KQ Labs, the life sciences accelerator delivered by The Francis Crick Institute, and Northern Gritstone, the specialist investment company supporting commercialisation of northern science, have announced the launch of a new life sciences pre-seeding programme – NG Studios powered by KQ Labs.
The initiative draws on the world-class translational research base of Northern Gritstone’s partner universities: Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool. In the most recent academic year, these Northern Arc universities created 19 spinouts in life sciences and technology.
As part of the partnership, NG Studios, Northern Gritstone’s pre-seeding arm, and KQ Labs will work closely with the Northern Arc university partners to identify early-stage spinout companies to support. The selected companies will participate in a new four-month programme that establishes the foundations of growth through bespoke venture-building activities covering strategy, operations, and capital-raising.
Company founders will be welcomed into the growing KQ Labs ecosystem of pharma and biotech industry entrepreneurs and investors. Since 2018, KQ Labs alumni have collectively raised more than £219 million.
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “Innovation thrives when it is part of a collaborative and supportive ecosystem of talent and capital. The Northern Arc universities are renowned for their world-class research in life sciences and health tech and for commercialising this research to create groundbreaking spinouts.
“NG Studios powered by KQ Labs will help accelerate the process by broadening access to the innovation ecosystem and helping academics test and develop their business strategies. We are delighted to partner with KQ Labs and The Francis Crick Institute”
Barbara Domayne-Hayman, Chair of KQ Labs, said: “Since its founding, KQ Labs has supported over 70 startups, with alumni raising more than £219 million to date. Our proven experience in building life sciences companies will now be embedded in this Northern-focused initiative.
“Our collaboration with Northern Gritstone reflects a shared commitment to empowering scientific founders with the resources they need to succeed. By bringing the KQ Labs delivery model to early-stage companies from the North, we hope to unlock the potential of world-class research in places traditionally overlooked by venture capital.”
