The Innovation Space
AcceleratorWilmington · Pre-Seed–Seed · 31 people tracked
Investment thesis
The Innovation Space helps early-stage, science-based startups grow by providing access to state-of-the-art laboratory space and scientific equipment, expert coaching, and connections to partners and investors. It targets life science, clean technology, and advanced materials companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Through The First Fund, it offers up to $200k in investment resources combining cash, business-building expertise, and lab access. Additional programs include Spark Factory, a virtual pitch and mentoring event for new founders, and the Science Inc. accelerator, a cohort-based virtual program for early-stage science startups. The organization emphasizes community, curated events, and hands-on support to help founders scale.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 31 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 85 of 108 portfolio companiesBiotech ×44Medical Devices ×32Healthtech ×24Deep Tech ×21New Materials ×19Cleantech ×16Hardware ×9Advanced Manufacturing ×7
HQs:United States×25Australia×1Canada×1China×1Türkiye×1
Portfolio companies · 108 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likePrelude Therapeutics develops precision oncology medicines, including selective KAT6A degraders, mutant-selective JAK2 inhibitors, and degrader antibody conjugates for cancer treatment.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechMedical DevicesNewark, US
Krishna Vaddi(Executive Officer, Director)Paul Friedman(Director of Issuer)
BoardDavid Bonita(Director of Issuer)
4th Phase Technologies produces chemically densified carbon nanotube sheets for filtration applications, including hazardous waste treatment and water purification.
CleantechNew MaterialsWilmington, US
AirJoule develops sorption technologies to extract and provide water from atmospheric moisture, targeting next-generation data centers in water-stressed regions.
CleantechClimate TechHardware
Ally Power develops hydrogen and electric refueling infrastructure, operating stations that supply zero-emission fuel for vehicles.
CleantechEnergyMobility & TransportationMaryland, US
Solomon Saul(Director)Thomas Mierzwa(Director)
Aloe Therapeutics develops AIM-001, a cell-based immunotherapy for solid tumors that is implanted locally during surgery to activate the immune system and enhance response to checkpoint immunotherapy.
BiotechMedical Devices
Antelope Surgical Solutions develops multimodality small molecule imaging agents that bind to cancer cells and fluoresce during surgery, enabling surgeons to visualize tumor margins in real time.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechMedical Devices
Anvigen develops biodegradable polymer-based microcapsules that can encapsulate bacteria, pheromones, fertilizers, and other chemical additives for agricultural applications.
AgTechBiotech
APASOMICS develops Apasomes, a drug delivery system using hydroxyapatite nanospheres designed to deliver bone-targeting medications like bisphosphonates more effectively while reducing side effects, for patients with osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Mavis Montero Villalobos(CEO & Co-Founder)
Ardan Pharma is a biotech company developing small-molecule immunotherapies targeting TMEM176A/B to address resistance in cancer treatment.
BiotechMedical DevicesDelaware, US
Online casino and sports betting platform operating in Turkey, offering slot games, live casino, and esports betting with mobile and web-based access.
ConsumerGamingIstanbul, TR
Ballydel Technologies develops novel materials and manufacturing processes for use in pharmaceutical, defense, energy, and consumer goods applications.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechNew Materials
Miist develops inhaled microparticle therapeutics that deliver medicine to the bloodstream in 30 seconds, targeting conditions like migraine, pain, and anxiety where rapid onset is critical.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesAlameda, US
Eric Ezerins(Cofounder, Head of Technology)inDalton Signor(Cofounder, CEO)inRandy Krebs(Executive Officer)Evan Alfano(Director)Jeffrey Schuster(Chief Technology Officer)
Philadelphia, US
Joanne Norris(Executive Officer, Director)Nick Martin(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardAmy Duffuor(Director)
Cartwheel manufactures personal care products for children that address common health problems like lice and head odor.
ConsumerHealthtech
Cell BioEngines develops allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapies derived from transgene-free stem cells for oncology and regenerative medicine applications.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
Cellergy develops immunotherapies to treat patients with severe allergic disease and cancer.
Biotech
Chiima Therapeutics develops non-hormonal therapies for women's health conditions including endometriosis, pre-term labor, and PCOS.
BiotechFemTechHealthtech
Clean Valley develops modular, scalable biofilters and oyster hatcheries for land-based aquaculture farms to improve sustainability, profitability, and environmental impact.
AgTechCircular EconomyClimate TechUnspecified, CA
CocoaFiber converts cocoa pod husks from chocolate production into regenerated cellulose textile fibers using a proprietary wet-chemistry process.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyNew Materials<UNKNOWN>
Shannen-Kaylia Henry(Founder · Inventor · Lead Process Developer)
FortisKap manufactures biometric-secured prescription vial caps that track medication adherence through fingerprint authentication and real-time pill-count monitoring.
HealthtechIoTMedical DevicesMiddletown, US
Joseph W. White(Executive Officer, Director)Alexander M. Colton(Executive Officer, Director)Philip McBride(Executive Officer)Bart Edmunds(Director)Christian Colton(Director)
Cyta Therapeutics develops polymer-based nanogel therapeutics (IntelliGels) to treat obesity, NASH, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic disorders.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices<UNKNOWN>
Bernadette C. Fendrock(Chief Executive Officer, founder)W. Stephen Faraci(Chief Scientific Officer, founder)S. Thayumanavan(Co-founder)
Dunya Analytics provides enterprise risk management software for assessing nature-related impacts and dependencies across business operations and supply chains.
Enterprise SoftwareImpact & Social GoodWilmington, US
Megan Haarbauer Pillsbury(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardB. Holt Thrasher(Director)
Eco Carbon converts post-consumer plastic waste into high-performance porous carbon materials for industrial applications.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsBala Cynwyd, US
Ecovaleric develops electrochemical manufacturing technology to produce biomass-derived chemicals and materials, including solvents, polymers, and fuel additives, at competitive cost and lower emissions.
CleantechNew Materials
Ephemeron Labs develops hardware and software systems for EBIC (Electron Beam Induced Current) measurements on scanning electron microscopes, enabling detection of femtoampere-scale signals in semiconductor and materials analysis.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Exprimary develops bioanalytical instrumentation and assay products at reduced cost for research and diagnostic markets.
BiotechDigital HealthMedical DevicesRockville, US
Sean Higgins(Executive Officer, Director)Holly Atlee(Executive Officer)Scott Stelick(Executive Officer)
Flow Medical develops technology for catheter-directed thrombolysis treatment of pulmonary embolism, aiming to improve precision in lytic medication dosing to reduce readmission rates.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesChicago, US
Jonathan Paul(Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer)inOsman Ahmed(Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer)in
GeneLancet develops proprietary LgRNA technology for precise gene editing, with applications in CRISPR polymerase-directed therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases and cancers with unmet medical needs.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtech
Harmony Pharma Group provides CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) consulting for small molecule and antibody drug conjugate development, advising pharmaceutical companies from early research through commercial manufacturing stages.
BiotechEnterprise Software
HARTLON manufactures a drug-eluting resorbable vascular stent that provides temporary radial support to arteries during disease treatment and dissolves after healing is complete, leaving the artery in its natural state.
Medical DevicesNewark, US
ImmunoBlue develops nanoimmunotherapies that combine nanotechnology with immunotherapy approaches to treat cancer.
BiotechDeep TechMedical Devices
InveriTek provides high-throughput chemical screening using freshwater planarians, detecting systemic toxicity, neurotoxicity, and ecotoxicity through behavioral phenotyping in whole organisms.
BiotechCleantech
KinectXions Materials develops low-carbon hydrogen and high-performance materials aimed at reducing emissions in energy- and materials-intensive industries.
CleantechClimate TechNew Materials
KiposTech develops a filterless, chemical-free air purification system for confined livestock facilities to eliminate airborne pathogens and improve biosecurity.
AgTechClimate TechHealthtech
Lakril develops catalytic technologies to convert biomass into renewable chemicals for use as alternatives to petroleum-derived building blocks.
Circular EconomyCleantechDeep TechNew MaterialsChicago, US
Christopher P. Nicholas(Founding Partner / CTO / Director)inPaul J. Dauenhauer(Founding Partner & Chief Technical Advisor)Justin Brown(CEO / Director)in
BoardLisa Dufresne(Director)inMel Luetkens(Director)inAndy Shafer(Director)in
LaRa Datx develops targeted treatments addressing unmet medical needs, operating in the biotechnology and medical treatment sector.
Biotech
Layer Metrics develops opto-photonic sensing and metrology technology for real-time monitoring and measurement in advanced manufacturing, enabling simultaneous control of multiple production factors at nano-scale precision.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardware
Lectrolyst develops electrochemical systems that convert carbon dioxide and water into valuable products, including acetate for sustainable protein production.
Climate TechDeep TechFoodTech
Leda provides self-administered DNA testing kits and related services for individuals who have experienced sexual assault, aiming to improve evidence collection and support for survivors.
HealthtechImpact & Social Good
Liesel Vaidya(Executive Officer, Director)Madison Campbell(Executive Officer, Director)
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does The Innovation Space invest at?
- The Innovation Space invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is The Innovation Space's typical check size?
- The Innovation Space typically writes checks of $200K.
- What sectors does The Innovation Space focus on?
- The Innovation Space focuses on Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Healthtech, New Materials.
- Where is The Innovation Space located?
- The Innovation Space is headquartered in Wilmington, US.
- Does The Innovation Space lead rounds?
- The Innovation Space typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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