MCE’s new bioscience business accelerator program.

What to Expect

BioStartup is led by a program manager with 20+ years of healthcare services, medical devices and life sciences entrepreneurial experience, who works closely with member companies to understand their business needs and connect them to appropriate MCE, Partner and Industry resources.

In addition to putting in effort and being challenged, BioStartup companies can expect the following upon acceptance into the program:

Timeline

Applications are open. Email Val Kratzman for details.

Eligibility

Applicants should be biotech, digital health, life sciences or medical device companies who:

• Have confirmed technology feasibility and viability
• Have received, applied for, or plan to apply for some form of Intellectual Property (IP) protection
• Have a prototype
• Are ready to start or grow their business

Participants in the program are competitively selected companies. Applicants are required to undergo an application process, followed by an in-depth interview to ensure we are providing our expertise and resources to companies with the heart and destination to succeed.

Main Program Elements

BioStartup program elements include a company assessment, industry specific one-on-one coaching & mentoring, intensive multi-day high-impact workshops, networking & connections to bioscience peers and business community visibility and connections.

Company Assessment

The program begins with an internal review to identify current technology and company stage, understand short and long term goals, establish objectives to identify opportunities and an action plan for development.

One-on-One Coaching by Industry Expert

Each company will receive industry specific one-on-one coaching with Val Kratzman, Program Manager who has over 40 years of experience working with start-ups through Fortune 100 companies in the international marketplace. Val will work with each company throughout the program to facilitate action plan execution.

Tailored Mentoring Through MCE’s Maine Mentor Network

MCE’s Maine Mentor Network (MMN) is made up of over 200 seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals from a range of industries (including bioscience & life sciences) with a variety of business experiences. Participants are matched with industry specific MMN mentors, as needed, to help them to achieve their goals.

Industry Intensive Workshop

Member companies participate in a 3 – 4 multi-day, highly collaborative, hands-on workshop focused on the needs of biotech companies and entrepreneurs.

Learning sessions are delivered by industry experts from Maine and beyond, giving participants the opportunity to listen and engage with successful entrepreneurs as they discuss vital business topics, and then apply what they’ve learned to their own businesses.

Program Topics will be selected based on the needs of participating companies and may include:

• Business & revenue models
• Branding and marketing for science-based companies
• Attracting & retaining life sciences professional talent
• Product postioning and go-to market strategies
• Regulatory clearance and compliance
• Reimbursement pathways
• Stage-gate product development, production, manufacturing & supply chain
• Capital formation
• De-risking your business
• Forging industry strategic alliances and partnerships

Peer Networking & Connections

Participants share and discuss their unique perspectives with peers facing similar challenges and issues, with a goal of brainstorming better ways to address and overcome the obstacles they face.

Life Science Showcase Event

In an effort to provide participants with visibility to the bioscience business community and continue to make connections that are critical to growth, participants will have a chance to showcase their products and business to an audience of potential investors, business leaders, and journalists for the Life Sciences Showcase Event.

Membership Cost

Through the support of MCE’s generous partners and sponsors, we are able to offer this program at a reduced cost of $750 per company.

Results

“Paul F and the MCE team are incredibly supportive and clearly want all of us to succeed, grow, and learn. Working with them has been fantastic. What we’ve gotten out of this program has been incredibly valuable, and we’ve made a ton of progress in a short amount of time.”

-Kristy Townsend, Ph.D, Neuright

“The BioStartup program has been extremely advantageous for my company. The one-on-one work with Paul Fitzpatrick, an industry expert, has improved our decision making processes, and I’m grateful that the program has been so tailored to my company’s needs.“

–Cem Giray, Salmonics