The final five firms competing for the top prize of $200,000 include the following:

• Celldom: The Durham, NC, startup is developing a technology that enables the paired analysis of phenotypic and genomic heterogeneity in large populations of cells.
• Clara Biotech: Founded in 2018, Clara Biotech is developing an exosome isolation platform enabling next-generation biotechnology.
• EpiCypher: Founded almost 20 years ago, EpiCypher is developing a multiomic assay that quantitatively maps DNA methylation and chromatin elements for drug discovery.
• Glyphic Biotechnologies: Based in San Francisco, Glyphic is developing a single-molecule, massively parallel, de novo protein sequencing platform.
• Machine Bio: Machine Bio was formed to overcome a bottleneck in the bioprocessing industry: efficiently producing pure protein. The company has developed the Transmembrane Protein Synthesis Platform, which can produce pure protein in hours.

The BioTools Innovator 2021 Capstone Event takes place at the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa immediately following the conclusion of the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa. The event features panel discussions with the BioTools Innovator 2021 cohort and the grand prize competition.

During the event, each finalist will have seven minutes to pitch their technology and answer questions from a panel of four judges. After the presentations, the audience will vote in real time to select the winner.

The judges participating in this year's grand finals are Shaun Kirkpatrick, president, Biotechnologies, Research Corporation Technologies; Chad Souvignier, vice president, Research Corporation Technologies; Bill Snider, partner, BroadOak Capital Partners; Bryan Poltilove, managing director, BroadOak Capital Partners.

The event is open to the public. Registration is available in person (seats are limited) or virtually.