FirstXFounder Programs
FirstXFounder Helps Build Emergent Businesses through
Education and networking activities for emerging life sciences venture founders.
Initiative of
ABCT, the Accelerator for Biosciences in CT program, launched in 2017 by CT Innovations with final cohort in 2025. ABCT is the first and only competitive-entry, six-month program of personalized entrepreneurial education delivered for first time founders of bioscience ventures of any development stage focused on healthcare innovation in Connecticut. As of July, 2025 ABCT venture alums have raised $146M, filed 158 patents, and created 213 jobs returning 166X on the program investment with 79% of ventures remaining active in business. See 2025 Impact report with more achievement details here
ABCT Corporate Supporters 2017-2025:
Initiative of
WCBA, the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator program, launched in 2019 by Westchester County Office of Economic Development with the 6th and final cohort in wrapping in 2025. As of July 2025, WCBA alums fundraised $41M, filed 88 patents, created 176 jobs and attracted 2 WCBA 2025 ventures to move to Westchester County. Program ROI is 22X with 81% of ventures remaining active in business.
Corporate Supporters: 2019-2025
Initiative of
ELabNYC, the Entrepreneurship Lab for New York City, initiated by NYCEDC in 2012 with a final cohort program in 2020, has 155 venture alumni including Cresilon, Yiviva (Astra Zeneca), Kures (Atai), Monograph Technologies (Zimmer) , Landos Biopharma (Abbvie) Carespeak Communications ((OptimizeRx) Histowiz, Algiknit, Hyro, BioSapien, avo, Agamon, Calmigo, Tezcat, Synthis, Savvy Cooperative, Microstructure Imaging, Lipidsense (Lime) Massive Bio, Girihlet, Dust, InVivo Analytics, and serial entrepreneurs Kaja Wasik, Ray Alvarez, Andrew Kruegel, Josep Bassaganya, Andrew Mahon, Alan Perlstein, Adam Kirell, W Vallen Graham, Ashish Agarwal, Kate Rochlin. ELabNYC ventures include therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, research tools, software, materials technology breakthroughs.
Launched as a 6-month program focused on NYC resident ventures, ELabNYC was relaunched in 2022 with curated Master Classes providing in-depth training, skills development and resources for first time founders across the NY area. Master Classes are designed for ventures that graduated from entrepreneurship programs and promote the growth of the local community.
ELabNYC ventures have raised over $1B since 2013 from seed investments, grants, international and government funding sources, public offerings and acquisitions.
2025 ELabNYC Corporate Supporters: 2012-2020
The Next Milestone program initiated by SUNY Downstate on behalf of Empire State Development serves incubator clients of the SUNY Downstate Biotechnology Incubator. The Next Milestone program has helped generate 191 jobs and $1.3B. The Next Milestone program brings expert support to small, founder led teams to achieve infection point milestones.