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The Research Institution GAP Fund and Accelerator Program Summit

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Announces Venture Philanthropy Program: BCRF Ventures

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October 16-17, 2025 / Seattle, WA

The annual summit for research institution gap fund and accelerator programs, including proof of concept programs, startup accelerators, and university venture funds

The Story

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) today announced BCRF Ventures, a venture philanthropy program designed to accelerate promising breast cancer innovations from the laboratory to patients. Launching with $23 million in seed donations, which includes a lead gift of $11 million from Karen and Rob Hale, the program seeks to raise and deploy $100 million over the next five years.

Unveiled at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, BCRF Ventures will invest in early-stage companies developing new approaches to breast cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment—targeting a persistent funding gap that causes potentially transformative science to stall before it reaches clinical development.

Source: BCRF Announces Venture Philanthropy Program: BCRF Ventures

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GAP are an interdependent institutional innovation and capital strategy that includes:

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  • Proof of concept programs

  • Startup accelerators

  • University venture funds

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