The Rhode Island Life Science Hub (RILSH) has announced the Founders Compass Program, offered in partnership with Portal Innovations — the first Rhode Island programme to pay for laboratory space directly on behalf of early-stage companies to help accelerate them through the early stages of scientific development. It is open to founders and researchers across the US and beyond.
Founders Compass will place up to eight companies at Ocean State Labs, the state’s first dedicated life science incubator. Each selected company receives up to two wet lab benches and a dedicated desk, at no cost for 12 months. Portal Innovations, which operates the incubator, provides the laboratory infrastructure, equipment, programming, access to capital, a global network of resources, and advisor support behind the residency. RILSH has committed $250,000 to support up to eight companies and their early-stage research and development.
Founders Compass provides rent-free lab and office space (up to two wet lab benches and one dedicated desk) at Ocean State Labs, at no cost for 12 months, access to shared facilities and specialised equipment, and advisor support throughout the residency, educational programming, and access to a growing community of founders, scientists, investors, and industry leaders — including Portal Innovations’ network of sites in Chicago, Providence, New Brunswick, and Salt Lake City (opening in 2027).
The programme is open to founders anywhere: the only requirement is a commitment to operate in Rhode Island.
Up to eight companies will be selected from a total RILSH commitment of $250,000.
“Early-stage companies need a place to advance their work — access to lab space, specialized equipment, and expertise – resources that are difficult for a young company to build on its own,” said Bob Cormier, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Life Science Hub.
“Founders Compass helps lower those barriers so promising companies can focus on advancing their science. Our goal is to make it easier for good science to move forward — and for companies to build their future here in Rhode Island.”
Applications close September 24, 2026, with awards announced approximately four weeks later. Applications are evaluated against published criteria: scientific and technical merit, commercial potential, team strength, residency readiness, financial readiness, and impact in Rhode Island. Each recipient commits to establish, maintain, or expand its operations in Rhode Island for the term of the award.
RILSH’s portfolio includes companies that have relocated to Rhode Island from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ireland.
“If you’re a researcher with a discovery and nowhere to develop it, we want you to look at Rhode Island,” Cormier said.
Ocean State Labs opened in May 2026 at 150 Richmond Street as Rhode Island’s first dedicated life science incubator, with fully equipped laboratory facilities built for up to 30 companies. It sits in Providence’s Innovation District, in a building with additional purpose-built laboratory and office space for companies ready to grow beyond the incubator — so a company can start at a single bench, prove its science, and scale without ever changing addresses.
“Access to affordable, ready-to-use lab space can be a significant hurdle for an early-stage life science company,” said Glenn Robertelli, executive director of RI Bio.
“Founders Compass adds an important resource to Rhode Island’s growing ecosystem by giving companies a place to work, connect with other founders and industry leaders, and establish a foothold here. It gives entrepreneurs another compelling reason to look at Rhode Island as a place to build.”
The programme is open to early-stage, for-profit companies working in biotechnology, therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, biomanufacturing, genomics, cell and gene therapy, research tools, and other regulated human health technologies. Applicants must have at least one full-time founder or employee, have raised no more than $5m in dilutive capital, have generated less than $1m in revenue over the preceding 12 months, conduct work at BSL-1 or BSL-2, and be committed to establishing or expanding operations in Rhode Island.
Applications and full eligibility criteria are available at www.rilifescience.com/founders-compass.