Phoenix-based start-ups ElectraTect, FAKnostics, and Reference Medicine are among the 50 global companies selected to participate in the highly acclaimed Start-Up Stadium at the 2023 BIO International Convention. This unique platform provides seed-stage companies with an invaluable opportunity to interact with influential investors and receive feedback that will contribute to their journey toward success.
Competing on the Start-Up Stadium stage opens avenues for these start-ups to connect with key players in the investment community, venture philanthropy groups, and strategic partners, and gain access to previously unreachable capital.
“Companies are flocking to Phoenix, making it number one in life science job growth among the nation’s emerging life science markets,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “The bioscience health care workforce has increased by over 60% since 2008, which drives our economy forward. Watching businesses such as ElectraTect, FAKnostics, and Reference Medicine take the global bioscience stage and represent Phoenix is exciting.”
This year’s BIO International Convention, set to take place from June 5-8 in Boston, Massachusetts, aims to promote collaboration between large corporations and fledgling businesses in the biotechnology industry. Representing the City of Phoenix Pavilion (booth #3035) are nearly 30 companies and organizations. Attendees are encouraged to visit the City of Phoenix Pavilion at the 2023 BIO International Conference.
“As America’s fifth-largest city, we are also one of the top 10 places for start-ups, driving our bioscience industry forward at rapid speeds,” said the City of Phoenix Community and Economic Director, Christine Mackay. “Investors from across the globe are doubling down on their commitment to bioscience in Phoenix. I’m confident that the emerging life science opportunities and extraordinary innovation ecosystem in Phoenix will only continue to thrive. Our delegation is the best of the best, and we are ready to show off all Phoenix has to offer at BIO 2023.”
These Phoenix-based biotech start-ups, selected as finalists, are working on groundbreaking projects.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to present at Start-Up Stadium and are excited to share our vision for a world where cancer research isn’t stopped by specimen access, but rather, accelerated by it,” said Inga Rose, Founder, and CEO, Reference Medicine.
Similarly, FAKnostics is making a mark in cancer therapeutics.
“We are extremely excited to have this chance to present our science on groundbreaking cancer therapeutics and detection of highly aggressive cancers,” said Timothy Marlowe, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, FAKnostics, LLC. “FAK is a protein found in 80% of all cancers and FAKnostics has pioneered a brand-new way to design drugs that inhibit FAK, which represent the first of its kind. This is an excellent opportunity to meet prospective investors that want to bring revolutionary medicines to cancer patients in need.”
Making waves in innovation, ElectraTect among those selected this year.
“EelctraTect is honored to be selected among the hundreds of applicants to present at Start-Up Stadium and represent the budding biotech start-up hub in Phoenix,” Dr. Christina Forbes, Senior Scientist.
The Start-Up Stadium will distinguish evaluations of start-up company finalists who have raised less than $1M from those of emerging company finalists who have secured more than $1M but less than $10M to date. Winners will be identified in both categories. Previous winners have reaped benefits such as “fast-track” admission review to incubator programs at the Illumina Accelerator and The Innovation Space, along with complimentary one-year memberships in the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, inclusive of access to cost-saving programs of BIO Business Solutions.
ElectraTect, Inc. is developing a solution to one of society’s most recent problems – marijuana detection. Like alcohol, marijuana use can impair the operation of any vehicle. ElectraTect’s breathalyzers detect tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. The device would use electricity and an oxidation reaction to detect levels of THC. Police would employ the breathalyzer roadside, with the long-term goal of the device being accessible for the public to use in the home.
FAKnostics, LLC is a research leader in therapeutic development with core competencies in pharmacology and drug discovery. FAK (focal adhesion kinase) is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase that is over-expressed and activated in several advanced-stage solid cancers. Over the last four years, FAKnostics has developed a focus on structure-based drug design to complement and extend cancer biology capabilities. In the future, FAKnostics plans to continue the development of FAK-related drugs to provide new therapies for cancers and other diseases that lack effective treatment options.
Reference Medicine was founded by researchers who were tired of traditional biospecimen sourcing getting in the way of science. Reference Medicine makes it easy to find the specimens you need at a fraction of the cost – so your team can get on to building the next big thing in healthcare.