Slides describing the state of incubator space in North Carolina for very small biotech companies - A personal perspective on my hunt for a new lab/ office

1. The Hunt for Incubator
Space for a ‘Small
Biotech’ in the
Triangle,NC
Sean Ekins
Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2. Moving out of the garage and
into a lab?
 I have worked in less space than this for 5 years
 I have funding and can grow
http://www.retireat21.com/blog/10-
companies-started-garages

3. What do I need as a virtual
Biotech..now and later
 Shared lab space to weigh out compounds for shipping
to CRO
 Perhaps a chemistry hood, biology hood..ultimately
would like to do in vitro experiments, analytical
resources
 Small office of own – room for 2 people could add a few
more + interns
 Fast Internet
 Security – space to grow
 Business mentoring + connections to VC, Angels
 Sense of community

4. A Major Biotech state that
wants more major companies
 North Carolina is home to more than 600 bioscience
companies that directly employ more than 63,000
people..
 Great quality of life, plenty of space but what about
start up labs..

5. What about the Triangle
…No lab

6. A Popular Incubator..

7. Offices and labs?

8. Other…

9. UNC
 For UNC spinouts or companies collaborating with UNC
scientists

10. NC State
 Open to companies
outside of NC State
 Do not have to have
collaborators

11. Duke
 Appears to
not have an
incubator
lab?

12. Other states have affordable
labs e.g. CA - LA

13. CA -Pasadena

14. CA – San Diego

15. MI

16. MA

17. MA

18. NY

19. NY

20. CT

21. IL

22. MD

23. Take home message
 Most of incubators in NC are set up for bigger companies
 Getting people to respond is hard, slow
 If we want to grow small companies why is it so difficult
 Infrastructure is not as well developed as MA, CA
 Need to inspire more people to start companies
 NC needs to provide resources

24. What if I could work here in
Fuquay Varina?
 I live 30 min from RTP, Raleigh
 50+ min from Chapel Hill and Durham
 Why commute?
 What if I found a building here and turned it into an
incubator?
 Would I be able to attract others to the area?

25. To Be Continued….
Contact
 Sean Ekins, Ph.D., D.Sc.
 Email collaborationspharma@gmail.com
 Phone 215-687-1320