Curebound
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Curebound firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Curebound
- Legal name
- Curebound, Inc.
- Website
- https://curebound.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Curebound industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cancer Research Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)
Keywords
Where Curebound is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Curebound business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations and Fundraising: Curebound raises funds through individual donations, event participation fees, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Donors can give through various channels including one-time donations, monthly recurring gifts (Curebound Loyal), appreciated assets (stock), cryptocurrency, IRA charitable rollovers, and donor-advised funds.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events and programs including Concert for Cures and Curebound Cancer Challenge. Sponsors receive visibility across media platforms and hospitality opportunities.
- Giving Circles Memberships: Tiered giving circles including Founders Circle ($50,000+), Accelerator Circle ($5,000+), Legacy Circle (planned giving), and Koman Family Impact Circle ($1,000,000+).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Founders Circle membership for donors contributing $50,000+ annually |
| Subscription | Annual | Accelerator Circle membership for donors contributing $5,000+ annually |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Koman Family Impact Circle recognizing visionary philanthropists |
| Subscription | Monthly | Curebound Loyal monthly giving program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Curebound product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Curebound is a 501(c)(3) cancer research accelerator that raises philanthropic funds through benefit concerts, athletic events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales, then distributes those funds as collaborative cancer research grants to San Diego-area research institutions. Its grant portfolio includes Discovery Grants, Targeted Grants, the Cure Prize, Catalyst Grants, Cancer Equity Grants, and Childhood Cancers Grants, all requiring inter-institutional collaboration and targeting translational research with clinical application within 3-5 years.
Product overview
Curebound is a San Diego-based cancer research accelerator that operates as a unified platform combining multiple fundraising initiatives and grant programs to accelerate cancer research into clinical cures. The core offering is the Research Program, which funds six types of collaborative cancer research grants (Discovery, Targeted, Cure Prize, Catalyst, Cancer Equity, and Childhood Cancers Grants) requiring inter-institutional collaboration among San Diego's top research institutions. This grant program is supported by two flagship fundraising events: Concert for Cures (the nation's premier benefit concert series featuring world-class artists at Petco Park) and the Curebound Cancer Challenge (community cycling/running/walking event). Additional giving programs include Giving Circles (Founders Circle, Koman Family Impact Circle, Whitworth Legacy Circle, Accelerator Circle, and Curebound Loyal monthly giving), the Cancer Card Program, and Curebound Connects community events. The organization also operates a merchandise store with concert-specific and branded apparel, with all proceeds supporting cancer research. Since launching in 2021 (uniting Padres Pedal the Cause and Immunotherapy Foundation), Curebound has invested over $51.5 million in 170 cancer research studies across 23 cancer types.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Curebound Cancer Challenge: A community fundraising event featuring cycling, running, walking, and spinning activities to raise funds for cancer research. Formerly known as Padres Pedal the Cause.
- Concert for Cures
Products and services
- Curebound Research Program Flagship program that funds innovative, collaborative cancer research grants for adult and pediatric cancers through six grant types: Discovery Grants (up to $250,000 seed funding), Targeted Grants (up to $500,000 for clinical-stage projects), Cure Prize ($1,000,000+ multi-year funding for bold innovations), Catalyst Grants (up to $250,000 for early-stage San Diego oncology companies), Cancer Equity Grants (up to $250,000 for equitable access research), and Childhood Cancers Grants (pediatric research led by Rady Children's Health investigators). All grants require inter-institutional collaboration among San Diego research teams and target translational application to accelerate discoveries to clinical use.
- Concert for Cures Annual benefit concert series at Petco Park in San Diego featuring world-class music artists to raise funds for cancer research. Since 2022, the series has featured Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, and P!NK and has raised over $28 million across four years, including $11.5 million from the 2025 Elton John concert and $8.25 million from the 2026 P!NK concert. The series includes a sweepstakes-based VIP experience component managed through Fandiem.
- Curebound Cancer Challenge Community athletic fundraising event featuring cycling (25, 55, 75 miles), running (10K), walking (5K), and spin class activities held at UC San Diego. 100% of participant-raised funds support innovative cancer research in San Diego. The 2025 event drew over 3,000 participants and features corporate team participation with sponsors such as Janux Therapeutics as Lead Sponsor.
- Curebound Merchandise Store Official e-commerce merchandise store operating on Shopify at curebound-shop.myshopify.com. Sells branded apparel including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and bandanas, as well as concert-specific merchandise such as 2026 P!NK Concert for Cures holographic posters, hoodies, and tees. All proceeds benefit cancer research.
- Curebound Connects Community engagement initiative that connects donors, researchers, and cancer survivors through curated gatherings such as Impact Night and Meet the Researchers events. Provides networking and education opportunities for Curebound's donor and research community.
Quantifiable outcome
- $51.5 million in cancer research grants supporting 170 studies across 23 cancer types
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Curebound
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Curebound technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability5 records
Curebound partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- UC San Diego (including UCSD Health and Moores Cancer Center)corePrimary research partner; eligible as team leader institution for grants; UC San Diego researchers received $1 million Cure Prize for pancreatic cancer research; hosts Curebound Cancer Challenge events
- Salk Institute for Biological StudiescoreCore institutional research partner; eligible as team leader institution for grants; Reuben Shaw serves as Director of Salk Institute Cancer Center on Curebound's Scientific Advisory Board
- Sanford Burnham PrebyscoreCore institutional research partner; eligible as team leader institution for grants; Cosimo Commisso serves as Interim Director on Curebound's Scientific Advisory Board
- Rady Children's HospitalcoreCore institutional research partner focused on pediatric cancers; eligible as team leader institution for grants; required partnership for Childhood Cancers Grants; Donald B. Kearns serves on board
- La Jolla Institute for ImmunologycoreCore institutional research partner; eligible as team leader institution for grants; Mitchell Kronenberg serves as Professor and President Emeritus on Scientific Advisory Board
- Scripps ResearchcoreCore institutional research partner; eligible as team leader institution for grants; Travis Young serves as Senior Scientific Advisor on Scientific Advisory Board
- Clearpoint AgencycorePublic relations firm that won Gold and Bronze AMA San Diego Sandie Awards for Curebound's 2025 Concert for Cures featuring Elton John; handles PR campaigns and earned media
- Janux TherapeuticsflagshipLead Sponsor of Curebound Cancer Challenge; dedicated Challenge team with lifetime fundraising over $35,000; exemplifies biotech industry partnership in cancer research mission
- Solé BicyclesminorOfficial bike rental partner for Curebound Cancer Challenge; $100 per rental with $25 donated to Curebound; provides bike rentals for participants
- Koman Family (Bill and Amy Koman)flagshipCo-founders of Curebound; created Padres Pedal the Cause (now Curebound Cancer Challenge); $10 million commitment recognized at Koman Family Impact Circle level; family legacy driving philanthropy
- Whitworth Family (Ralph and Fernanda Whitworth)flagshipCo-founders of Curebound through Immunotherapy Foundation; Ralph Whitworth lost battle with cancer in 2016 but vision continues; Fernanda Whitworth serves as Co-Founder on board; Whitworth Legacy Circle honors planned giving
- FandiemminorSweepstakes platform used for VIP concert experience promotions including P!NK Concert for Cures sweepstakes
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Curebound competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Susan G. Komen: Major breast cancer-focused nonprofit funding research, community health, and advocacy. Larger and more established than Curebound, but comparable in event-driven fundraising (Race for the Cure), research grantmaking, and donor-tier giving circles.
- American Cancer Society (ACS): The largest US voluntary health organization funding cancer research, patient support, and advocacy. Significantly larger and broader in scope than Curebound but operates a similar research-grant model across many cancer types.
Direct peers
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF): Largest private funder of breast cancer research globally, with structured grant programs supporting investigators at major academic centers. Comparable in mission to Curebound's disease-specific translational grantmaking.
- Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Funds pediatric cancer research through community-driven events and grants. Directly comparable model combining peer-to-peer fundraising events (similar to Curebound Cancer Challenge) with directed research grants, including a pediatric focus aligned with Curebound's Childhood Cancers Grants.
- V Foundation for Cancer Research: National cancer research grantmaking nonprofit funding translational and clinical research. Most directly comparable to Curebound as a donor-driven, grant-distributing cancer research accelerator with high-profile fundraising events.
- Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C): National cancer research grantmaking organization funding collaborative "Dream Teams" of scientists across institutions. Directly comparable mission and team-science funding model, though operating at national rather than regional scale.
- Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: Funds high-risk/high-reward cancer research through fellowships and grants to early-career investigators. Directly comparable grantmaking model focused on accelerating translational cancer science.
- The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research: Funds translational and early-stage cancer research through grants and venture-style investments in oncology startups. Comparable grantmaking-plus-investment approach aligned with Curebound's Catalyst Grants model.
- National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR): Funds cancer research through grants to academic institutions globally, with focus on translational science. Comparable grantmaking structure and donor-driven funding model.
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN): Funds pancreatic cancer research through grants while providing patient services. Direct peer given Curebound funds a $1M Cure Prize specifically for pancreatic cancer research, and shares PanCAN's research-grant-plus-patient-community model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Curebound social profiles
Digital presenceCurebound financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Curebound leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Curebound funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Curebound M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Curebound
What does Curebound do?
Curebound is a 501(c)(3) cancer research accelerator that raises philanthropic funds through benefit concerts, athletic events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise sales, then distributes those funds as collaborative cancer research grants to San Diego-area research institutions. Its grant portfolio includes Discovery Grants, Targeted Grants, the Cure Prize, Catalyst Grants, Cancer Equity Grants, and Childhood Cancers Grants, all requiring inter-institutional collaboration and targeting translational research with clinical application within 3-5 years.
Is Curebound a public or private company?
Curebound is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Curebound founded?
Curebound was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Curebound based?
Curebound is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Curebound make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and giving Circles Memberships.
Who are Curebound's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Susan G. Komen and American Cancer Society (ACS). Direct peers are Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, V Foundation for Cancer Research, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN).
Does Curebound have an API?
No public API is recorded for Curebound.
What industry is Curebound in?
Curebound's product category is Cancer Research Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8000.