Charles River, BioTech Social Explore Crowdfunding Partnership

Charles River Laboratories and BioTech Social Inc. have announced discussions to establish a strategic collaboration that would link early-stage biotech innovators in Charles River’s Incubator (CIP) and Accelerator (CAP) programs to BioTech Social’s investment crowdfunding platform. If finalized, the partnership would allow participants to raise up to $5 million annually via the BioTech Funding Portal. 

“We’re thrilled to explore this collaboration that will open up an exciting new funding pathway to bridge innovation with the right audiences and investors. This dynamic approach would potentially streamline the delivery of medicine to patients. We’re always working to equip our clients with the tools and opportunities they need to fast-track drug development and therapies,” said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River. 

The BioTech Funding Portal, a division of BioTech Social, is a dedicated platform that connects life science startups with investors, streamlining access to nontraditional capital. By enabling early-stage developers, particularly in the cell and gene therapy (CGT) space, to leverage crowdfunding, the initiative aims to help them bring transformative therapies to patients faster.

“The mission of the BioTech Funding Portal is to harness the power of non-accredited investors to support research that might otherwise go unfunded – despite it addressing clear, unmet medical needs. Through our potential partnership with the CIP and CAP programs, we aim to help selected applicants cross the notorious funding ‘valley of death’ that so often threatens innovative, early-stage companies,” said Neva West, PhD, CEO of BioTech Funding Portal. 

Established in 2024, the CIP and CAP programs support CGT developers with regulatory guidance, lab access, and commercialization resources. As Charles River prepares for its next cohort and the upcoming European Cell and Gene Therapy Summit in September 2025, applicants may now be evaluated collaboratively by Charles River and BioTech Social, pending final agreement.

Chih-Wen Ni, Founder and CEO, NVI Therapeutics, and a participant in CIP notes said, "As a new pharmaceutical company, there are many aspects where you need consulting support. For instance, navigating regulations and conducting pre-clinical studies require expert assistance. Charles River is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and their support is invaluable. I look forward to utilizing it to guide my company through the entire process.”