Events

Golden Ticket Applications Now Open for BioMarin-Sponsored LabCentral Prize

BioMarin is excited to continue our engagement with the Boston biotech community through another year of support for LabCentral — a network of shared laboratory spaces in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which serves as a launchpad for high-potential start-ups in life sciences and biotechnology. 

As a Gold Sponsor, BioMarin supports innovations that may lead toward new therapeutic options for people living with unmet medical needs. As in years past, BioMarin will award one promising start-up the LabCentral Golden Ticket. This prize provides the winning start-up with a $50k credit towards bench space for one scientist in a LabCentral laboratory, which includes the many benefits of LabCentral's shared infrastructure, services and community. 

Eligibility:

1. Your start-up has raised less than $10M in equity financing prior to Golden Ticket issuance
2. Your start-up does not have trailing 12-month revenues in excess of $3M
3. Your start-up is ready to move into LabCentral soon after Golden Ticket issuance

Evaluation Criteria:

BioMarin will evaluate Golden Ticket applicants based on the strategic attributes that have powered BioMarin’s own legacy of success, which are known as BioMarin’s Core Five: 

• Genetic: The condition under study is genetically defined and there is deep understanding of the affected biological pathways
• Targeted: The potential mechanism of intervention occurs at a site proximal to the fundamental cause of the condition
• Assessable: Established endpoints or biomarkers will give a clear readout that reliably predicts clinical benefit, early
• Transformational: There is potential for a “big effect” on patients’ lives
• Commercially Competitive: There are opportunities for uptake by patients, adoption by healthcare providers, reimbursement by payers and distribution in target regions

Modality: Any, including adjunctive technologies and novel platforms, with favor given to those that are rationally selected based on providing the optimal approach for the target indication including: 

• Small molecules
• Biologics, including enzyme therapies
• RNA therapeutics, including oligonucleotides, mRNA and mRNA editors
• Technology platforms that enable improved cell/tissue-specific delivery, enhanced safety and therapeutic index, reduced immunogenicity, and /or those that can unlock intractable genetic conditions among others

Therapeutic Areas: Any, so long as they are genetically defined (including genetically defined subsets of broader conditions) and outside of oncology

Guidelines for Application

Applications should be submitted through LabCentral via this LINK.

Timelines

• Applications accepted through 11:59 PST September 4, 2026
• Finalists informed in early October 2026
• Finalists present to BioMarin at a virtual pitch event on October 28, 2026
• Golden Ticket winner is announced following the pitch event

Additional Information: 

Golden Ticket 

Golden Tickets provide winning start-ups with access to LabCentral’s laboratory space at 700 Main Street in Kendall Square (Cambridge, MA), including the benefits of LabCentral's shared infrastructure, equipment, and services. Golden Ticket winners will receive a $50,000 credit that can be used towards the recipient’s monthly invoice of lab benches, private suites, dedicated desks, private offices, per person fees, or parking. 

LabCentral 

A private, non-profit institution, LabCentral was founded in 2013 as a launchpad for high potential life-sciences and biotech start-ups. Operating over 225,000 sq. feet in Cambridge and on the Harvard University campus, LabCentral offers a network of fully permitted laboratory and office spaces for as many as 125 start-ups comprising approximately 1000 scientists and entrepreneurs.

BioMarin 

BioMarin is a leading, global rare disease biotechnology company focused on delivering medicines for people living with genetically defined conditions. Founded in 1997, the San Rafael, California-based company has a proven track record of innovation, with nine commercial therapies and a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline. Using a distinctive approach to drug discovery and development, BioMarin seeks to unleash the full potential of genetic science by pursuing category-defining medicines that have a profound impact on patients. To learn more, please visit www.biomarin.com.