🧑🔬Submit a Project
Our mission at Molecule is to expedite translational R&D by providing funding and support to research areas and stages currently underserved by traditional grants and venture capital funding. We seek to support scientific projects with commercial potential, especially those leading to tangible biomedical products like therapeutics and diagnostics.
We are looking for committed researchers who are seeking efficient access to funding for their translational research projects. Through our Catalyst platform, we enable patrons of science to directly fund promising early-stage biotech research. In exchange for their support, funders receive intellectual property (IP) rights on terms set forth in a sponsored research agreement with the researcher.
Funding Model
The process is structured in phases from project preparation to successful funding. Here's what to expect when applying for funding using Molecule Catalyst.
Preparation
Prepare project materials either alone or in collaboration with a community
Review materials & Prepare for fundraise
After Launch
Project is live and open for funding for your desired amount of time
Success
Sponsored Research Agreement (or similar) is negotiated with university TTO and Sponsor
Agreement is signed and funds are transferred according to the payment schedule
Ongoing
Provide sponsor and community with updates on project status and milestone completion
Catalyst is a quick, lightweight tool to raise funds for your translational research. It can be used to find your community, get input on your project, and quickly start your work. There is no guarantee that the project will be funded, as it needs to reach the funding goal within the set time frame. If the project is not funded in time, all funds will be returned to funders. If the project is funded, then the project’s designated sponsor negotiates a sponsored research agreement with your university TTO and unlocks funds according to the milestone schedule.
Timeline and Application Process
Eligibility Criteria
Why Catalyst
Why not Catalyst
Type of Research
Translational research
Fundamental research
IP
The project will result in IP that will be licensed by a Sponsor* on Catalyst
The project will not result in IP, or there isn’t a desire to license the IP to a sponsor
Project size**
<$50k is needed to complete project milestones, milestones take no longer than 6-12 months to complete
>$50k is needed to complete project milestones, milestones take > 12 months to complete
Project structure
Project with defined milestones, deadlines, and deliverables. Project can be >$50k in total size, as long as raising in $50k tranches provides meaningful progress and completion of milestones in 6-12 months. Total project size includes expenses and overhead costs.
Exploratory project, long time horizon to achieve a milestone. Project that is >50k in total size and needs >$50k per funding tranche
Researcher profile
Entrepreneurial focus
Wants to engage with a community of people interested in their work
Understands the requirements of a sponsored or contract research agreement
Academic focus
Wants to continue working mostly within existing contacts and ecosystem
Prefers to work under a grant structure and does not want to engage in sponsored or contract research
Openness and community
Researcher accepts that all project proposal materials will be publicly visible on Catalyst, emphasizing openness and transparency. You will never be asked to share confidential information that would jeopardize the IP position in your proposal or to the community.
Researcher prefers the traditional academic structure and way of working without direct community engagement.
*Based on current size of ecosystem; ideally this number grows as the community grows
Application details
Initial project already in mind
Time requirement will vary based on project size. Up to 20h maximum over 3 months for high ticket size projects (50k and above)
Willingness to engage with broad community (including scientists and patient advocates) and receive and implement feedback on plans to improve the project
Material submission information
All materials should be sent to logan@molecule.to as pdf, word or pptt format. The video can be sent as a mp3 file.
Once the materials have been submitted, they will be assessed for completeness. If a document or section is missing, Molecule will ask you to update the document and re-submit it. Molecule reserves the right not to publish any projects for funding that would be considered harmful or illegal.
The materials review and approval process will take 1-4 weeks. After successful review, the project will be listed on Catalyst. Molecule is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of the projects, nor does it endorse any of the projects listed.
For more info on please check Supplemental documentation: Application details.
Disclaimer
Molecule may sponsor projects on Catalyst and will receive platform trading fees from projects on Catalyst. Information about projects on Catalyst is provided for transparency and does not constitute an endorsement or financial advice.
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