Apply for funding

Project Submissions FAQ

Eligibility

Who can apply?

All researchers are welcome to apply, including professors, post-docs, research scientists, and even students.

I’m a biotech startup, can I apply?

Yes, we have funded biotech startups!

I am not familiar with crypto/web3. Can I still apply?

Yes! All official agreements are signed with our service provider, Molecule, a registered Swiss company. No Web3 knowledge is needed.

Which projects does VitaDAO fund?

We prioritise projects with a clear pathway to generating intellectual property and potential commercial value. When filling out your application please be sure to clearly articulate the commercialization plan for your project. Applications that do not have a path to sell whatever you are making may be deprioritized.

Not sure whether your project is a fit? Join our discord community or send us an email at dao@vitadao.com.

What kind of research does VitaDAO fund?

We fund translational R&D primarily. We particularly want to fund the projects that are ‘moonshots’ – potentially revolutionary. On occasion we will also fund more ‘basic’ research and other projects in the interests of the LongBio community. Specific areas of focus:

• Longevity research: therapeutic interventions that extend healthy lifespan across species, and/or act upon the Hallmarks of Aging (Lopez-Otin et al 2013 Cell). Lifespan and healthspan data are highly prized to support further funding.

• Therapeutics for age-related disease: Lifespan data may not be available, but there is evidence that the therapeutic can treat or prevent multiple age-related diseases.

In rare cases, basic research may be funded if there is compelling reason to believe that traditional funders will not fund it.

What counts as translational research?

Translational research includes R&D that is likely to yield patentable IP. Examples include but not limited to:

• High throughput screening
• Medicinal chemistry (H2L, LO)
• Target identification (chemoproteomics, pull down assays, RNAseq, CRISPR screening, etc.)
• Therapeutic protein engineering
• Peptide and antibody discovery, phage display
• Cell therapy engineering
• Testing new chemical entities (NCEs) in animal models of disease
• Pharmacology and toxicology
• IND-enabling studies
• Clinical development
• Novel diagnostic methods
• Novel biomarkers

Do I need to have a patent already?

It’s not necessary to have one already. However, you should have a plan for developing a new therapeutic or diagnostic that will yield Composition of Matter IP as a result of the R&D.

I don’t have a clear IP plan, can I still apply?

Yes, as long as your project has the potential to yield an intervention or diagnostics that can be patented, we will be happy to help polish your plan to result in the strongest IP possible. We have IP attorneys, drug hunters, med chemists, and biotech VCs who can support you.

Do I need to live in any particular country?

No, we support research globally!

Funding Terms

Who owns the IP from funded projects?

It depends on the funding terms, which are negotiated on a per project basis. In some cases VitaDAO owns the intellectual property from the projects that it funds, either directly or in the form of an exclusive licence. In other cases the funded institution and other third parties can maintain partial or full ownership of IP.

Do you offer funding in exchange for equity?

We only accept equity deals in extraordinary circumstances.

What are the deal terms?

Terms vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on the maturity of your data, R&D plan, and team. For the DTT model, we provide cash consulting fees, plus equity in the company that holds the resulting IP (see DTT Q&A section below). For the in-house model, we provide milestone payments and royalties on net sales of any resulting products.

How much funding is possible?

Our typical grant size is $250k, covering 1-2 years of R&D. Funding may be lower or higher, depending on the project, but we prioritize lower budgets. Ideally, the funding is milestone based, with a frugal budget for a “killer experiment” and more on success (for example a hit in a HTS).

After the initial funding, the resulting company can raise additional capital in exchange for equity. We will facilitate this process and company formation.

Will the funding be in crypto or traditional fiat currency (USD, EUR etc)?

Fiat. The funding agreements are between Molecule AG, our Swiss Service Provider, and the institution / company getting the funding, via standard agreements and bank transfer.

I need more funding than VitaDAO provides, can there be multiple funders?

Yes – we have a large network of other potential funders and VCs.

I work at a university. Do I need to talk to my TTO (tech transfer office)?

If we use the DTT structure and help you launch a spinout, then not until later. If you must pursue the in-house model, we can engage with your TTO to negotiate terms.

What can the funding be used for?

The funding can be used for reasonable R&D and Operations expenses, such as: researchers salaries, equipment and material cost, lab spaces, legal fees.

Application Process

How long does the application process take?

If a project proposal is a good fit for VitaDAO, it can be funded in a few weeks.

How does the VitaDAO application process work?

After you fill out the application form, our team of senior reviewers (scientists, biotech operators, VC investors) will provide initial feedback. We will help you polish the project to comport with industry-standards for R&D. Then you submit a final application and we quickly (<1 month) vote on whether to fund it. Much faster than government grants!

When are the application deadlines?

We have two application rounds a year, with standard terms and key dates. If you need different terms, or if you miss an application date, you can still apply any time. We try to move outside applications forward as fast as we can, but we cannot commit to specific deadlines outside of the standard rounds.

Decentralized Technology Transfer (DTT)

What is the DTT funding model?

Our DTT model funds research projects without the need for a host university or institution. How it works:

• You, as the researcher, collaborate with VitaDAO to design key experiments to advance your project.
• You are paid as a consultant, and also receive equity for upside in the project.
• We mobilize our network of CROs, consultants, and other university collaborators to work and advance the project to the next milestone

Is the DTT model right for me?

We created the DTT model to give our researchers more freedom to pursue their research interest, a bigger share of their project’s upside, and a way to discuss progress openly with a community of interested researchers. In a university, IPs from research projects by default are owned by the institution, who controls access to data or further paths to commercialization. If you agree that this is too restrictive for your project, and would instead like to access the advantages of DTT, then we strongly encourage you to apply with the DTT model.

How can I find a CRO?

VitaDAO has a network of CROs and universities. We will work with you to find one that’s suitable.

Do I get equity for my project?

Yes, we would like to share the upside of the project with you. We will agree on a consulting fee and equity terms.