LEAP Fund
A programme by BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council)
Equity for biotech startups moving from proof of concept to pilot and commercialisation, deployed by six partner incubators.
At a glance
| Best for | Biotech startups at proof-of-concept to pilot stage, working with a partner BioNEST incubator |
|---|---|
| Stage | Early revenue – Growth |
| Cost | Free, takes equity |
About LEAP Fund
LEAP Fund — Launching Entrepreneurial Driven Affordable Products Fund — is the step after SEED. It is for startups piloting and commercialising a product and trying to attract angel or venture money, and BIRAC describes it as a catalyst for follow-on private funding. Like SEED, it is deployed by selected BioNEST incubators rather than by BIRAC. Six partners are shown on the page: FITT, IKP, C-CAMP, Venture Center, KIIT-TBI and SINE.
What you get
- Equity capital to pilot or commercialise your product or technology.
- Positioning to raise the follow-on angel or venture round.
Who can apply
- Biotech startups moving from proof-of-concept stage to pilot stage.
- As with SEED, the eligibility published on the page is for incubators wanting to become LEAP partners — a partner must already be a SEED Fund partner, have been operating five years, and have four years' experience managing early-stage funding schemes. Startup criteria sit in the guidelines.
How to apply: through one of the six LEAP Fund partner incubators.
Where to apply
Other BIRAC programmes
- BIG — Biotechnology Ignition GrantBIRAC's flagship grant for early-stage biotech startups, funding the work of taking an idea to proof of concept over up to 18 months.
- i4 — SBIRI and BIPPCost-shared grant funding for Indian companies and LLPs with in-house R&D, from early validation through to pre-commercialisation.
- PACE — Promoting Academic Research Conversion to EnterpriseGrant funding for academic institutions to take research to proof of concept, and for an industry partner to validate it.
- SITARE — Students Innovations for Translation & Advancement of Research ExplorationsAward grants for student biotech projects with commercial potential, plus residential ignition schools for undergraduates.
- E-YUVAFellowships and research grants for students and young researchers, hosted at E-YUVA Centres inside universities and institutes.
- BioNEST — Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling TechnologiesBIRAC's scheme for funding bio-incubators — the network a biotech founder joins, though the application goes to the incubator, not to BIRAC.
- SEED FundBIRAC's first equity exposure for post-proof-of-concept biotech startups, deployed by partner BioNEST incubators.
- Fund of Funds — AcEBIRAC invests in SEBI-registered alternative investment funds, which in turn invest in biotech startups and SMEs.
- SPARSH — Social Innovation Programme for ProductsFellowships and kick-start grants for biotech innovators working on affordable products for societal health. Currently between calls.
- Product Commercialization Program FundFunding for market launch and large-scale commercialisation of validated BIRAC-supported technologies. The call is currently closed.
- IP and Technology Management supportBIRAC's in-house IP cell offers patent searches, drafting and filing help, technology transfer and patent assistance funding to biotech startups, SMEs and academia.