Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) will launch and operate a new Massachusetts Gateway Cities Life Sciences Seed Fund to focus on early-stage life sciences companies in the Gateway Cities outside of Greater Boston. Gateway Cities are mid-sized, economically distressed urban centers where economic development efforts are addressing the effects of displaced industries. In Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Pittsfield and other Gateway Cities, the potential to create economies driven by life sciences - given the presence of major research universities, medical centers, and incubators – is undermined by a gap in early-stage funding outside of Greater Boston. The new seed fund seeks to catalyze investment in emerging life sciences companies in these under-represented regions and among under-represented teams (namely women and people of color). The project aims to foster the development of innovative technologies spun out of premier regional institutions, starting with key partnerships in three pilot areas and connecting emerging companies with additional resources. MLSC anticipates the seed fund will make investments in 8-10 seed stage life sciences companies by the end of three years, and will seek angel co-investors and follow-on venture capital investors to draw new sources of capital to underserved parts of the Commonwealth.