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.
