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Generative A.I. Arrives in the Gene Editing World of CRISPR
Much as ChatGPT learns to generate language by analyzing Wikipedia articles, books and chat logs, Profluent’s technology creates new gene editors after analyzing enormous amounts of biological data, including microscopic mechanisms that scientists already use to edit human DNA. Read post 
Minutia Wins $1.2M Grant from CIRM for “Immune Cloaking of Human Stem Cell-Derived Insulin Producing Cells”
Our tenant Minutia, with CEO and co-founder Katy Digovich listed as recipient, won a $1,192,586 DISC0 award for “Immune cloaking of human stem cell-derived insulin producing cells for curative cell therapy without immunosuppression.” Read post
Tenant Spotlight on Inapill: A Novel Approach to Interrupting Inflammation
“We hope this new oral therapeutic targeting proinflammatory immunometabolism will have ‘pipeline-in-a-pill’ potential,” says CEO and co-founder Greg Timblin. “Once it garners FDA approval in one inflammatory indication, it could be used in the clinic as a treatment across multiple inflammatory diseases. Perhaps it could even provide benefit to patients with more complex diseases where excessive inflammation is thought to be a driving factor, such as cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.” Read post Bakar Labs Wins East Bay Innovation Award
The Innovation Award recognizes the real contribution Bakar Labs makes to the regional economy by supporting entrepreneurs building new companies, hiring skilled workers, bringing in investment, expanding their operations, and forging partnerships as they develop cures and solutions for the most urgent challenges that face us in human health. Since the incubator’s launch in November 2021, the 38 companies that we’ve hosted have raised more than $380 million and created more than 300 jobs. Read post
‘If You Could Hallucinate a Protein’: Profluent Snags $35M for Generative AI Models
In January 2023, Profluent’s large language model was detailed in a Nature Biotechnology paper, showing that it could create new proteins that functioned like ones found in nature. The upstart was founded by CEO Ali Madani, a former leader of machine learning work at Salesforce Research, and University of Washington School of Medicine assistant professor Alexander Meeske. Read post
Meet The Disruptors: Anil Narasimha Of Mekonos On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
“Anytime you want to be a disruptor in a space, you have to start by understanding what the status quo is in that space, because sometimes it can be a moving target. Sometimes if you haven’t defined the status quo properly, you can go down a rabbit hole that you don’t necessarily need to go down.” Read post
Funding Success for Seaweed-Based Bacon Startup
Pioneering the production of seaweed-based bacon alternatives, Berkeley-based Umaro Foods reports a successful second funding round, and is looking to move its products into retail markets. Read post
Profluent Secures $35M in Additional Funding and Key Industry Experts to Scale Foundational AI Models for Biomedicine and Tackle First Vertical in Gene Editing
“Our research at the forefront of AI has enabled Profluent to create large language models that begin to learn the blueprint of nature,” said Ali Madani, Profluent co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We are moving biology from being constrained by what can be discovered in nature to being able to design precisely according to our needs via AI. The science is real and the time is now to proactively create breakthrough medicines that can transform society.” Read postOur affiliates
Ready to run?
Startups need to focus on making milestones, not managing equipment.
Bakar Labs maintains tissue culture facilities, a freezer farm, fume hoods, basic benchtop equipment and plenty of analytical instruments. Optional lab support services can also make for quick starts that help get results fast.
At UC Berkeley
Bakar Labs is just steps from UC Berkeley’s world-renowned faculty and more than 40,000 students who train in top programs including science, engineering, law and business. Dotting the campus is a network of core facilities that feature a wide range of advanced equipment and services for use by startups. Recruiting student talent and scientific co-founders couldn’t be easier.
Today’s best startups blaze a trail all their own, but they don’t do it alone.
They build their support network to help them navigate the multiple challenges they face. At Bakar Labs, tenants join a community of as many as 50 like-minded teams willing to share the scientific and business insights that help them advance. The incubator spans more than 40,000 square feet of lab and office spaces within the fully renovated Woo Hon Fai Hall, the iconic former home of the Berkeley Art Museum. With so much going on, investors, industry partners and new talent are already taking notice.
Built for startups. For more than 20 years, QB3 has been the University of California’s center for innovation and entrepreneurship in life science. Through pitch summits, seminars, symposia, podcasts, office hours, internships, and workshops QB3 educates, connects, and elevates the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
