Resource Directory
18 programs across UCSF, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the Bay Area ecosystem
Showing 18 resources
AI & Computational Biology in Biotech
The biotech industry is increasingly driven by AI and computational approaches — from drug discovery and genomics to digital health and protein engineering. These programs are especially relevant for students with AI, ML, bioinformatics, or computational biology backgrounds looking to enter or build in the biotech space.
Connects startups with investors, clinicians, and industry experts through programs including ADAPT, BUILD, RISE, and Rosenman Innovators. Includes its own venture fund — MedTech Venture Partners.
Offerings
Non-dilutive funding, intensive mentorship (business strategy, product development, regulatory), investor networking, and an annual symposium with pitches to investors. Expert consulting, internships, and operational support included.
How to Apply
Annual program calls. Rosenman Innovators opens applications in spring. ADAPT has specific criteria for companies with a product ready for pilot. No university affiliation required.
Notable Alumni
Arterys (AI-powered medical imaging), Neura Health, ThriveLink (each received $100K ADAPT awards).
UCSF's flagship internal accelerator bridging the "valley of death" between academic research and viable products. Covers Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Digital Health, and Bio-tools.
Offerings
Non-dilutive seed funding and hands-on mentorship over ~1 year. 80+ industry advisors guide experimental milestones, IP strategy, and market translation. Entrepreneurship education workshops included.
How to Apply
Annual RFP open to UCSF investigators only. Short proposals reviewed for commercial potential. Projects at proof-of-concept stage with strong scientific basis are ideal. UCSF affiliation required.
Notable Alumni
Circle Pharma (UCSF spin-out), Frank Brodie's retinal therapeutics project. Over half of Catalyst-supported projects progress to commercial development.
Flagship "Startup 101" is a 10-week online program teaching core business principles for life science startups. Build a business plan with Silicon Valley mentors — free or minimal fee for UCSF affiliates.
Offerings
Opportunity assessment, business models, team building, IP, FDA/regulatory strategy, reimbursement, and pitching. Finish with an investor pitch deck and business plan. SBIR/STTR grant education workshops also offered.
How to Apply
Register at venture.ucsf.edu. UCSF affiliates only. Selection may be first-come or via short application if oversubscribed.
Notable Alumni
InCarda Therapeutics (raised venture funding after UCSF workshops). Hundreds of UCSF scientists trained; many have won NIH SBIR grants.
UCSF's hub for computational and data-science approaches to health. Connects researchers and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of AI, machine learning, EHR data, and clinical care — bridging computational research to real-world health innovation and commercialization.
Offerings
Seed funding for computational health projects, access to de-identified clinical datasets (via UCSF's OMOP data warehouse), mentorship from clinical and industry AI experts, seminar series, and connections to UCSF's AI in healthcare commercialization network.
Best For
Students and postdocs with computational skills (ML, statistics, bioinformatics, NLP) who want to build tools for clinical care, drug discovery, genomics analysis, or health systems. Strong fit for AI/computational master's students seeking biotech exposure.
How to Engage
Attend Bakar Institute events and seminars to connect with researchers and clinicians. Apply to pilot grant calls posted on the institute website. UCSF affiliation required for most programs.
UC system-wide institute bridging quantitative sciences (bioinformatics, structural biology, systems biology) and biotech entrepreneurship. QB3 also runs its own startup incubator program and connects researchers to the Bay Area biotech industry.
Offerings
QB3@953 startup incubator space in SF, gap funding for early-stage biotech ventures, connections to VCs and pharma partners, commercialization support for UC-affiliated researchers, and a robust network of biotech industry contacts.
Best For
Researchers in computational biology, structural biology, genomics, proteomics, and systems biology who want to start or join a biotech company. Strong fit for master's students in bioinformatics or computational biology.
How to Apply
Contact QB3 directly via their website. UCSF, UC Berkeley, or UCSC affiliation required. Both wet-lab and computational startups are supported. QB3 also hosts the IndieBio program relationship in SF.
Prestigious 10-month paid fellowship training participants in the Biodesign Process: identifying unmet medical needs, inventing solutions, and forming startups. ~12 fellows selected globally per year.
Offerings
Stipend-supported fellowship, access to Stanford clinical environments and prototyping facilities, vast Biodesign alumni network, investors, and medtech industry contacts. Post-fellowship coaching and Coulter Translational Grant opportunities.
How to Apply
Highly competitive. Submit resume, essays, and letters of recommendation online. ~12 fellows selected from hundreds of applicants. No Stanford affiliation required — diversity of backgrounds encouraged.
Notable Alumni
57+ companies founded. Oculeve (acquired by Allergan), EarLens, Shockwave Medical (public company). In first 12 years: 26 startups, $200M+ raised, 500+ jobs, 150,000+ patients impacted.
Non-profit, non-equity accelerator with strong peer mentorship ethos. Stanford has invested $200M+ so founders keep 100% equity. Includes StartX Med track for healthcare ventures.
Offerings
Weekly workshops and mentoring, access to Stanford talent pool, investor Demo Day, networking events, lifelong community membership. 1,800+ entrepreneurs and advisors. 92% of alumni still active or acquired.
How to Apply
Online application, interviews, evaluation by other entrepreneurs. At least one founder must have Stanford affiliation. Single-digit acceptance rate.
Notable Alumni
700+ startups, valued $26B+ collectively. NanoPrecision Medical, Lucira Health (COVID-19 test, IPO 2021), Cortexyme. Average $11M raised per company.
Hands-on program bridging academic discovery and commercialization in biopharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Weekly meetings with 200+ industry advisors focused on drug development milestones.
Offerings
Funding + 1–2 year mentorship. Advisors guide medicinal chemistry, preclinical testing, patent strategy, and investor pitching. Weekly seminar series on drug development open to Stanford community. For-credit course available.
How to Apply
Short proposals on product concept and unmet need. Proof-of-concept data required. Faculty PI required; postdocs/students can be co-investigators.
Notable Alumni
50%+ of projects advanced to clinical trials or commercialization. 32 startups and 16 licenses as of 2018. Jasper Therapeutics (~$35M raised), FermaVir (acquired ~$15M). Won 2025 ACTS "Team Science" Award.
UC Berkeley's flagship accelerator combining program, mentorship network, and venture fund. Access to 450+ mentors, investor Demo Days, and Berkeley's 500,000-strong alumni network. Active in AI biotech and healthtech.
Offerings
Office space, access to UC Berkeley research facilities and core labs, introductions to investors and corporate partners. HotDesk track for very early-stage projects with rolling admission.
How to Apply
Application rounds twice a year. Written application + interviews. ~20–30 companies per batch. HotDesk has rolling admission.
Notable Alumni
Alumni raised $1.47B+ with 25+ Series A/B and 17+ exits. Lime ($1B+), NovaXS Biotech, Cherubic (AI drug discovery). 60% of companies secure follow-on funding.
Berkeley's largest full-service incubator (~35 resident companies) dedicated entirely to wet-lab bioscience. Rent by the bench, with shared instrumentation and access to core research facilities.
Offerings
Turnkey wet labs with essential equipment, EH&S support, conference rooms, and event space. Pitch coaching, investor days, connections to Berkeley talent pool. QB3 commercialization expert network.
How to Apply
Rolling application on Bakar Labs website. Committee evaluates scientific merit, team capability, and logistical needs. Leases typically 6–12 months, renewable. External startups welcome.
Notable Alumni
Lviva Therapeutics (regenerative medicine), Micronoma (microbiome cancer diagnostics). Expanding with a new adjacent facility by 2027.
UC's premier incubator for technology ventures — healthtech, bioengineering, AI, robotics. 12-month free program emphasizing product development and prototyping. No equity taken. Strong AI and computational focus.
Offerings
Workspace on campus, mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, training sessions, networking with investors. Access to CITRIS labs (device fabrication, makerspaces). Demo Day with investors and industry partners.
How to Apply
Competitive. At least one founder from a UC campus. Looks for working prototype + compelling societal impact. Both hardware and software (AI) ventures accepted.
Notable Alumni
Earable (wearable sleep tech), Respira Labs, Proggi (acquired), Eko Devices (smart stethoscope — FDA approved, joined YC). 130+ startups, alumni raised $220M+.
UC's marquee startup accelerator and venture competition at Haas Business School. 3-month program with lean startup curriculum, mentorship, and pitch coaching — culminating in a competitive Demo Day with cash prizes.
Offerings
Structured startup curriculum, intensive feedback on business plans, networking and visibility. Free workspace during key weeks. Some teams recruit Haas MBA students as co-founders or interns.
How to Apply
Annual written application and video pitch. UC affiliation required. Some validation or prototype expected. Both for-profit and social impact ventures considered.
Notable Alumni
Indiegogo (early participant), Pearl Therapeutics (acquired by AstraZeneca ~$1.15B), MindSets/Neurofenix (stroke rehab). Alumni raised $70M+ collectively.
One of the world's leading biotech accelerators. 4-month cohort program turning scientists into founders with dedicated lab space in SF. Covers therapeutics, synbio, agri-food, clean biotech, and more.
Offerings
Seed funding, free lab/office space, extensive mentor network (weekly 1:1 with biotech entrepreneurs, VCs, IP lawyers), up to $10K in AWS credits. SOSV often continues to invest at seed and Series A post-program.
How to Apply
Online application. No affiliation required. Seeks scientists with breakthrough biotech ideas at pre-seed stage. Culminates in Demo Day before top VCs.
Student-led nonprofit helping scientists bridge academia and industry. Offers the Activator — a non-dilutive semester-long mentorship program with industry experts and investors. Key OCPD partner for the June 2026 Career & Innovation Connect event.
Offerings
Activator: semester-long mentorship with biopharma executives, investors, and serial entrepreneurs. Events, workshops, and global community of academic bioentrepreneurs. No equity taken.
OCPD Connection
Key partner for the "Career & Innovation Connect" networking event (June 2026), directly connecting UCSF students with Bay Area biotech founders and investors.
Premier shared lab facility in South San Francisco — "Biotech Capital of the World." 70+ biotech startups sharing equipment, expertise, and connections on flexible membership terms. No equity taken.
Offerings
Fully equipped chemistry and biology labs, shared high-cost instruments (mass spec, NMR, cell culture), on-site EH&S support. Community seminars, networking events, and access to South SF biotech ecosystem.
How to Apply
Contact MBC BioLabs directly to discuss space availability. Flexible terms from single bench rental to dedicated lab suites.
Johnson & Johnson's "no strings attached" life science incubator in SF. Lab and office space plus access to J&J scientific and business expertise — without giving up equity. QuickFire Challenges offer non-dilutive awards.
Offerings
Lab/office space, access to J&J scientific and business expertise, introductions to J&J venture (JJDC) and Janssen Pharmaceutical partnerships. QuickFire Challenges provide non-dilutive funding for specific innovation themes.
How to Apply
Apply on the JLABS website for a specific location. Rolling admissions. QuickFire Challenges have separate application processes with specific focus areas each cycle.
CLS's Forecasting, Accelerating & Scaling Technologies program connects life science startups with non-dilutive funding, CEO-in-residence coaching, and California's life science investor ecosystem.
Offerings
CEO-in-residence coaching, industry mentorship, connections to California's life science funding ecosystem, and access to the CLS community of 1,400+ member companies.
How to Apply
Annual application through the CLS website. California-based companies preferred. Mix of therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health accepted.
The world's most prestigious startup accelerator. 3-month batch in SF with a rapidly growing portfolio of AI and biotech companies. The YC alumni network is one of the most powerful in Silicon Valley. Now actively funding AI-biology and computational drug discovery startups.
Offerings
3-month intensive program, weekly dinners with founders and investors, office hours with YC partners, access to 10,000+ alumni network. Demo Day before hundreds of top investors. Powerful brand signal for fundraising.
How to Apply
Short online application (no long business plan). YC values team quality, market size, and insight into the problem. AI biotech and computational biology startups are increasingly prioritized. Applications roll continuously.
Notable Alumni
Ginkgo Bioworks, Rigetti Computing, Lucira Health, plus hundreds of AI-biology startups. Combined alumni valuation $600B+.
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