The Pioneer and Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket Programme

For companies who want to change the world.

Pioneer Group has partnered with global healthcare company Novo Nordisk to launch a Golden Ticket designed to help accelerate innovations in cardiometabolic health and rare blood and rare endocrine disorders.

The Golden Ticket programme is aimed at early-stage biotech companies focused on novel drug targets and transformational medicines, with robust research plans and potential for successful research development.

Are you passionate about making a difference in the fields of;

  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Metabolic Disease Co-morbidities & Rare Disease
  • Drug Discovery & Enabling Technology?


Why Apply?

If you’re working on ground-breaking solutions in these critical areas, we want to support you in turning your vision into reality. This is your chance to harness our world-class resources and take your innovation to the next level.

Closing date 15 November 2024

The Prize:

As the winner, you’ll unlock a wealth of opportunities designed to propel your idea:

premium lab facilities in victoria house london

 

12-month rent-free incubation space in London, Dublin, Glasgow or Nottingham

 

Access to Pioneer’s Venture Programmes to support commercial de-risking

 

Mentoring & support from Pioneer’s Expert Network and specialist business coaches

 

Mentoring & support from Novo Nordisk’s drug discovery & development experts

 

Access Pioneer’s inspiring ecosystem, events and annual Investment Showcase

How to apply:

Applications are now closed

Applications have now closed. Please contact us below for enquiries.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual pitching event following the submission deadline.

Selection process

  • All applications will be reviewed by the Novo Nordisk and Pioneer Group selection committee

  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual pitching event

  • The winner will be announced in December 2024

  • The successful candidate will be invited to move in to their chosen incubator space from January 2025

Disclaimer: The decision to award any golden tickets, and the assessments underlying such decision, are solely within the judgement of Novo Nordisk and Pioneer Group. Decisions are not subject to any objection or appeal.

Frequently asked questions

Application process

Complete the online application form and submit your pitch deck (non-confidential) alongside. Maximum of 12 slides.

Closing dates

Applications are now closed. The closing date for was 15 November 2024.

The closing date of 15th November has now passed.

Novo Nordisk and Pioneer Group want to hear from trailblazing science and technology founders as well as innovators from established businesses who are creating game-changing approaches for cardiometabolic disease, in the following areas:

  • Diabetes – Efficacy beyond blood glucose lowering, restoring insulin resistance, and regenerating & disease modifications
  • Obesity – Enhancing energy expenditure, modulating hedonic eating behaviour, and modulating counter-regulatory mechanism
  • Cardiovascular Disease – Atherosclerosis beyond LDL/TG lowering, precision-medicine heart failure, disease-modification for HF & cardiomyopathy, and resistant hypertension & unstable angina
  • Metabolic Disease Co-morbidities & Rare Disease – MASH, chronic kidney disease, rare, non-malignant haematology conditions, and rare endocrine disorders
  • Drug Discovery & Enabling Technology – Drug discovery & enabling technology in the previous stated therapeutic areas

Please note, the prize can only be awarded to UK & Ireland registered corporate entities.

The Prize:

As winner, you’ll unlock a wealth of opportunities designed to propel your idea:

Your Innovation Hub

12-months rent free incubation space, giving you the freedom to innovate without boundaries. Choose one of our four state-of-the-art Pioneer incubators as your base of operations:

Exclusive Access to The Pioneer Ecosystem
Immerse yourself for 12 months in an inspiring community dedicated to advancing visionary ventures.

Tailored Support
Engage in The Pioneer Venture Programmes and receive bespoke guidance from our Venture Development and Investment teams.

Specialist Business Coaching
Leverage the Pioneer Expert Network – our vast network of specialists and business coaches committed to your success.

Novo Nordisk Experts
Mentoring & support from Novo Nordisk, drug discovery & development experts.

Engaging Events
Participate in site events and socials, learning from industry leaders and expanding your network within the broader ecosystem.

Executive Summary

  • Include a brief history of your company, including:
  • Your company’s mission statement
  • Why and how the company was founded
  • Management team and expertise
  • What and why collaborating with a partner is critical to your success

1. The science behind the asset

2. The prioritized and potentially applicable uses

3. Unique scientific value-add – What differentiates your technology from other companies in the competitive landscape?

4. Relevant IP and publications – Include data supporting your science

5. Mitigation of risk: What are the potential pitfalls and key challenges?

6. What milestones and achievements – What do you expect to accomplish in the next 12 months

7. The key proof of non-confidential concept data – and/or experiment that will help you reach your next inflection point

8. Briefly describe your team – Their background, expertise, and how you will work together to achieve your near-term goals.

9. Your longer-term plans – Product development, go to market strategy as examples including your financing needs to reach these goals?

11. The benefit of potential collaboration with Novo Nordisk and Pioneer Group

Please submit no more than 12 slides. We wish all of you the best of luck and we look forward to receiving your application soon.

The applications are assessed by a scientific expert panel. Their assessments are based on six evaluation criteria: 

  • Fit to Novo Nordisk’s strategic interest areas
  • Unmet need to be addressed and potential of the envisioned product will differentiate from existing treatment options
  • Quality and impact of previously generated scientific data
  • Research plan robustness and key milestone(s) to reach within one year
  • Team competency
  • Potential to successfully achieve research milestones and downstream program maturation

Please read the Terms and Conditions of the Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket Programme before applying.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 69,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries.

About Pioneer

Pioneer Group have 12 locations across the UK and Ireland, creating the largest community of science and technology companies in Europe. Our mission is to help life science and high-tech businesses thrive in tackling challenges in both human and planetary health.

Pioneer integrates the provision of mission-critical real estate with venture building and venture investment within powerful sector-specific communities to create environments in which businesses are more likely to succeed.

This is the fourth Golden Ticket programme launched by Pioneer Group, with partners CPI, AbbVie and Astellas.