IBD Ventures

IBD Ventures

Administers startup and industry teams with commercialization support for IBD Ventures in biotechnology and medical technology.

Eligibility · Global — open worldwide

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's IBD Ventures program is a dedicated funding mechanism for product-oriented research and development aimed at improving quality of life for patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Unlike the Foundation's investigator-initiated science grants, IBD Ventures explicitly welcomes applications from both for-profit companies and academic investigators, making it one of the few disease-foundation programs with a commercial-entity pathway. Funded projects receive cash awards of up to $500,000 per year, along with access to accelerator resources and business advising beyond the cash component. The program also encompasses related sub-initiatives including the Fibrostenosis-Focused Therapies RFP and the IBD Innovate conference.

The 2026 cycle requires a Letter of Intent submitted via proposalCENTRAL (GMID=271 — a separate portal from the Foundation's investigator-initiated grants, which use GMID=96). The most recent prior LOI deadline was September 17, 2025; the Fall 2026 LOI date had not been formally published as of mid-2026. Full proposals are accepted only by invitation following LOI review, making early engagement with Foundation staff at entrepreneurship@crohnscolitisfoundation.org strategically important for prospective applicants.

To maximize competitiveness, applicants should demonstrate a clear product-development roadmap aligned with unmet IBD patient needs, validated preliminary data, and a realistic path to clinical or commercial translation. The accelerator support component means that funded recipients benefit from strategic advising alongside the cash award, so teams with a business development gap can use the program to fill it. Both preclinical therapeutic platforms and clinical-stage interventions addressing Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are within scope.