Two Arizona bio startups earn $100K through Flinn entrepreneurship program
Each year, the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program offers funding, professional support, connections, and networking opportunities to Arizona early-stage bioscience companies.
In 2025, the Flinn Foundation has selected two companies — Anuncia Medical and Macula Vision Systems — to receive $100,000 each in funding support through the Arizona Bioindustry Association, our nonprofit partner. Eight additional companies were selected to leverage the benefits of our network and advisors to advance their progress over the 12-month period.
In addition, the 10 companies will be offered exclusive opportunities to engage with the state’s bioscience, academic, and policy leaders, including one-year memberships to Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, and invited to convenings with fellow bioscience entrepreneurs.
The 2025 program participants were announced March 6 at the Flinn Foundation Bio Capital Conference in Phoenix.
Key Dates
Nov. 4, 2024: Application opens
Nov. 7, 2024: Info table at Venture Café Phoenix
Nov. 11, 2024: Virtual Info Session
Nov. 18, 2024: Virtual Group Office Hours
Dec. 2–4, 2024: Virtual 1:1 Office Hours
Dec. 5, 2024: Live Biopreneur Storytellers Event at Venture Café Phoenix
Dec. 16, 2024: Application deadline (5 p.m.)
Jan. 28, 2025: Finalists notified
Feb. 18, 2025: In-person finalist pitches
March 6, 2025: Selected companies announced
Learn more
Application requirements and program eligibility
Meet the program participants from 2014 to today
Background
In 2002, the Flinn Foundation unveiled Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap, the long-term strategic plan to advance Arizona’s bioscience sector. One of the four strategies of the Roadmap is to create a critical mass of bioscience companies in Arizona. In 2014, the Roadmap was updated, with the first goal being to “Form a hub of bioscience entrepreneurs and new enterprises across Arizona.”
To help address this need, the Flinn Foundation launched the Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program to foster entrepreneurship and help bioscience founders develop their early-stage companies into successful and sustainable businesses in Arizona.
Since 2014, the Flinn Foundation has selected 68 Arizona bioscience companies in a competitive process to receive funding through the program’s nonprofit partner. The 12 program cohorts have received more than $2.1 million in funding support.
Questions
If you have any questions about the program or application process, please contact Joanna Yang Yowler, Ph.D., Flinn Foundation Program Manager, Translational Biosciences and Entrepreneurship.
