developer and Neuroscience expert
  • Startup builder and founding team member at AstronauTx, Nereid Therapeutics, Neuron23
  • Advanced programs across neurodegeneration and oncology
  • Rich investor and executive network across biotech, pharma and venture capital

BioMed X is an Innovation Engine for pharma established in Germany in 2013 with multiple sites worldwide

  • Researchers: 46 active + 145 alumni
  • Interns (Research): 18 active + 137 alumni
  • Support: 17 active + 21 alumni
  • More than 25 nationalities and languages
  • More than 50 network Partners in life science between academia and startups incubators
  • On average, 100-200 project proposals from up to 80 countries per challenge

OUR TRACK RECORDS

74%
Research Project IP Acquired by Partner
35
Research & Startup Teams Created
21
Research Projects Completed
42
Boot Camps Performed
>16,000
Researchers Registered in Career Space
>900
Members of BioMed X Community

OUR RESEARCH AREAS

OUR VALUE PROPOSITION

Embedded in the Cambridge Innovation Ecosystem

BioMed X Venture Labs is located at CIC Cambridge in Kendall Square, placing our founding teams at the heart of one of the world’s leading life science and innovation ecosystems.

  • Founding teams are co-located in Cambridge MA and embedded in a dense network of scientific, clinical, and investment expertise, enabling faster, stronger execution, and durable downstream partnerships.
  • External innovation in high-risk exploratory fields of biomedical research and drug discovery & development
  • Access to the best international academic research talents via BioMed Xā€˜s Career Space
  • Relocation of top talents to an innovation lab facility embedded in a world-leading academic research campus ecosystem
  • A collaborative working model focused on clear deliverables and constant progress leveraging partnersā€˜ expertise
  • First right of the partner to transfer the results at the end of the project term

Photo source: Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)

The Baggage that is NOT Carried by Our Startups:

convoluted journey to figure out the most relevant application for a new technology/approach; long and exhausting negotiations with academic institutions for IP of questionable value, march-in rights, reach-through rights, and arbitrary development milestones that need to be met to retain the license; unnecessary and costly sponsored research in PIs’ academic labs; pre-existing commitments to other academic institutions (e.g., under MTA); messy cap table; waste of precious time and energy of scientific team on administrative tasks they are not qualified to perform.

BioMed X Mission

BioMed X is a Build-to-Solve innovation engine for pharma, patient-focused foundations, and investors. Together with our partners, we identify the biggest R&D pipeline gaps, we crowdsource the world’s brightest scientific talents, and we co-create original solutions at our innovation labs worldwide that benefit patients. With our global network of research institutes and venture-creating incubators, embedded within major innovation hubs, we bridge the gap between academic research and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

We are pioneers in applying the principles of design thinking and crowdsourcing to drug discovery and development. With our unique model, we partner with pharma, venture capital, and patient-focused foundations to identify key challenges across all therapeutic areas, recruit top talent, and co-create tailored solutions.

In our stimulating ecosystem, talented researchers from all around the globe grow into industry-ready scientific leaders. They perform exploratory research, deliver industry-grade results, and pave the way for next-generation therapies. At BioMed X, we value curiosity, diversity, and purpose. Together, we serve as a vital catalyst for innovation in global health – for the benefit of all patients.

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ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS

More than 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals from which:

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD theses completed