Win Industrial-Scale Fermentation for YOUR Idea
Early-stage biotech startups: we're awarding up to 100,000 ILS in fermentation scale-up services to take your early-stage technology from the lab toward real scale.
Up to 100,000 ILS in services
TRL 1-2 welcome
Apply in 10 sentences
- Applications close July 15, 2026
The Challenge at a glance
100,000 ILS
First place – in fermentation services
35,000 ILS
Second place – in fermentation services
July 15, 2026
TRL 1–2 · early-stage
What is the Scale-Up Challenge?
Industrial fermentation, on us
The hardest leap for an early-stage biological isn’t the science – it’s getting it out of the lab and proven at scale.
Pilot and demo-scale fermentation is expensive and difficult to access when you’re still at TRL 1-2. So we’re removing that barrier for two startups. The YDLabs Scale-Up Challenge awards real fermentation scale-up services – the same work we do for our clients every day – to teams with a promising idea and a clear vision.
It’s simple: tell us about your company, your technology, and where you want to take it, in up to ten sentences. If you’re selected, we put our infrastructure and 30+ years of fermentation expertise behind scaling it up. No equity. No shared IP. No royalties.
What winners receive
A real path from lab to scale
Prizes are credited against actual YDLabs scale-up work. Depending on your technology and stage, that can include each step below.
Process Development
An optimized, reproducible protocol – a recipe ready for the bioreactor.
Pilot Fermentation
From lab-scale toward 15,000L, step by step – real data at real scale.
Downstream Processing
Stable, consistent, stable, consistent material your team can rely on.
Full Documentation
Batch reports and a paper trail your investors and partners can rely on.
The Awards
Two winners. Real fermentation services.
Awarded as service credit toward your scale-up program.
FIRST PLACE
100,000 ILS
Second Place
35,000 ILS
Eligibility
Who can apply
You’re eligible if your startup meets both criteria:
A clear early-stage idea or technology you want to scale
You are currently at TRL 1-2
What does "TRL 1-2" mean?
Technology Readiness Levels 1-2 cover the earliest stages – from basic principles observed (TRL 1) to an early technology concept formulated (TRL 2). In short: your concept works in principle, and you’re ready to start proving it. That’s exactly who this challenge is built for.
How It Works
Apply in three steps
1
Register
Open the application link to get started.
2
Tell your story
Describe your company, technology, and vision in up to 10 sentences.
3
Submit
Send it before July 15, 2026. That’s it.
How winners are selected
What we look for
Our fermentation scientists review every submission. These are the qualities that stand out.
Scientific merit & novelty
An idea with a real, differentiated reason to exist
Readiness to scale
How ready the technology is for the bioreactor
Impact & commercial potential
A credible path to real-world impact and market
Clarity of vision
A focused, well-articulated plan for where you're headed.
Key Dates
Mark your calendar
July 15, 2026
August 1, 2026
Hand us your science. We'll scale it up.
Questions
Frequently asked
Everything you need to know before you apply.
Who is this challenge for?
Early-stage biotech startups with a promising idea at TRL 1-2 and an initial strain to work from.
If your science works in principle and you’re ready to prove it at scale, you’re our ideal applicant.
Do you take equity, IP, or royalties?
No. The work comes with no equity, no shared IP, and no royalties. Your science stays yours – we simply scale it up.
What exactly do the winners receive?
Service credit toward real YDLabs fermentation scale-up work – up to 100,000 ILS for first place and 35,000 ILS for second. This is not a cash prize; it’s the expertise, infrastructure, and services to advance your project, applied to your specific program.
How do I apply, and how long does it take?
Complete the form on this page and describe your company, technology, and vision in up to ten sentences. Most applicants finish in a few minutes.
When are winners announced?
Applications close on July 15, 2026, and winners will be announced on August 1, 2026.
What if I'm past TRL 2, or my technology isn't quite ready?
The challenge is designed for TRL 1-2, but we work with companies at every stage. If you’re further along, reach out and book a scale-up assessment – we’ll tell you what’s ready, what isn’t, and how long it’ll take.
Apply now
Enter the Scale-Up Challenge
Takes a few minutes. Just your details and up to ten sentences.
Why YDLabs
From lab-scale R&D to 15,000L demo production
YDLabs helps biotech companies bridge the gap between lab development and industrial production – from lab fermentation to consistent, scale-ready material, with reliable pilot-scale fermentation and downstream processing built on decades of experience.
We're Here For You
Ready to scale your idea?
Applications take minutes – just up to 10 sentences.
Don’t miss the July 15 deadline.