QB3

Name

QB3

Legal name

QB3

Website

https://qb3.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Incubator Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Health & Biomedical Research Universities (Academic Medical Center–Affiliated) (EDAHABAC), Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses (THAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Biotech incubator services
• Life science ventures
• Startup mentorship programs
• Wet lab facilities
• University research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Incubator Space Rental: QB3 generates revenue through rental of lab and office space at its incubator facilities (Bakar Bio Labs, QB3 Garage). Startups pay for access to fully-equipped wet lab space and shared equipment.
2. Venture Capital Returns: Through affiliated VC firm BEVC (Bakar Ecosystem Venture Capital), QB3 benefits from investment returns in portfolio companies. Additionally, QB3 spinoffs have created significant value including Mission Bay Capital, MedTech Venture Partners, and companies like 4D Molecular Therapeutics.
3. Collaborative Research Grants: QB3 coordinates large-scale grant applications and receives institutional funding for collaborative research programs, including CIRM grants ($13.5M for glioblastoma research, $12.3M for autism research) coordinated through its multi-campus research initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QB3 (California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences) operates as a university-affiliated biotech innovation hub providing incubator facilities with fully-equipped wet lab space, entrepreneurship mentorship programs, collaborative research coordination across three UC campuses, workforce development internships, and connections to affiliated venture capital. The organization supports early-stage life science startups through physical infrastructure (Bakar Bio Labs, QB3 Garage), programming (mentoring, SBIR workshops, IP analysis), and ecosystem access (BEVC, investor networks).

Product overview

QB3 (Quantitative Biosciences Institute) is The Biotech+ Idea Factory - the University of California's hub for innovation, networking, and early-stage entrepreneurship in life science, energy & materials. It operates a multi-campus structure across UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and UC Santa Cruz. QB3 offers a comprehensive ecosystem of programs and services including: Bakar Bio Labs (flagship life science incubator), Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials (advanced energy incubator), QB3 Garage at Berkeley (wet laboratory space), Early-Stage Mentoring Program, QWEST Internships, Break into Biotech, Break Into Energy & Materials, QB3-Berkeley and QB3-Santa Cruz Biotech Internship Programs, Innovation Discovery, Legal Support, SBIR/STTR Grantwriting Workshop, IP Landscape Analysis, and affiliated venture capital through BEVC. QB3's core value proposition is connecting bio-entrepreneurs to mentorship, lab space, talent, and funding resources to translate scientific discoveries into commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bakar Bio Labs UC Berkeley's flagship life science incubator offering full-service wet-lab bioscience space for up to 35 biotech companies, including lab and office space, shared equipment, cell culture rooms, conference rooms, and core facilities with sophisticated instruments. For early-stage biotech companies seeking BSL2 lab infrastructure.
• Bakar Labs for Energy & Materials An incubator providing campus innovators with resources to launch companies in advanced energy and materials technologies, expected to open during the 2027-2028 academic year. For UC Berkeley innovators working in energy and materials.
• QB3 Garage at Berkeley Approximately 800 square feet of wet laboratory space in UC Berkeley's Stanley Hall with eight stations, each offering bench and desk space and network connections for incubator companies. For early-stage biotech startups needing bench-scale lab access.
• QB3 Early-Stage Mentoring Program A mentorship program connecting scientific entrepreneurs with veteran industry mentors who provide guidance on fundraising, market fit, and IP strategy, with potential for $100K proof-of-concept awards. Free during a 3-month trial period, with equity taken post-trial based on funding stage.
• QWEST Internships QB3 Workforce Education for Science and Technology program placing undergraduates with tenant companies at Bakar Bio Labs incubator for fully paid internships, providing companies with talent and students with startup experience. For UC Berkeley students seeking biotech experience.
• Break into Biotech A 5-week paid training program followed by research in an academic lab, providing benchwork skills for underserved students aspiring to work in labs but facing financial constraints.
• SBIR/STTR Grantwriting Workshop Expert-led workshop guiding bio entrepreneurs through the complex process of submitting competitive SBIR/STTR applications for non-dilutive funding. For biotech founders seeking non-dilutive federal funding.
• IP Landscape Analysis Twice-yearly program at UC Law SF and Berkeley Law providing analysis of a company's IP landscape to protect against infringement for potential investors. For biotech startups preparing for investor diligence.
• Innovation Discovery Program connecting with the team to plan and form a startup company to commercialize academic research. For academic researchers seeking to commercialize discoveries.
• BEVC (Bakar Ecosystem Venture Capital) The Bakar Ecosystem-affiliated venture capital firm investing in Bakar Labs incubator tenants and emerging science-based startups across UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco campuses. For Bakar Labs tenants and UC-affiliated science startups.
• QB3 Collaborative Research Program uniting researchers across UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, and UCSF to leverage strengths and resources for understanding biological systems and discovering new therapies. For UC-affiliated research teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 billion+ in cumulative funding raised by tenant and alumni companies in first 4 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Berkeley SkyDeckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026UC Berkeley's tech accelerator. Co-organizer of Berkeley Bio Startup Showcase at JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, featuring 24 life science startups. Berkeley SkyDeck has collectively helped startups raise $2.7B+.
• UC BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary campus partner where QB3 Central office is located. QB3 and Bakar Bio Labs operate from UC Berkeley, with the Stanley Hall location housing the QB3 Garage. Deep integration with campus innovation offices and research programs.
• UCSFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three QB3 campus divisions, where QB3 forms part of the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI). QBI leads large-scale international collaborations including coronavirus research. QB3-UCSF Director is Nevan Krogan.
• UC Santa CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three QB3 campus divisions, focused on paleogenomics and forensic genomics. QB3-Santa Cruz funds research, equipment, and core facilities for health, environmental protection, and energy technologies.
• Bakar Fellows ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram funding entrepreneurial faculty whose research in STEM+ fields has commercial potential. Affiliated program supporting QB3's mission to translate research into commercial ventures.
• MBC BiolabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally named QB3@953, launched in 2013 in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. Development spearheaded by QB3's Doug Crawford.
• Rosenman InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQB3's Christine Winoto launched in 2012, originally focused on medical device entrepreneurs but broadened to digital health and health tech.
• UC Law SFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for IP Landscape Analysis program, offered twice yearly alongside Berkeley Law.
• Berkeley LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for IP Landscape Analysis program, offered twice yearly alongside UC Law SF.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $13.5M CIRM grant for glioblastoma research. Michelle Monje (pediatric neuro-oncology) leads cancer neuroscience research; Li Wang traces developmental origins of malignant cells.
• Salk InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $13.5M CIRM grant. Joseph Ecker leads epigenomic sequencing to map DNA methylation and 3D chromatin architecture of glioblastoma stem cells.
• Berkeley LSECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkeley Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center. Partner in presenting the Bio Startup Speed Teaming program.
• UC Berkeley Office of Intellectual Property and Industry Research AlliancesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus partner supporting Bio Startup Speed Teaming program.
• Symposium SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOvarian health symposium sponsored by Wilson Sonsini, CFGO, Lilly Gateway Labs, AccelPeople, Mispro Biotech Services, Stifel Bank, TriNet Group, Westwood & Wilshire, and anonymous donor.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MBC Biolabs: MBC Biolabs was originally launched as QB3@953 by QB3's Doug Crawford in 2013. It is the closest peer - a shared lab biotech incubator in San Francisco's Dogpatch with similar wet lab infrastructure and target customer base of early-stage biotech startups.
• IndieBio: IndieBio is a biotech accelerator offering programming, lab space, and seed funding for early-stage biology and life science startups. Comparable target customer (early-stage biotech founders) and similar accelerator-plus-equity model, though with more direct venture funding.
• Biolabs (Biolabs Heidelberg, etc.): Biolabs operates a global network of shared lab coworking facilities for biotech startups. Highly comparable as a pay-for-bench biotech incubator model targeting early-stage companies needing lab infrastructure.
• BioGenerator: BioGenerator is a St. Louis-based biotech startup accelerator and investor offering lab space, mentorship, and seed funding. Comparable as a regional biotech startup creation entity supporting early-stage companies through lab infrastructure and capital.
• LabCentral: LabCentral is a Boston-based private nonprofit that provides shared lab space and programming for biotech startups. Highly comparable model - nonprofit shared wet lab incubator targeting early-stage life sciences companies with operational support.

Broad incumbents

• JLABS by Johnson & Johnson: JLABS is Johnson & Johnson's biotech incubator network offering no-strings-attached lab space and resources to early-stage startups across multiple geographies. Comparable as a large-scale life sciences incubator with shared lab and equipment model serving biotech founders.
• Alexandria LaunchLabs: Alexandria LaunchLabs provides turnkey lab and office space for early-stage life science startups in major biotech hubs. Comparable as a premium lab-tenant incubator model targeting seed-stage biotech companies with shared infrastructure.
• Y Combinator (Bio Track): Y Combinator's bio track is a large, well-known accelerator that accepts biotech/health startups. Comparable as a high-prestige startup accelerator providing mentorship and funding pathways, though broader than life sciences and without dedicated wet lab facilities.

Regional players

• Berkeley SkyDeck: Berkeley SkyDeck is UC Berkeley's flagship tech accelerator (co-organized with QB3 for the Bio Startup Showcase at JPM). While broader tech-focused, it overlaps in the life sciences startup cohort within the same UC Berkeley ecosystem.

Others

• Mission Bay Capital: Mission Bay Capital was co-founded in 2009 by QB3's Reg Kelly to make seed-stage investments in UC biotech spinouts. Highly adjacent - an affiliated QB3 spinout VC, directly comparable in deal source and stage focus, and a natural collaboration ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qb3
• Xx.com/qb3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QB3