Student Biolab Zurich
Student Biolab Zurich is a nonprofit student-run association bridging ETH Zurich and UZH, providing free wet-lab access, competition teams (iGEM, iDEC), the BioIncubate startup program, and workshops for life science students pursuing research and biotech ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersZurich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Student Biolab Zurich does
Student Biolab Zurich is a nonprofit student-run association founded in 2021 and registered in Zurich, Switzerland (CHE-337.885.808), operating as a community platform that enables students from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich to design, prototype, and execute independent life science research and product ideas. The organization bridges the two universities and runs a portfolio of programs including the iGEM synthetic biology competition (fielding both an ETH and a UZH team annually), the iDEC directed evolution competition under the Evolution Suisse brand, the BioIncubate student biotech incubator with a CHF 25,000 Startup Track and a CHF 30,000 Forge Track, an annual Ideathon (most recently sponsored by Nestl\u00e9 with CHF 5,000 in prizes), and recurring workshops such as the Bacterial Photography Workshop built on an optogenetic E. coli circuit and supported by CSEM.
Core operations are anchored at the ETH Student Project House in Zurich, which houses the SPH Biolab wet laboratory used for molecular cloning, bacterial transformation, optogenetics, and directed evolution experiments, with additional student spaces at the UZH Irchel Campus and a satellite relationship with Superlab Suisse in Basel/Schlieren. Technology is concentrated in hands-on synthetic biology tools rather than software; notable technical components include a custom projector incubator for the Bacterial Photography Workshop, Phage-Assisted Continuous Evolution (PACE) capability for the iDEC Evolution Suisse team, and a 2025 iDEC project focused on evolving RNA-guided DNA recombinases.
The business model is sponsorship- and grant-driven rather than commercial: all programs, workshops, and competitions are free for ETH and UZH students, and no products or services are sold. Funding flows from corporate sponsors (Nestl\u00e9, Lonza, CSEM, Superlab Suisse) and institutional backers (ETH, UZH, VSSETH, VSUZH) finance prize money, startup grants, workshop materials, and lab operations. Customer segments comprise three personas: undergraduate and master's students seeking hands-on lab experience, student entrepreneurs developing biotech ventures through BioIncubate, and advanced graduate researchers competing in iDEC. Distribution is exclusively in-person at university-affiliated facilities, with community-led and event-driven go-to-market executed through student organization networks and recurring campus events drawing over 100 attendees.
Student Biolab Zurich firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Student Biolab Zurich
- Legal name
- Student Biolab Zurich
- Website
- https://studentbiolab.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Student Biolab Zurich is a nonprofit student-run association bridging ETH Zurich and UZH, providing free wet-lab access, competition teams (iGEM, iDEC), the BioIncubate startup program, and workshops for life science students pursuing research and biotech ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Student Biolab Zurich industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student-led biotech community and entrepreneurship programs
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy) (EDAMABAF)
Keywords
Where Student Biolab Zurich is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zurich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Student Biolab Zurich business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Grants: Student Biolab receives financial support from corporate sponsors (Nestlé, CSEM, Lonza, Superlab Suisse) and academic institutional supporters (ETH, UZH). These sponsors fund competition prize money, workshop materials, and student project grants.
- BioIncubate Program Funding: The BioIncubate program distributes grant funding to student startup teams: up to CHF 25k for the Startup Track and CHF 30k Grand Prize for the Forge Track (sponsored by industry partners like Lonza). The program acts as an allocator of sponsor-provided funds rather than a direct revenue generator.
- Event-based Community Engagement: Student Biolab organizes free community events (welcome events, workshops, parties, networking events) funded by supporter organizations. No direct revenue is generated from students; participation is free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free for all ETH and UZH students |
| Other | One-time prize | Ideathon competition prize money (sponsored) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Student Biolab Zurich product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Student Biolab Zurich is a student-run non-profit community biolab that provides ETH Zurich and UZH students with free access to a fully equipped wet lab, hosts year-long synthetic biology (iGEM) and directed evolution (iDEC) competition teams, and runs the BioIncubate startup incubator offering CHF 25k grants and CHF 30k prizes. It also delivers hands-on workshops (such as the Bacterial Photography and Optogenetics workshops), a 24-hour Ideathon, and a calendar of community events, all free of charge to students and funded by sponsors including Nestlé, Lonza, CSEM, Superlab Suisse, ETH, and UZH.
Product overview
Student Biolab Zurich is a student organization platform offering multiple interconnected programs for life science students from UZH and ETH to engage in biotech research and entrepreneurship. The core offerings include the iGEM and iDEC competition programs for synthetic biology and directed evolution, the BioIncubate platform with Startup and Forge funding tracks, hands-on Bacterial Photography and other lab skill workshops, the Ideathon competition format, and ongoing community events. These programs collectively provide financial support, lab space, mentorship from industry leaders, and pathways from project ideation through competition and potential startup formation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BioIncubate: Student-run biotech incubator bridging academia and industry, offering Startup Track and Forge Track programs for multidisciplinary student teams.
- Evolution Suisse
Products and services
- iGEM Competition Program Year-long synthetic biology competition program where ETH and UZH student teams design and execute genetic engineering research projects and compete against 400+ teams globally at the iGEM Giant Jamboree.
- iDEC (International Directed Evolution Competition) Student competition program focused exclusively on directed evolution techniques, where teams engineer biological molecules through repeated mutagenesis and screening to create improved enzymes and proteins.
- BioIncubate Student-run biotech incubator offering a Startup Track (up to CHF 25k grant funding) for entrepreneurial teams and a Forge Track (CHF 30k grand prize sponsored by Lonza) for teams solving industry challenges, connecting students with academic experts and industry sponsors.
- Bacterial Photography Workshop Hands-on synthetic biology workshop where students genetically modify E. coli with an optogenetic RGB color vision circuit and use a custom projector incubator to print images from light-responsive pigment production.
- Ideathon 24-hour student competition challenging teams to develop biotech solutions to industry-proposed problems (such as the Nestlé plastic degradation challenge), featuring cash prizes and networking with partner organization judges.
- Community Events & Workshops Regular in-person events including welcome events each semester, community mixers, networking sessions, skill-building workshops, and career-focused events such as the Roche Career Chat.
Companies that use Student Biolab Zurich
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Student Biolab Zurich technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Student Biolab Zurich partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- NestléminorNestlé served as the industry challenge sponsor for the Student Biolab Ideathon (November 2022), posing the 'Plastic degradation and biopolymer design' challenge. Funded CHF 5,000 in prize money. Nestlé scientists (Dr. Hannah Kleyer, Dr. Violette Bourg, Dr. Johannes Zimmer, Dr. Michael Hausmann) served as judges.
- ETH Student Project House (SPH)coreStudent Project House is Student Biolab's primary host for community events, workshops, and houses the SPH Biolab — a wet lab facility used by Student Biolab members. SPH Director Lucie Rejman serves as an advisor to Student Biolab's board. Student Biolab celebrates anniversaries of the SPH Biolab.
- VSSETH (Verband der Studierenden an der ETH)coreOfficial student organization at ETH Zurich. Listed as a key supporter and community partner. VSSETH provides institutional backing and student network access for Student Biolab recruitment and event promotion.
- VSUZH (Verband der Studierenden an der UZH)coreOfficial student organization at the University of Zurich. Listed as a key supporter alongside VSSETH. Provides institutional backing and student network access for recruitment at UZH.
- Superlab SuisseminorSuperlab Suisse operates state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in Schlieren and Basel. Hosted the BioIncubate Launch Event in Basel (October 2024) and collaborated on the SPH/Superlab Innovation Tour (May 2025). Provides lab facility tours and networking opportunities for Student Biolab members.
- CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique)minorCSEM generously sponsors and supports Student Biolab's Bacterial Photography Workshop and Optogenetics Workshop. Provides workshop materials and scientific expertise for hands-on synthetic biology training.
- LonzaminorLonza is the industry sponsor for the BioIncubate Forge 2025 track, providing the challenge in BioManufacturing. The grand prize of CHF 30,000 is funded by Lonza. Lonza's Director of Strategy and Planning (Haritha Sanapala) served as Ideathon judge.
- ETH ZurichcoreETH Zurich provides institutional support, access to university facilities, and hosts the Student Project House where Student Biolab operates. Multiple ETH professors and researchers serve as advisors (Prof. Dr. Gerald Schwank, Dr. Ulrich Genick, Prof. Dr. Michael Sander).
- University of Zurich (UZH)coreUZH provides institutional support and access to university facilities. Hosts Student Biolab events and community activities at Irchel Campus. Multiple UZH researchers serve as advisors (Cyril Zipfel, Dr. Aleks Nivina).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Student Biolab Zurich competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BioBuilder Educational Foundation: BioBuilder runs hands-on synthetic biology labs and curriculum for high school and early college students, including lab kits and foundational programs. Closely comparable as a STEM education organization focused on student-led biotech experimentation and learning pathways.
- iGEM Foundation: iGEM Foundation organizes the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition in which Student Biolab's iGEM teams participate. Directly comparable as the upstream organizer of the synthetic biology student competition ecosystem that Student Biolab operates within.
- Counter Culture Labs: Counter Culture Labs is a community biology lab in Oakland offering workshops, DIY bio projects, and educational programming for students and hobbyists. Closely comparable as a volunteer-run community biolab with a student/educational focus.
- Genspace: Genspace is a community biotechnology lab in Brooklyn, NYC offering hands-on classes, workshops, and lab access to students and citizen scientists. Directly comparable as a community-run biolab offering wet-lab educational programming.
- ETH Student Project House (SPH): ETH SPH is Student Biolab's host institution, providing lab facilities, event space, and Innovation Catalyst mentorship. Directly comparable as the broader student-led project ecosystem at ETH Zurich that Student Biolab operates within.
Broad incumbents
- Y Combinator: Y Combinator is a leading startup accelerator offering seed funding and mentorship to early-stage companies. Comparable as an institutional exit pathway for student-founded biotech ventures graduating from programs like Student Biolab's BioIncubate.
- IndieBio: IndieBio is a prominent biotech accelerator that funds and mentors early-stage life science startups. Comparable as a higher-stage institutional pathway for biotech founders that may ultimately emerge from Student Biolab's BioIncubate program.
Others
- BIO Deutschland / Swiss Biotech Association: The Swiss Biotech Association is the industry body representing Swiss biotech companies and fostering the domestic biotech ecosystem. Comparable as an ecosystem-level player whose industry members (e.g., Lonza, Nestlé) sponsor and engage with Student Biolab programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Student Biolab Zurich social profiles
Digital presenceStudent Biolab Zurich financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Student Biolab Zurich leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Student Biolab Zurich funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Student Biolab Zurich M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Student Biolab Zurich
What does Student Biolab Zurich do?
Student Biolab Zurich is a student-run non-profit community biolab that provides ETH Zurich and UZH students with free access to a fully equipped wet lab, hosts year-long synthetic biology (iGEM) and directed evolution (iDEC) competition teams, and runs the BioIncubate startup incubator offering CHF 25k grants and CHF 30k prizes. It also delivers hands-on workshops (such as the Bacterial Photography and Optogenetics workshops), a 24-hour Ideathon, and a calendar of community events, all free of charge to students and funded by sponsors including Nestlé, Lonza, CSEM, Superlab Suisse, ETH, and UZH.
Is Student Biolab Zurich a public or private company?
Student Biolab Zurich is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Student Biolab Zurich founded?
Student Biolab Zurich was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Student Biolab Zurich based?
Student Biolab Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Student Biolab Zurich make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship and Grants are the primary driver. The others are bioIncubate Program Funding and event-based Community Engagement.
Who are Student Biolab Zurich's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BioBuilder Educational Foundation, iGEM Foundation, Counter Culture Labs, Genspace and ETH Student Project House (SPH). Broad incumbents are Y Combinator and IndieBio. BIO Deutschland / Swiss Biotech Association is listed as an others.
Does Student Biolab Zurich have an API?
No public API is recorded for Student Biolab Zurich.
What industry is Student Biolab Zurich in?
Student Biolab Zurich's product category is Student-led biotech community and entrepreneurship programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAA, Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs), with a secondary code of EDAMABAF, Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy). Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.