Background:

NIIMBL is organizing a special session at this year’s National Meeting, scheduled for June 23-25, 2026.  Last year’s Innovation Tank session received overwhelmingly positive feedback and engagement, and we are excited to continue the format again this year.

The session will feature a “Shark Tank”-style pitch event, where up to three organizations will be invited to pitch their promising biopharmaceutical manufacturing-related technology to a panel of experts. 

Each selected organization will be given 20 to 30 minutes to deliver a 5 to 7 minute pitch about your technology followed by panel question and answer.  The winning technology pitch will be determined by the panel with audience poll results weighted into the decision.

While the session is primarily intended for small businesses (e.g., Tier 3 industry members), submissions from academic institutions pursuing commercialization or large companies with innovative technologies are also welcome. However, priority may be given to small businesses.

Purpose of this RFI: Gather information from small to mid-size companies who want their technology to be considered for this pitch session. Note: This RFI does not constitute a solicitation for funding proposals. NIIMBL anticipates that a small prize will be awarded to the winning pitch, but the prize will not involve research, development, demonstration or other dilutive or non-dilutive funding. 

Submission Details:

Please submit all of the following information: 

A. Technology: A brief description (limit 1000 words maximum) of the following: 

• What problem are you trying to solve and why is it important? 
• What is your technical solution and how does it compare to other solutions (if any exist)? 
• What evidence do you have that your technical solution works? 
• What evidence do you have that there is a market for your technology, and what is that market? 

 B. Organization & Presenter Background (Word file, max 500 words)

• Briefly describe the individual who will deliver the pitch, including relevant background and experience.
• Provide a short overview of your organization, including size, age, mission, and any past success (or failure) in bringing products to market.
• Explain how the proposed technology fits into your organization’s product offerings.
• If the submission is from an academic institution, please indicate that a start-up company is expected to pursue the technology.
• This section is limited to 500 words maximum.  

C. Video Pitch (≤60 seconds)

Please submit a video pitch that meets the following criteria:

• The presenter must appear on screen and speak for at least 30 seconds and no more than 60 seconds.
• Videos may be submitted in any standard file format - a simple Zoom recording with slides is perfectly acceptable.

If selected to present, the individual featured in the video is expected to be the same person who delivers the pitch live at the 2026 NIIMBL National Meeting. Registration for the National Meeting is expected.

Please click here for more details on this RFI.