Four early-stage life science companies represent the seventh cohort of a public-private initiative to support diverse entrepreneurs
Cambridge, MA—Today, Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) President and CEO Kirk Taylor joined life sciences industry leaders, at the MIT Museum, to announce the seventh cohort of awardees of the Massachusetts Next Generation (MassNextGen) Initiative, a public-private partnership to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Massachusetts life sciences sector. Four companies will receive awards of $60,000 per company, including additional funds and in-kind services from MassNextGen sponsors.
“Investing in the next generation of innovators is one of the most impactful ways we can maintain Massachusetts’ position as the global leader in life sciences,” said Governor Maura Healey. “MassNextGen is essential to this vision, providing up-and-coming entrepreneurs with the resources and mentorship needed to drive groundbreaking scientific advancements. By supporting these talented individuals today, we’re shaping a bright future for the life sciences industry for years to come.”
“Through the MassNextGen program, we’re ensuring that entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have equitable access to opportunities in the life sciences,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By creating pathways for all, we’re building a more inclusive life sciences sector that reflects our communities and strengthens the future of innovation in Massachusetts.”
Last November, Governor Maura Healey signed into law the Mass Leads Act, an economic development bill building on the success of the state’s renowned life sciences sector and programs such as MassNextGen. Today’s announcement event was hosted by Johnson and Johnson Innovation, which has served as a sponsor of the MassNextGen initiative since 2020. Originally launched in 2018 to ensure greater gender parity in the next generation of life science entrepreneurs, the program has expanded in recent years to support a larger pool of entrepreneurs with a broad, more inclusive focus.
“Massachusetts is home to a world-class ecosystem of talent and innovation in the life sciences,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao, who serves as Co-Chair of the MLSC Board of Directors. “Through programs such as MassNextGen, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is ensuring that emerging life science entrepreneurs have the support they need to transform cutting-edge ideas into successful companies that will play a significant role in the future of our state’s economic growth.”
“Collaboration is key in our mission to make the life sciences industry a more equal place for everyone,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “I am so thankful to our MLSC team, our coaches, sponsors, and partners throughout the Commonwealth that support this initiative each year. Together, we are helping create a community where entrepreneurs of every background can feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to succeed.”
“Johnson & Johnson is proud to support entrepreneurs through our longtime collaboration with MassNextGen,” said Michal Preminger, Regional Head, Boston Innovation Center, Johnson & Johnson. “The Healey -Driscoll administration and MLSC understand the value of fostering an ecosystem that aims to positively influence and advance science for patients around the globe. As a Change sponsor, it is a privilege to support this initiative and provide mentorship to early-stage companies to help grow an ecosystem built for all.”
Awardees of the program receive a year-long customized package of support, which includes non-dilutive grant funding and access to a network of seasoned professionals from the life sciences ecosystem helping them to refine their business strategies and effectively raise capital. In addition, the program fosters an organic community of entrepreneurs where awardees could collaborate with like-minded leaders sharing experiences, ideas, and a sense of belonging. As a public-private partnership, MassNextGen industry sponsors also include Anchor Platinum Sponsor, Takeda, as well as ABI-LAB, Berkshire Innovation Center, Cambridge Scientific Labs, Hatch.Bio Labs, InnoVenture Labs, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, M2D2, Mansfield Bio-Incubator, Portal Innovations, and the UMass Boston Venture Development Center.
“Early-stage science is critical to unlocking the innovations that support the health of patients and a strong and resilient bench-to-bedside ecosystem here in Massachusetts,” said Julie Kim, President of Takeda’s U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head. “Takeda remains a proud and committed sponsor of the MassNextGen program and we’re excited to support this next cohort of visionary entrepreneurs.”
This year’s awardees join 31 companies in the MassNextGen portfolio. The MLSC funding combined with executive coaching and business mentorship continues to prove invaluable for MassNextGen entrepreneurs in building their teams and progressing forward with new opportunities. The program continues to see tremendous success from previous awardees, including 17 companies who have raised a seed or series A financing round. MassNextGen companies have raised nearly $365 million in follow-on funding.
This includes MassNextGen Entrepreneur Joanna Stanicka and her team at AXONIS Therapeutics which announced last November a $115 million series A financing to support the development of novel neuromedicines targeting KCC2. This is the largest raise in a single round for any MassNextGen awardee. The company has also grown its team leveraging the MLSC’s internship programming.
“I am so grateful to MassNextGen team for their support during my early days at Axonis,” said Joanna Stanicka, PhD, who is the CEO, President and Founder of AXONIS Therapeutics. “Founding a company, fundraising, building a team, while exciting, is a challenging journey! Programs like this are essential launchpads for first-time entrepreneurs providing invaluable mentorship and guidance.”
The four companies selected as awardees through the seventh cohort of the MassNextGen program represent a wide range of applications to advance innovative technologies in life sciences and improve public health.
MassNextGen Awardees
MassNextGen Entrepreneur: Yang Claire Zeng, MD, PhD
Claire is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer of DoriNano, which is developing first-in-class transformative nanoparticle-based combination immunotherapies for cancer patients.
MassNextGen Entrepreneur: Leah Borden, PhD
Leah is the CEO of Gelectric Medical, creator of the novel product AnastoTape, a reversible soft tissue suture alternative for surgical anastomosis repair.
MassNextGen Entrepreneur: Sean (Shunsuke) Matsuoka, MBA
Sean is the Co-Founder of General Prognostics, a platform for continuous, cost-effective blood biomarker monitoring to detect significant status changes in heart failure patients.
MassNextGen Entrepreneur: Erika Bechtold, PhD
Erika is the CEO and Co-Founder of Barlume Cosmetics, developing a 100 percent cellulose/lignin-based sunscreen that will be safer for people and the planet.
Statements of Support:
“M2D2 is a collaborative innovation program between UMass Lowell and the UMass Chan Medical School. We’re dedicated to assisting innovators in developing, advancing, and launching groundbreaking medtech and biotech solutions,” stated Mary Ann Picard, Executive Director for Innovation at UMass Lowell. “We share the Life Sciences Center’s commitment to diversity and take pride in supporting its initiatives to continually strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
“At Portal Innovations, we believe that groundbreaking innovation thrives at the intersection of community, collaboration, and opportunity,” said Tatiana Yglesias, Executive Director at Portal Innovations Boston. “Supporting MassNextGen aligns perfectly with our mission to empower the next generation of life sciences entrepreneurs, ensuring they have the resources, mentorship, and networks needed to turn bold ideas into transformative solutions. As a strong advocate for innovation and inclusivity in biotech, I am proud to support an initiative that accelerates the growth of visionary founders and strengthens the entire ecosystem.”
“ABI-LAB is honored to support the MassNextGen Initiative,” said Dan Diggins, Vice President of Marketing and Operations at ABI-LAB. The comprehensive program serves as an invaluable resource for life sciences startups in Massachusetts, proven by the impressive achievements and capital raised by previous awardees. We are proud to partner with MLSC and appreciate the steps the Healey-Driscoll Administration has taken to ensure that Massachusetts maintains its position as the global leader for life sciences. Congratulations to DoriNano, Gelectric Medical, General Prognostics, and Barlume Cosmetics on this remarkable feat.”
“At Mansfield Bio-incubator, we are fully committed to helping MassNextGen nurture more groundbreaking companies and are thrilled to support this cohort of entrepreneurs and thus lengthen the state’s lead in Life Sciences in these challenging times,” said Alexander Margulis, PhD, Chief Operating Officer at Mansfield Bio-Incubator.
“The Berkshire Innovation Center is thrilled to support the MassNextGen program and proud to be part of the strongest Life Sciences ecosystem in the world, led by the Massachusetts Life Science Center,” said Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center. Through this program and others, we are working with our partners to make sure the industry continues to thrive in all corners of the Commonwealth.”
“We’re excited to partner with the MassNextGen Initiative and provide this talented group of entrepreneurs with access to our Hatch.Bio Labs platform, enabling them to focus on turning their groundbreaking science into revolutionary life sciences ventures,” said James Weis, Chief Executive Officer at Hatch.Bio Labs.
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is an economic development investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts, home to the most verdant and productive life sciences ecosystem in the world. Through public-private funding initiatives, the MLSC supports innovation, research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing activities in the fields of biopharma, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. Since its creation in 2007, the MLSC has strategically deployed more than $1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce programs. These investments have created thousands of jobs and propelled the development of new therapies, devices and scientific advancements that are improving patient health and well-being in Massachusetts and beyond.
###
