BioTools Innovator Names Limula 2023 Winner

Cell Therapy Manufacturing Company Wins $250,000 Grand Prize at the BioTools Innovator Capstone Event

BioTools Innovator, the first-ever accelerator focused on life science tools companies, announced today that Limula (Lausanne, Switzerland) is the grand prize winner of the BioTools Innovator 2023 Final competition. The winning company was determined by a live audience vote Oct. 12 at the BioTools Innovator Capstone Event in Carlsbad, Calif.

Limula, the winner of the $250,000 non-dilutive Grand Prize and the title of 2023 BioTools Innovator, offers an automated tool for scalable cell therapy manufacturing. Its unique technology for the first time combines a bioreactor and centrifuge into one device to support the “one-patient – one batch” production of personalized treatments with minimal human intervention.

“Being part of the BioTools Innovator has been incredible. The program was instrumental in helping us bridge the knowledge gap between Switzerland and the U.S., and the mentorship from industry leaders was invaluable in helping us build our value proposition and business strategy,” said Luc Henry, CEO of Limula. “All of our fellow cohort companies represent amazing innovation in the life sciences tools space, and we are truly honored to have won the grand prize.”

As part of a rigorous selection process, together with the senior leadership teams of its corporate partners at Research Corporation Technologies, Broad Oak Capital Partners, Nissan Chemical America Corp., and more than 80 industry judges from leading life science firms, BioTools Innovator evaluated the pitches of 37 candidates out of more than 300 applicants from 26 countries and 28 U.S. states. Nineteen companies were then selected to participate in the BioTools Innovator Accelerator, which prominently features best-in-class life science startups from around the world. The remaining finalists, Andson Biotech, Aopia Biosciences and BioRaptor each received $10,000.

Also presented as part of the BioTools Capstone Event is the 2023 Best Video Award, recognizing cohort companies for excellence in effectively and creatively communicating their value proposition in a short video format. As voted by industry peers, ReelReactor won the title of Best Company Video and earned a $10,000 cash prize.

“BioTools Innovator was launched three years ago to advance life science tools innovation. Since then, we and our sponsors have fostered the development of dozens of companies at the leading edge of life science tools and diagnostics,” said Kathryn Zavala, managing director of BioTools Innovator. “Congratulations to Limula and all of the BioTools Innovator 2023 cohort companies. We’re thrilled to contribute their progress as they help drive the discovery of new solutions to improve human health.”

Reviewers and experts who participated in BioTools Innovator pitch events included representatives from Agilent, AstraZeneca, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Danaher, DeciBio, Draper, Eppendorf, General Inception, Genentech, Genoa Ventures, Illumina Ventures, Jabil, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, MilliporeSigma, Mira Life Science Ventures, NIIMBL, Northpond Ventures, Synthego, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tosoh USA, Teknova, VC23, among others.

A complete list of the BioTools Innovator 2023 cohort companies can be found here.

“The strength of this year’s BioTools Innovator cohort underscores the need for new, innovative life science tools to drive the next generation of drug discovery and improve the lives of patients. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Limula,” said Chad Souvignier, vice president of RCT. “We’re proud to be a part of their continued success, and look forward to watching their progress.”

“The BioTools Innovator cohort represents entrepreneurs at the cutting edge of cell and gene therapy, single cell genomics, and more,” said Bill Snider, partner at BroadOak Capital Partners. “Limula’s tool for scalable cell therapy manufacturing is another example of this, and we applaud the team at BioTools Innovator for the work they are doing to expand this vital ecosystem.”

BioTools Innovator provides startups with individualized mentorship and feedback, funding opportunities, and continual engagement with peers and advisors. Funding for BioTools Innovator is provided by the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation of Research Corporation Technologies, Inc. (RCT). Additional support is provided by BroadOak Capital Partners and Nissan Chemical America Corporation.

About BioTools Innovator

Based in Los Angeles, BioTools Innovator was established to advance cutting-edge research and improve human health by accelerating the growth of a broad spectrum of life science tools and diagnostics. BioTools Innovator matches industry leaders with innovative early stage and emerging growth biotechnology-focused companies for mentorship and support.

BioTools Innovator is powered by MedTech Innovator, the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. To date, MedTech Innovator has supported 613 alumni that have gone on to raise $7.2 billion in follow-on funding, brought 283 products to market, and achieved 41 exits.

For more information about BioTools Innovator, visit the website, and follow the program on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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