Three Triad startups are competing for a cut of $300,000 in non-dilutive funding as part of NC Biotech’s third Venture Challenge.
Three Strands Recovery Wear, Brinter and Deep Creek Pharma were named finalists of the Piedmont Triad region in North Carolina Biotechnology’s statewide Venture Challenge, with one company standing to win $20,000 as a regional winner. Read more about them below.
At the end of May, NC Biotech will name one winner from each of its five regional offices in Winston-Salem, Wilmington (Southeast), Greenville (East), Concord (Greater Charlotte) and Asheville (West). A total of 14 biotech startups, all from outside the Research Triangle area, were named finalists.
Each regional winner will receive $20,000, and finalists will also receive a smaller grant for a total of $200,000 across the state, and mentoring support before presenting in a pitch competition for an additional $40,000 at Triad BioNight on June 27.
NC Biotech, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has held the Venture Challenge biannually since 2020.
In 2022, Winston-Salem regenerative medicine company Plakous Therapeutics took home first place in the statewide challenge, winning a total of $60,000.
This year's regional finalists:
Brinter
This 2024 Triad Inno Startup to Watch moved its headquarters from Finland to Winston-Salem last year. A regenerative medicine startup, Brinter is developing implants made from 3D bioprinters.
The company focuses on cartilage repair, particularly for nose surgeries such as facial reconstruction, rhinoplasty and nasal augmentation.
Brinter's goal is to be commercial by mid-2026.
Deep Creek Pharma
Yadkinville’s Deep Creek Pharma is working on an alternative therapy for colorectal cancer using a DNA-based platform licensed from Wake Forest University and anticipates a clinical trial in 2025.
William Gmeiner founded the company in 2019 to commercialize his research in CF10 fluoropyrimidine, a class of anti-cancer drugs, polymers that he developed at Wake Forest’s medical school.
Three Strands Recovery Wear
A 2024 Triad Inno Startup to Watch, Three Strands Recovery Wear is known for its Resilience Bra, a post-operative recovery garment for breast cancer patients. CEO Leah Wyrick, a former TBJ Inno Under 25 honoree, created the bra with adjustable straps and bands and pockets for drain tubing after seeing her own mother struggle with mastectomy recovery.
The Winston-Salem startup has sold its first order of 3,000 bras to a variety of health systems, including Cone Health and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and mastectomy boutiques.
