—Eukarÿs wins $250,000 Grand Prize to advance the world’s first multifunctional RNA polymerase to increase biomanufacturing yields in mammalian cells, accelerating drug development, reducing costs, and enhancing difficult-to-express biomedicines production—
—Osem Fluidics wins Best Video Award—
BioTools Innovator, the first-ever accelerator focused on life science tools, today announced the 2025 BioTools Innovator Grand Prize Winner in San Diego, Calif., during its annual Capstone Event. Eukarÿs was awarded the $250,000 Grand Prize, selected in real-time by a live audience of industry leaders following pitches from the five finalists. The other finalists, Diagnostic Biochips, Likarda, Novilytic, and VisiCELL Medical, each received $10,000.
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Eukarÿs received the $250,000 Grand Prize at the 2025 BioTools Innovator Annual Capstone Event
Eukarÿs provides the world’s first multifunctional RNA polymerase to increase biomanufacturing yields in mammalian cells, accelerating drug development, reducing costs, and enhancing difficult-to-express biomedicines production.
“One year ago, Eukarÿs had a tremendous technology, but we did not have a team; now we have one,” said Guillaume Prunier, CEO, Eukarÿs. “We did not have a product, now we have one; we did not have customers, now we have many, in nine countries on three continents. The BioTools Innovator program has been transformational for our journey!”
“Congratulations to Eukarÿs for winning this year’s Grand Prize,” said Kathryn Zavala, PhD, managing director of BioTools Innovator. “Over the years, they have developed a solid foundation for their technology and are now on a rapid growth trajectory. We’re thrilled to support them and the entire 2025 BioTools Innovator cohort. As graduates of this year’s program, this group of exceptional founders now have the network, knowledge, and support they need to advance their next-generation life science tools to improve human health.”
The 2025 Best Video Award, recognizing cohort companies' excellence in effectively and creatively communicating their value proposition in a short video format, was also presented during the Capstone Event. As voted by live audience vote, Osem Fluidics won the title of Best Company Video and earned the $10,000 cash prize.
“Creating our video was one of the highlights of the BioTools Innovator Accelerator program,” said Brian Feng, co-founder and CEO, Osem Fluidics. “We drew inspiration from memorable, cinematic ads that have stayed with us over the years. We were honored to be voted the 2025 BioTools Innovator Best Video winner.”
BioTools Innovator evaluated the pitches of 83 candidates out of more than 400 applicants from 43 countries and 42 U.S. states. 31 companies were then selected to participate in the 2025 BioTools Innovator Accelerator, which highlights best-in-class life science startups worldwide. The complete list of the BioTools Innovator 2025 cohort companies can be found here.
The annual Capstone Event was attended by senior executives, investors, and top decision-makers in the life science tools industry. The event was supported by Wilson Sonsini, Tosoh USA, and Medmarc. The event featured keynote presentations and panel discussions on the Startup Stage, highlighting the 2025 cohort and culminating in the Best Video and Grand Prize competitions. During the Grand Prize Finals competition, each finalist presented their company’s value proposition and answered questions from a panel of industry experts. After the pitches, the audience voted in real-time to select the winner.
The event also highlighted BioTools Innovator’s partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) through the VANGUARD Accelerator.* Ten companies from the 2025 cohort that were selected to participate in the VANGUARD program were featured in the Startup Stage pitches. In addition, five companies that had participated in the VANGUARD Non-Dilutive Funding Program were featured in a dedicated panel discussion.
Funding for BioTools Innovator is provided by the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation of Research Corporation Technologies (RCT). Additional support is provided by BroadOak Capital Partners, Nissan Chemical America Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
*This project has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under agreement number 75A50124C00034.
About BioTools Innovator
Based in Los Angeles, BioTools Innovator was established to advance cutting-edge research and improve human health by accelerating the growth of a broad spectrum of life science tools and diagnostics. BioTools Innovator matches industry leaders with innovative early-stage and emerging growth biotechnology-focused companies for mentorship and support.
BioTools Innovator is powered by MedTech Innovator (MTI), the world’s largest accelerator of medical technology companies and the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. To date, MTI alumni have collectively brought over 500 products to market and raised $10+ billion in follow-on funding. For more information about BioTools Innovator, visit the website and follow the organization on LinkedIn.
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