Traditional approaches to scientific research and biotechnology funding are often plagued by inefficiencies, centralization and lack of transparency. Enter BIO, a groundbreaking initiative designed to revolutionize the way science is conducted, funded and owned. Operating as a curation and liquidity protocol within the decentralized science(DeSci) sector, BIO empowers global communities of patients, scientists and biotech professionals to collectively fund and own tokenized biotech projects and intellectual property (IP).
BIO builds upon the successes of initiatives such as Molecule, a platform for tokenizing early-stage biomedicine, and VitaDAO, the largest decentralized community dedicated to longevity science. By introducing a new financial layer for science, the BIO protocol aims to create a robust on-chain economy of BioDAOs — decentralized communities that fund and develop scientific innovations. Through decentralized funding, incentives and liquidity, BIO bridges the gap between capital on the one hand and groundbreaking scientific research on the other.
This article delves into the DeSci sector, introduces BIO, explores its founding team and explains the role of BioDAOs in transforming the biotech space. We’ll also examine how BIO works, the utility and tokenomics of the BIO token and the protocol’s ambitious road map for the future.
Key Takeaways:
BIO empowers decentralized communities to fund and own biotech innovations.
Its protocol creates efficient markets for scientific IP via BioDAOs.
The BIO token enables participation in the DeSci economy, offering access to scientific communities and IP.
The Decentralized Science (DeSci) Sector
DeSci represents a transformative approach to scientific research, leveraging the power of blockchain technology to create a more transparent, community-driven and incentivized ecosystem for innovation and collaboration. By integrating decentralized mechanisms like tokens, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), DeSci seeks to democratize scientific discovery, making it more accessible and efficient.
Source: transmedcomms
One of DeSci's core missions is to tackle the "valley of death" — the critical gap between early-stage research and its successful application in real-world innovations. Traditional science often struggles with inefficient funding, opaque peer-review processes, limited data sharing and restrictive publishing norms. DeSci addresses these challenges by promoting open collaboration, equitable funding models and transparent knowledge dissemination.
On decentralized platforms, researchers can publish their work directly, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and enabling broader access to scientific knowledge. Incentive structures, such as token rewards and reputation systems, encourage reproducibility and collaboration, ensuring more reliable and impactful scientific outcomes. Additionally, DeSci leverages blockchain’s immutability to maintain the integrity of scientific records, fostering trust in research outputs.
The future of DeSci holds immense potential, and it's still in its infancy. By aligning economic incentives with scientific progress, DeSci could reshape the way research is conducted, creating systems that prioritize innovation over profit. While challenges remain, particularly in gaining acceptance from traditional academia and industry giants, DeSci offers a compelling vision for decentralized, equitable and transparent scientific progress.
What Is the BIO Protocol?
BIO is a groundbreaking financial framework designed to improve the way DeSci operates. By providing a seamless flow of capital and talent into on-chain scientific ecosystems, it serves as the foundation for building, funding and commercializing scientific innovation through BioDAOs.
Source: BIO Protocol
At its core, BIO catalyzes the development of an on-chain economy for scientific research. It creates efficient markets for intellectual property generated by BioDAOs while ensuring perpetual funding and liquidity for their operations. The protocol also standardizes all frameworks, tokenomics and data systems, making it easier for scientific communities to scale their initiatives.
Vision of BIO
BIO intends to achieve the following:
Foster the creation and growth of BioDAOs to fund science on-chain.
Ensure continual funding and liquidity for BioDAOs and biotech assets.
Standardize the tools and frameworks BioDAOs use.
Facilitate the commercialization of scientific IP and data.
The Team Behind BIO
BIO is led by a team of innovators. Its founder and CEO, Paul Kohlhaas, brings expertise from co-founding Molecule, a platform pioneering the tokenization of biomedical research. His vision centers on transforming traditional funding models to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.
Clemens Ortlepp, co-founder and CPO, drives the “product,” leveraging his extensive biotech experience. The team also includes James Sinka heading the R&D team, and Jose Pinto overseeing legal and compliance strategies. Leonard Boltz, a core contributor, plays a pivotal role in product design.
The rest of the team can be found on the main landing page of the BIO protocol. In addition, BIO has a governance mechanism for both community and shareholders to vote on proposals intended to improve the protocol. Together, they’re building an ecosystem with the goal of empowering the entire scientific community in a decentralized way, fostering perpetual funding for scientific research and creating efficient markets for intellectual property.
What Are BioDAOs?
BioDAOs, or biological decentralized autonomous organizations, are community-owned networks focused on scientific and medical research. They unite diverse stakeholders — patients, scientists and biotech innovators — around a shared mission to accelerate R&D and create new IP. By pooling resources such as capital, data and expertise, BioDAOs streamline innovation, reduce costs and shorten the time to commercialization.
Source: BIO Protocol
Operating with on-chain frameworks such as Molecule, BioDAOs raise funds through token sales, and manage treasuries to back biotech projects. The generated IP is shared among members, ensuring collective ownership and incentives. Revenue from IP and/or product sales is reinvested into new R&D, creating a perpetual cycle of innovation.
Notable BioDAOs
VitaDAO: Focuses on longevity science. Raised over $5M with support from Pfizer Ventures and partnerships such as Newcastle University.
HairDAO: Targets hair loss. Developed the DAO-owned product FolliCOOL.
Cerebrum DAO: Raised over $1.5M for brain health. Partner with Fission Pharma.
ValleyDAO: Synthetic biology-focused. Raised over $2M. Collaborates with Imperial College London.
AthenaDAO: Advances women’s health. Has funded $500K, with 14 IP deals in progress.
CryoDAO: Raised over $3M for cryogenics. Working with Oxford Cryotechnology.
PsyDAO: Focuses on psychedelic medicine. Launching OPSY for clinical trials.
By combining open access, shared IP ownership and capital efficiency, BioDAOs are reshaping the funding and development of science, making groundbreaking research more accessible and impactful.
How Does BIO Work?
The BIO protocol uses a decentralized network, combining community-driven curation, funding and liquidity with incentives and governance mechanisms.
Here's how it works:
Source: BIO Protocol
Core Operations
Curation (BIO Staking): BIO token holders stake their vBIO tokens in order to vote on new BioDAO applicants. Staking signals long-term commitment, and selected BioDAOs receive treasury support. Stakers gain rewards, early access to funding rounds and exclusive benefits from BioDAO products and services.
Funding: Accepted BioDAOs participate in whitelisted pre-seed rounds, offering BIO stakers early-stage investment opportunities comparable to (or better than) traditional VC terms. This ensures robust alignment between scientific communities and research goals.
Liquidity Management: BIO handles secondary market liquidity, allowing BioDAOs to focus on research. Liquidity pools (e.g., VITA/BIO, BIO/ETH) facilitate seamless token conversions, build protocol-owned liquidity (POL) and generate fees.
Bio/Acc Rewards: BIO tokens incentivize BioDAOs to achieve milestones, such as IP development, clinical trials or consumer product launches, enhancing networks’ value and assets under management (AUM).
Meta-Governance: BIO holds BioDAO tokens in its treasury, empowering BIO holders to influence governance across multiple BioDAOs and their IP assets.
Launchpad and BioDAO Incubator
The BioDAO Launchpad supports selected BioDAOs with funding, token liquidity and community-driven accelerator services. Staking BIO tokens on BioDAO applicants offers rewards, as well as early access to funding rounds and IP asset investments, fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovative science.
BIO Token Utility
The BIO token powers the governance and growth of the BIO protocol’s ecosystem, enabling holders to actively shape the protocol’s trajectory.
Governance: Participate in decisions about BioDAO curation, treasury allocation, BIO emissions and protocol upgrades.
Curation: Stake BIO tokens to vote on which BioDAOs join BIO’s network, and access early funding opportunities.
Access & Discounts: Unlock early participation in BioDAO IP token sales and enjoy discounts on BioDAO health products and services.
Meta-Governance: Influence governance within member BioDAOs through BIO's collective holdings.
Value Accrual
The BIO treasury grows through the following mechanisms:
Token Allocations: Securing 6.9% of BioDAO tokens in exchange for grants, and building assets under management.
Protocol-Owned Liquidity (POL): Earning fees and yields from on-chain liquidity pools involving BIO, BioDAO tokens and other assets.
BIO Tokenomics Overview
Source: BIO Protocol
Total Supply: 3.32 billion BIO Max Supply: Uncapped, subject to governance votes for future minting. Unlock & Vesting:
Community Auction: 50% liquid, 50% 1-year linear vesting
Core Contributors & Advisors: 1-year cliff, 6-year vesting
Investors: 1-year cliff, 4-year vesting
Inflation: BIO inflation supports secondary market liquidity, and scales in accordance with network growth. Inflation specifics are determined via governance. This balanced structure aligns incentives across contributors, investors and the larger community, ensuring long-term growth.
BIO Airdrop
BIO has allocated 3% of its total token supply to over 8,500 eligible addresses. The airdrop snapshot for eligibility was taken on Apr 1, 2024.
Eligibility: Included participants in BioDAO auctions, holders of iBoDAO tokens, liquidity providers, Gitcoin donors and active contributors to BioDAO communities.
Claim Process: Eligible users claim vested BIO (vBIO), redeemable for $BIO. Tokens remain non-transferable until governance votes to unlock them.
Distribution: Total airdrop amounted to 99.4 million BIO, fully vested upon claim.
Additionally, 1% of the total supply was airdropped to early contributors of the BIO ecosystem, with a 1-year cliff and a 6-year vesting schedule.
Road Map and Future Outlook for BIO
BIO is bridging the gap between capital, innovation and community ownership. By empowering the DeSci sector, the BIO protocol creates efficient markets for scientific IP and fosters perpetual funding for BioDAOs. BIO is well-positioned to reshape the future of biotech research.
