VATIS UPDATE Article

Helix, the United States, has teamed up with startup creation engine Illumina Accelerator, the United States. Through the collaboration, they will partner with entrepreneurs looking to promote innovation in the genomics space. Selected entrepreneurs will gain access to Helix’s team of experts, who have experience in everything from regulatory affairs to business development to bioinformatics.

Helix itself is an Illumina spinout – it was created in 2015 from a partnership between Illumina, Warburg Pincus and Sutter Hill Ventures. The goal was to become a digital hub for consumers to obtain genetic tests and complementary services from third parties. Since then, the company has partnered with multiple organizations, including Good Start Genetics, the United States, and Duke University, the United States, to advance its mission.

Most recently, it launched an online marketplace for consumer-facing products that provide information on ancestry, family, health and fitness. As for Illumina Accelerator, it recently unveiled its sixth cycle of startups. The class included five companies: Checkerspot, Chimera Bioengineering, Encompass Bioscience, Mantra Bio and Solarea Bio. The accelerator operates on a 6-month funding cycle, giving startups the chance for business assistance.