Each company will receive customized mentorship and support from senior industry leaders and have the chance to compete for up to $200,000 in nondilutive cash prizes during the final competition on October 15 in Carlsbad, CA.

The biotechnology companies are developing various solutions for cell research, genomics, data and informatics, and synthetic biology. The semifinalists include the following:

• Celldom
• Clara Biotech
• Elemental Machines
• Enrich Therapeutics
• EpiCypher
• Glyphic Biotechnologies
• Kino Discovery
• Iino Biotech
• Machine Bio
• Stellate DNA

Over 160 companies applied for the BioTools program, but only four startups from the 2021 BioTools cohort will advance to compete in the grand finals. The winning company will be determined by a live audience vote and granted the title of BioTools Innovator 2021 Winner.

"We built this Accelerator to support innovators in bringing their promising ideas to market," said Kathryn Zavala, PhD, managing director of BioTools Innovator. "Together with our partners, we are proud to provide valuable education and expert mentorship to these entrepreneurs working to make a real impact on human health."

BioTools Innovator, a spinoff of the successful Medtech Innovator program, matches industry leaders with innovative early-stage and emerging growth biotechnology-focused companies for mentorship and support. Funding for BioTools Innovator is provided by the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation of Research Corporation Technologies (RCT). Additional support is provided by BroadOak Capital Partners.