Startup Sandbox, the first wet lab incubator for innovation and technology commercialization in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, will be cutting the ribbon to open its new, state-of-the-art wet lab on Thursday, May 31, 2018.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – (May 30, 2018) Startup Sandbox, the first wet lab incubator for innovation and technology commercialization in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, will be cutting the ribbon to open its new, state-of-the-art wet lab on Thursday, May 31, 2018.
The keynote speakers for the ribbon-cutting event will be Congressman Jimmy Panetta, and Marlene Tromp, UC Santa Cruz provost and executive vice chancellor. Scott Brandt, UC Santa Cruz vice chancellor of research; Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz County Supervisor; and Lou Pambianco, president of Startup Sandbox, will also be speaking.
Startup Sandbox’s new 3,500-square-foot wet lab offers startups an exceptional opportunity to access commercial-grade biolab space in smaller increments, on an as-needed basis, making for greater customization and convenience for each Startup Sandbox member.
“The grand opening of the new wet lab will allow over 40 entrepreneurial biotech scientists from the University of California, Santa Cruz and other leading research universities to launch new companies with little more than a credit card!” said Judy Owen, chairman of Startup Sandbox.
As a biotechnology incubator affiliated with UC Santa Cruz, the wet lab will provide researchers with much-needed access to essential equipment, including -80 and -20-degree Celsius freezers, autoclave, centrifuge, microscopes and incubators. Laboratory benches, chemical fume hoods and cell culture facilities will also be available, supporting a variety of disciplines including genomics, precision medicine, bio-informatics, nanopore technology, chemistry and biochemistry and environmental, electrical, astrophysics and mechanical engineering. Startup Sandbox will also offer its members conventional private offices, cubicles, co-working and conference room spaces.
“Entrepreneurs go where groundbreaking research opens opportunities for commercial breakthroughs. Research teams at the University of California, Santa Cruz mapped the human genome, the Center for Molecular Biology of RNA has discovered the messenger ribosome, and nanopore technology is changing DNA and RNA sequencing and point of care assay. Startup Sandbox is where entrepreneurs are coming to engage with leaders in these fields,” said Lou Pambianco, president of Startup Sandbox.
The organization had a groundbreaking ceremony for its wet lab on April 5, 2018, with keynote speaker Professor Harry Noller who is the director of the Center for Molecular Biology of RNA at UC Santa Cruz, and presentations by Startup Sandbox members. Member Companies will move into the new wet lab starting June 1, 2018.
The ribbon-cutting celebration is by invitation only and will be held at Startup Sandbox, 250 Natural Bridges Drive, Santa Cruz, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
About Startup Sandbox
Startup Sandbox, Inc. is a UC Santa Cruz and QB3-affiliated incubator for innovation and technology commercialization supporting entrepreneurs across a variety of sectors from UCSC, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County and the greater Bay Area in order to catalyze the growth and development of innovative companies. Startup Sandbox provides a dynamic entrepreneurial business environment to help early stage startups gain access to low-cost laboratory, office and shared space, resources, training, investment and networking opportunities that will move them onto the fast track to success in the commercialization of their respective technologies.
Select current biotech Startup Sandbox members include:
Pinpoint Science – Rapid point-of-care bioelectronics diagnosis
Unnatural Products – Drug Discovery
Prime Genomics – Non-invasive platform for cancer diagnosis
Argentys LLC – Genome sequencing for cancer diagnosis
Hipic – Advanced bioelectronics point-of-care drug analyzer
Dimensional Bioceramics – Bioceramic Implants
Cruz Foam – Eco-friendly marine bio-foam technology
Claret Bioscience – Cancer Genomics
Located in a 13,500-square-foot building at 250 Natural Bridges Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, Startup Sandbox opened its doors on August 1, 2017. For more information please visit www.startupsandbox.org.
