Techbio cohort powered by MassBio spans generative design, causal inference, and virtual cell modeling, alongside therapeutic programs in oncology and neuroscience
Biotech cohort powered by SCbio targets ALS, Alzheimer’s, and rare pediatric disease, alongside programs in liver cancer and obesity
CAMBRIDGE, MA and CHARLESTON, SC (September 1, 2026) — MassBio, in collaboration with SCbio, today announced the 10 companies selected for the Fall 2026 cohorts of Drive, an accelerator designed to propel breakthrough science while equipping scientific founders with the tools for long-term success. As part of a strategy to resource emerging startups wherever they are based, Drive will feature two parallel cohorts this fall: techbio, powered by MassBio, and biotech, powered by SCbio.
The techbio cohort combines computational platforms and therapeutic programs, with targets that include glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and drug resistance, and methods that include generative protein design, causal inference, and virtual cell modeling. The biotech cohort takes on ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, a rare pediatric neurological disorder, liver cancer, and obesity. Across both, the 10 companies span nearly every major modality in drug development, from small molecules and antibodies to gene editing, gene therapy, oncolytic viruses, and cell therapy.
“This cohort is tackling some of the most difficult challenges in medicine, from glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer to Parkinson’s disease. These are areas where progress has been hard-won, and these techbio founders are bringing new approaches to both the technology and therapeutics needed to address them,” said Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, CEO & President of MassBio. “Pre-seed and seed are the hardest dollars in biotech to raise right now, and good science stalls waiting for them. Drive exists to get these companies to their next milestone.”
“Drive is the catalyst for these companies with therapies that will change the quality of life for the next generation of patients,” said James Chappell, Ph.D., President and CEO of SCbio. “The founders in this biotech cohort are working to solve some of the hardest problems in neuroscience, metabolic disease and cancer. We, and our experts, are ready to help get their treatments to those who need them most.”
Techbio Cohort (MassBio)
| Company Name | Location | Therapeutic Area(s) | Technology/Approach |
| GUSKA | Montevideo, Uruguay | Oncology and immuno-oncology | AI, Generative Design, Synthetic Virology, RNA |
| Marendis Therapeutics, Inc. | Boston, MA | Immunology and inflammation | Oncology and immuno-oncology | AI, Phosphoproteomics, Precision Medicine |
| Neoclease | Boston, MA | Neuroscience | Oncology and immuno-oncology | Rare disease | Women’s health | Generative AI, Protein Design, Gene Editing |
| QurieGen | Nijmegen, Netherlands | Hematology | Immunology and inflammation | Oncology and immuno-oncology | AI, Single-Cell Multi-Omics, Virtual Cell Modeling |
| ScriptBio AI | Cambridge, MA | Immunology and inflammation | Rheumatology | Causal AI, Foundation Models, Single-Cell Analysis |
Biotech Cohort (SCbio)
| Company Name | Location | Therapeutic Area(s) |
| BDUK Therapeutics | Jerusalem, Israel | Oncology and immuno-oncology |
| Iluminos Therapeutics, LLC | Tucson, AZ | Neuroscience |
| Overture Therapeutics | Cambridge, MA | Biologics | Cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, and metabolic |
| Syndeo Life | Baltimore, MD | Cell and gene therapy | Neuroscience | Rare disease |
| Theripio Innovations LLC | Charleston, SC | Cell and gene therapy | Neuroscience | Rare disease | Platform |
More details about each company and the teams involved can be found on the Drive website.
Over an eight-week hybrid program running September 14 through November 6, these startups will participate at no cost in six expert-led, industry-specific curriculum modules, weekly sessions with a tailored team of mentors, and networking opportunities across the life sciences ecosystem. Curriculum experts for MassBio’s techbio track include Citrin Cooperman, F-Prime Capital, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Voisin Consulting Life Sciences, and Wilson Sonsini, with SandboxAQ serving as premier sponsor and Mispro as supporting sponsor. Curriculum experts for SCbio’s biotech track include Eli Lilly and Company, The Matchstick Group, Maynard Nexsen, Novartis, and VentureSouth, with premier sponsorship from Charleston County Economic Development and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Participants will also receive in-kind prizes from Premier Sponsors specific to MassBio and SCbio. Through a partnership with the ADA Forsyth Institute, one graduate of the fall cohort will receive a sponsored lab bench for one year at the nonprofit research organization’s Somerville facility, with all other graduates eligible for a discounted rate.
Both cohorts will present at MassBio’s Align Summit in Boston on October 15, putting their new pitch decks to use in front of an audience of potential funders.
Since launching in 2022, Drive has supported 70 early-stage companies, 80 inclusive of the current cohorts, that have raised $137 million in funding and created nearly 100 jobs after completing the program.
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About MassBio
MassBio is the driving force behind Massachusetts’s life sciences ecosystem, supporting innovation and industry growth by offering best-in-class resources to over 1,700 member organizations at all stages of the biopharma lifecycle. Founded in 1985, MassBio aspires to extend Massachusetts’s impact as the global center of excellence in biomedical breakthroughs. Through strategic cost-saving initiatives, robust business partnerships, educational and networking opportunities, and proactive advocacy, MassBio empowers its members to launch the next generation of medical advancements to deliver the cures and therapies that enhance patient lives.
About SCbio
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.
