2023 AbbVie Innovation Midwest Award

Please include the following in your application email:

• Name of company
• Primary contact at company
• Therapeutic area
• One sentence summarizing the scientific basis of the program/technology/asset
• Funding to date: please include total funding received to date as well as the funder(s) and funding amount(s)
• A high-resolution company logo (if applicable)
• Non-confidential slide deck:
  • Applicants must provide a non-confidential slide deck of no more than ten slides that emphasize in the order outlined below:
    • Your company’s mission statement
    • Scientific founders, management team (if applicable) & expertise
    • The science behind the technology or asset
    • The prioritized and potentially applicable indications 
    • Unique scientific value-add: What differentiates your technology or therapeutic from other companies in the competitive landscape?
    • Relevant IP and publications that include data supporting your science 
    • Mitigation of risk: What are the potential pitfalls and key challenges? 
    • Anticipated benefits of securing an AIM award to move the science forward
    • Company roadmap for upcoming key milestones (including financing)
    • Growth / research plan during the AIM award 12-month timeframe

AbbVie leaders who are qualified scientific experts in their respective fields, including specialties in scientific and/or medical research and business, will review all submissions. The following criteria will form the application judging criteria: 

• Strategic fit relating to oncology, immunology, neuroscience, or eye care research fields. Judges will also consider novel target(s) identification, drug delivery, discovery technology platforms, and translational research and development.
• Quality of the scientific data, research plan and/or technology platform
• Potential to successfully achieve research milestones and program development
• Unmet need for research in the relevant field. Is this research/program/technology addressing a critical medical need?

Application Submission Deadline: July 7, 2023 at 11:59pm CT

Announcement of Top 4 Applications: September 1, 2023

Final Pitch and Selection Date: October 3, 2023

What is the AbbVie Innovation Midwest (AIM) award?

The AIM Award presents the opportunity to receive seed funding from AbbVie Ventures and engage with AbbVie scientific and business executives.

Seed funding will vary depending on company area of focus, stage, technology, and research plan, and will be subject to terms typical to seed rounds, as set forth in standard NVCA forms (see NVCA.org).

How do I know if I am eligible?

Companies located in the Midwest region are eligible for an AIM award.

To be eligible to participate, the applicant must:

• Be an entity formed under the laws of the United States at the time they receive the AIM award;
• Not have raised more than USD 5 million United States dollars in capital or have any sales revenue as of the time of application and the closing date for the contest;
• Submit a complete application;
• Represent and warrant that the applicant has read and agrees to abide by all requirements of these rules; and
• Not be affiliated with or employed by AbbVie including as an employee, contractor, officer or director of AbbVie and including as an immediate family member of an AbbVie officer or director (including parents, spouses, children, siblings or any individual residing in the household (whether or not related)).

When will the AIM Award winners be announced?

The top 4 proposals will be announced in September and finalists will be invited for an in-person presentation in October.

When will I have to use the AIM Award if I win?

Companies must be financially and scientifically ready to execute the submitted research plan within six of receiving the AIM Award.

Where can I find more details on AbbVie’s areas of focus for external innovation?

Please refer to our AbbVie Partnership and Ventures pages:    

I have additional questions. Who should I contact?

Please email: [email protected]