About Drive
Since launching in 2022, Drive has supported 59 early-stage companies that have raised $175 million in funding and created nearly 100 jobs after completing the program. To further extend our impact on the global emerging biotech ecosystem, at a time when it is needed more than ever, Drive is now nationally focused. With this expansion, Drive is able to increase the number of participating companies for each cohort, expand the scientific focus areas, and enable more ground-breaking science to reach patients.
During each 8-week hybrid program, Drive startups receive:
- Six industry-specific curriculum modules led by experts.
- Weekly sessions with a team of mentors tailored to meet your needs.
- Networking opportunities and industry connections throughout each cohort session, leading up to in-person Demo Days in Charleston and Boston.
Drive does not take any equity from the companies we support. Our program is free to all participants.
Biotech Spring 2026 Cohort with MassBio
Enexa Bio
Enexa Bio is engineering precision small molecules for autoimmune disease, led by a biomarker-driven lupus nephritis program. With compelling data and clear target engagement, Enexa Bio is building a scalable pipeline across systemic immunology.
Harmonia Therapeutics
Harmonia Therapeutics is an oncology company developing DUET-ADCs™, a novel class of logic-gated antibody-drug conjugates. Our platform utilizes a dual-key mechanism requiring two signals to activate the drug exclusively inside cancer cells. By eliminating systemic toxicity, Harmonia aims to dramatically widen the therapeutic window for aggressive cancers.
-
Brett Tingley, PhD
CEO & Co-Founder
-
Mark Grinstaff, PhD
Advisor & Co-Founder
Laurel Biotherapeutics
Laurel Biotherapeutics is building a new class of precision biologics at the intersection of cardiovascular disease and serious comorbid conditions affecting millions of patients. At Laurel, we focus on restoring protective biological signaling pathways that regulate cardiac and systemic health. Our initial program in cardiorenal disease leverages targeted nanobody therapeutics to activate the natriuretic peptide…
-
Tatiana Blanchard, PhD
CEO/Co-Founder
-
Matt Therkelsen, PhD
President/Co-Founder
-
Michael White, PhD
CSO/Co-Founder
Othelium Therapeutics
Othelium Therapeutics is developing first-in-class biologics to restore endothelial function and treat microvascular disease and heart failure.
-
Emily Ricq, PhD
CEO
-
Tim Hla, PhD
Investigator, Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital; Chair and Professor, Patricia K. Donohoe, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Tinker Therapeutics
Tinker is a biopharmaceutical company engineering next-generation multimeric siRNA and ASO RNA medicines. Our proprietary FORGE™ platform creates chemically optimized, fused oligonucleotides capable of modulating multiple genetically validated targets in a single therapeutic construct, leveraging AI-enabled computational screening and design methods. We focus on complex polygenic neurological and retinal disorders where multi-targeting can uniquely address…
-
Claes Wahlestedt, PhD, MD
CEO, Co-Founder
-
Jack Stahl, PhD
CSO, Co-Founder
-
Arthur Polk
CFO, Co-Founder
Biomarkers and Diagnostics Spring 2026 Cohort with SCbio
Dxcover
Dxcover is a clinical-stage diagnostics company developing AI-enabled liquid biopsy tests for earlier cancer detection. Its proprietary platform combines infrared spectroscopy with AI to analyse the full biochemical signature of blood, capturing both tumour and host-response signals. With one of the largest spectral multiomic datasets globally and the first regulatory approval of its kind, Dxcover…
-
Matthew J. Baker, PhD, FRSC
CEO
-
Holly Butler, PhD
CTO
-
David Palmer, PhD
CSO
General Prognostics Inc.
General Prognostics (GPx) develops clinically validated digital biomarkers that transform consumer wearables into continuous biomarker monitoring platforms. Our CardioID software detects early physiologic changes associated with heart failure deterioration. Operating at the intersection of digital health and cardiovascular medicine, GPx plans its first FDA submission in Q2 2026.
-
Sean Matsuoka
CEO & Co-Founder
-
Sidhant Jena
Founding Advisor
GT Biosciences, Inc.
GT Biosciences is a techbio company developing scalable cell-type-specific precision therapies. The company is building Deliveromics, a spatial biology and AI-powered platform for high-throughput in vivo screening and predictive design of targeted delivery vehicles such as ligand-conjugated lipid nanoparticles. We are creating cell-type-specific delivery solutions for the brain, immune system, and other tissues.
-
Dr. Tay Won Shin
Co-Founder & CEO
-
Dr. Chi Zhang
Co-Founder & CSO
-
Prof. Edward Boyden
Scientific Co-Founder & Advisor
NeuroSkye Therapeutics
NeuroSkye Therapeutics is a translational biotechnology company developing human BBB and blood-tumor-barrier (BTB) functional diagnostic platforms to inform treatment decisions in brain tumors. Operating at the intersection of neuro-oncology, precision diagnostics, and translational medicine, NeuroSkye addresses a critical gap in therapy selection by evaluating drug delivery feasibility across the BBB/BTB, enabling more informed, delivery-based clinical…
-
Choi-Fong Cho, PhD
Founder
-
Benjamin Scott
Co-Founder & Platform and Business Lead
Nine Diagnostics
Nine Diagnostics is redefining how treatment effectiveness is determined. Rather than waiting months for imaging or clinical progression, our AI-enabled blood tests detect rapid biological response from a simple blood draw. This enables faster clinical decisions, improves patient stratification, and supports more efficient drug development. We are building the foundation for a more responsive, feedback-driven…
-
Dr. Freddy T. Nguyen, MD, PhD
CEO & Co-Founder
-
Dr. Daniel A. Heller, PhD
CSO & Co-Founder
-
Dr. Mijin Kim, PhD
Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor
Samay
Samay is building the foundation for Infrastructure-Independent Spirometry — delivering FEV1, FVC, and air trapping from a light-effort chest wearable, reaching the small airways traditional tests miss. Better patient phenotyping, continuous monitoring, and more sensitive drug efficacy detection. We aren’t improving a test. We’re replacing 170 years of limitation.
-
Maria Artunduaga
Founder & CEO
Meet our Drive Alumni
MassBio is the driving force behind Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem. We support innovation and industry growth by offering best-in-class resources to over 1,800 member organizations at all stages of the biopharma lifecycle.
SCbio is the definitive, unifying leader in South Carolina’s life sciences sector, fostering authentic collaboration and innovation across academia, startups, government and established enterprises. As a member-driven economic development organization, SCbio represents an industry that generates $20.1 billion in annual economic impact and supports 63,000 jobs across South Carolina. Our members are unified by a mission to positively impact humanity through science across the ecosystem of advanced and specialty manufacturing; digital health and the data frontier; and cutting-edge health specializations. For additional information about SCbio and the life sciences industry, or to become a member, visit SCbio.org.
Get Involved
Drive invites industry professionals and students to support life science startups through mentoring, volunteering as analysts, or providing resources like consulting and technology access.
Meet our Partners
Our partners are experts in areas like drug development, business, legal strategy, and fundraising and provide critical resources, funding, and guidance to help startups thrive in the life sciences industry.
Past Drive Demo Days
Alumni Testimonials
