George Mason University’s Mason Enterprise is establishing a new network https://www.masonenterprisecenter.org of life science business mentors to help startups across Virginia launch and scale their ventures.
Life science companies receive support to bring innovations, such as therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and software to market. The network will be formed under the Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP), a Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network and will be funded through a partnership with Virginia Bio https://www/vabio.org, a statewide trade association representing Virginia’s life sciences industry.
Virginia Bio received a $5.2 million GO Virginia grant to create VA Bio-Connect, which is a hub for the life science community to access commercialization and entrepreneurship programs, funding sources, accelerators, job and internship programs, and research facilities. “By partnering with Mason, we are building on a wealth of partnerships across the state as well as unique expertise in supporting entrepreneurs”, according to John Newby, CEO, Virginia Bio.
Virginia Bio Connect makes it easier for inventors to manufacture and sell products and services such as state-of-the-art medical devices, advanced telehealth options, life-saving cancer treatments, and innovative healthcare data solutions. The network of hired mentors will serve as a single point of entry for any life science startup in VA that wants to launch their business.