Examples of Over 100 Successful Women Life Scientist Entrepreneurs
Stories: Successful Women Entrepreneurs in Biotechnology
- OzoneBio – The story of two female biochemists with an invention they call the zombie cell, which they use to produce bio-nylon from waste feedstock in an emissions-free, low-cost process. July 15, 2021.
- Helex Bio – An interview with co-founder and CEO Poulami Chaudhuri. Helex Bio is a biotech company working to make “gene editing safer, ultimately accelerating these therapies to market.” January 24, 2022.
- Podcast: Episode 88: “The Science of Starting a Biotech” – Yan Chen, CEO of Elpis Biopharmaceuticals, discusses how she transformed her scientific background into launching her own biotech company. August 2021.
- Video: Spinout Journey – Stories of how five British entrepreneurs, mostly women, got started. Talks about passion, inspiration, and what is needed to get more women involved in entrepreneurship. 2019.
- Video: The Ethnic Minority Women Entrepreneurs in Biotech (International Women’s Day – 2019) – Descriptions of inspirations, career paths, and accomplishments. Many of these entrepreneurs are also accomplished in promoting other women in STEM and entrepreneurship. By Biotech Basics.
Examples of Successful Women Entrepreneurs in the Life Sciences
- The Top 25 Women Leaders in Medical Devices of 2022 and 2023– Lists by the Healthcare Technology Report.
- Top 20 innovative female-founded biotech companies.
- 2021‘s, 2022‘s Fiercest Women in Life Sciences – Lists by Fierce Pharma, Questex LLC.
- The Next Generation of Women Founders and Entrepreneurs in Biotechnology Is Ready to Disrupt the Biohealth Industry – Describes six women from the capital biohealth industry featured in this 2019 article in BioBuzz by Steven Surdez for “building innovative biohealth companies.”
- History:
- The Scientist Who Saved the World – The story of Dr. Katalin Karikó, whose work with mRNA and promoting its possible applications contributed to the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19. By Mattie Kahn. November 2, 2021. Glamour.
- The role of women in biotechnology – Includes the stories of over twenty-five women who made major contributions to biotechnology. These women were leaders and pioneers, and many were entrepreneurs. Part of What is Biotechnology, which champions the role of women in the field.
Women Who Have Had SBIR Phase II Funding in Biological and Biomedical Technology
Kristy Hawkins – Antheia Inc. SBIR Phase II: A complete bioprocess for medicinal plant opioids.
Christine Santos – Manus Biosynthesis Inc. SBIR Phase II: Development of a low-cost production platform through engineered bacteria for a novel natural acaricide.
14 Public Life Sciences/Biomedical Companies Founded by Women
- Advaxis Immunotherapies – A biotechnology company dedicated to immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, founded by Dr. Yvonne Paterson. Merged with Ayala in 2023.
- Annovis Bio – A drug development to treat neurological diseases, such as dementia, founded by Maria L. Maccecchini.
- Astria Pharmaceuticals – Developing a drug specifically designed to treat a rare disorder, cofounded by Jill C. Milne.
- Athira Pharma – Develops treatments for neurological disease, founded by Leen Kawas.
- Ayala Pharmaceuticals – Makes therapies for rare genetic cancers, founded by Roni Mamluk.
- Caladrius Biosciences – Develops stem-cell therapies for the treatment of various diseases, founded by Catherine Vaczy. Merged with Cend Therapeutics in 2022 and became Lisata Therapeutics.
- Cortexyme – Biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing treatments for degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, founded by Casey Lynch. Merged with Novosteo in 2022 and became Quince Therapeutics.
- Editas Medicine – Genome-editing firm, researches and develops therapies for treating genetic based diseases, founded by Jennifer A. Doudna with Feng Zhang and J. Keith Joung.
- GlycoMimetics – Designs and develops natural molecule-therapy to fight cancer, founded by Rachel King and John Magnani.
- Jaguar Health – Provides natural, plant-based prescription products designed to promote gastrointestinal health in both humans and animals, founded by Lisa A. Conte.
- Marrone Bio – Aims to enhance the agricultural industry by producing natural biopesticides, founded by Pamela Marrone. Merged with Bioceres Crop Solutions in 2022 and became ProFarm.
- Myovant Sciences – Biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutics for endocrine disorders, founded by Lynn Seely.
- Twist Bioscience – Uses synthetic DNA tools, founded by Emily Leproust and Bill Banyai
- Veracyte – Conducts molecular testing with an end goal of lowering the price of effective healthcare, founded by Bonnie Anderson.
Source: 31 Public Companies Founded by Women by The Story Exchange. Half are in the biotechnology industry.
Stories and Advice from Successful Women Entrepreneurs in Biomedical and Biotechnology Entrepreneurship at Various Stages
Describes how Pharmor is contributing to the agriculture industry. Presented at the 2022 MIT Female Founders Pitch Competition. 8-minute video.
The Real Reason Female Entrepreneurs Get Less Money
Dana Kanze – Ted Talk presented in January 2019 on funding. 15-minute video.
Women in Biotech. Grow a Startup
Features advice from successful co-founders and CEOs of three biomedical or biotechnology startups. Produced by a platform in Lithuania encouraging women leadership in the life science sector. 2020.
A 1-hour, 34-minute video.
Women Entrepreneurs Building Disruptive Biotech Startups
Looks at three ethnic minority women who are building innovative biotech startups. By Spencer, Biotech Basics, produced for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2019. 8-minute video. Features:
- Natsai Audrey Chieza – Founder and Director of Faber Futures. Ecologically driven fabric creation.
- Shama Rahman – Founder and CEO of NeuroCreate. Facilitates flow state.
- Lisa Dyson – Co-founder and CEO of Kiverdi. Reuse/transformation of carbon.
16 US Women-Owned Life Sciences and Biomedical Businesses SBIR “Success Stories”
The NIH lists 85 “success stories” of businesses funded by SBIR on their website, 16 of which are US women-owned businesses:
- Pain Care Labs – Mechanical Stimulation Device Reduces Pain and Prevents Needle Fear
- Cognition Therapeutics – Alzheimer’s Drug Shows Progress in Restoring Cognitive Function
- Trifoia – Digital Learning Company Supports Parents, Teachers, and Underserved Communities
- Montana Molecular, LLC – Montana Molecular Aids Researchers in Studying Diseases from COVID-19 to Substance Use Disorders
- Intrinsic Lifesciences – Underlying Causes of Anemia Revealed With New Test
- Actuated Medical – Using Vibrations in Medical Devices
- REESSI – Woman-Owned Business Designs Games that Empower Youth
- Litron Laboratories – Litron Harnesses Light to Identify Toxic Substances
- Microvi Biotechnologies – Engineering Company Filters Water with Pollutant-Eating Microbes
- ACMA Social Marketing – Latina-Owned Business Creates Effective Public Health Campaigns
- Humacyte – Lab-Grown Blood Vessels Could Help Dialysis Patients
- Pinnacle Technology – Kansas Biomedical Company Advances Brain Disorder Research
- Behavior Imaging – Detecting Autism Earlier Leads to Better Treatment
- InDevR – Fast and Accurate Vaccine Potency Testing on a Machine the Size of a Desktop Printer
- Science Takeout – Science Takeout Brings Modern Research to the Classroom
- Talaris Therapeutics – Talaris Uses “Nurse Cells” to Get Transplant Patients Off Immunosuppressants
Source: NIH, 85 SBIR success stories
