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Build a Biotech
2026

'Bridging innovation in the Northwest'

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“Build a Biotech” is a start-up competition organised by the Northwest Biotech Initiative in collaboration with the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst.

Build a Biotech supports academic biotech innovators in the north-west to turn ideas into real-world businesses through expert training, mentoring, and investor pitching. Winning teams can receive up to £15,000 in cash prizes.

Eligibility

Who can apply:

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate students, PDRA, or university staff from any North-West university

  • Must be interested in biotech entrepreneurship

Team requirements:

  • 1–4 people per team

  • Must include at least one student (UG, Master’s, or PhD)

  • Maximum of 10 teams accepted

If you don’t have a team:

Selection criteria:

  • Quality of application

  • Business and innovation potential

Focus area:

  • Any biotech application

  • Encouraged theme:

    • Industrial Biotechnology

    • AI in Biotechnology

More details and registration

Competition Timeline

1st March

Registration Closes

Register your interest to take part and gain access to free workshops.

5th and 6th of March

Online Business Workshops

For all who registered*.

*It is expected that those who wish to submit an idea should attend these workshops.

15th March

Submission Deadline 

(Finalists notified by 19th of March)

20th March to 10th April

Prep Stage

Time to refine pitch and get mentored by industry experts

14th April

Competition Day

Present your ideas to an external industry panel

Business Workshops

Workshop 1

Thursday 5th of March
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  • 16:00 - 17:00: Introduction and Innovation - turning science into life-saving treatments or devices. What should be in your pitch? What makes a technology interesting to the 'real world'?

  • 17:00 - 17:15: Break 

  • 17:15 - 18:15: Understanding markets - researching your innovation, getting evidence from stakeholders and thinking about your business model

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Workshop 2

Friday 6th of March
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  • 16:00 - 17:00: Intellectual property - what is it and who owns it? How does it link with your business strategy?

  • 17:00 - 17:15: Break 

  • 17:15 - 18:15: Finance - time and money. How long is it going to take us to do this? How much is it going to cost?

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Pitch Preparation Period  & Mentoring Session

  • Time and date to be agreed between mentor and team (max 1 hour), March 20th - April 10th.

Competition Day

Tuesday 14th of April; Venue: SISTER Renold Building

  • 11:30 - 12:00: Welcome lunch (Food & Drink provided)

  • 12:00 - 12:05: Competition Kick Off

  • 12:05 - 13:05: Closed Presentations - First Block (4 Teams)

  • 13:05 - 13:10: Coffee Break

  • 13:10 - 14:10: Closed Presentations - Second Block (4 Teams)

  • 14:10 - 14:25: Second Coffee Break

  • 14:25 - 14:55: Closed Presentation - Third Block (2 Teams)

  • 14:55 - 13:15: Judges deliberation and Elevator Pitches to Public

Key Sponsor

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