Unicorn Biotechnologies, a Sheffield startup, has moved its team of scientists and engineers from Sheffield Technology Parks to a newly refurbished city-centre space in a former nightclub.
Co-founded by Adam Glen and Jack Reid, Unicorn Bio is developing groundbreaking technology designed to automate cell culture and free up scientists’ time for valuable analysis and experimentation.
The startup began life in Adam’s attic after the founding duo met on an entrepreneur programme, hosted virtually during the pandemic. On realising the full potential of their ideas, Unicorn Bio moved into office space at Sheffield Technology Parks (STP) in 2021, which they soon transformed into a bespoke lab space.
With a dual focus on developing cell lines used in meat production, medicine, and numerous other applications, as well as innovating the unique technology to augment this cell culture, Unicorn Bio’s team grew to ten and they began looking for new premises early in 2024.
When considering the former nightclub located on Shoreham Street, Adam and Jack quickly saw an opportunity. The unique venue had existing features well-suited to their needs, such as high-quality air conditioning.
Crucially, the building offers ample space to innovate across both the scientific and engineering sides of the business, maintaining efficiency by keeping processes in-house. In the new spacious labs Unicorn’s scientists can undertake cell culture, experimentation and analysis whilst the dedicated workshop is a hub of engineering, housing 3D printers, tools and prototypes.
Reflecting on the suitability of the new premises, Adam said: “There’s no reason not to create a lab space here. People tend to stay in their lane in the UK, but who says we can’t turn a bar into a biotech lab? Companies like Hewlett Packard and Apple started in garages. This is a fantastic space that meets our needs, why wouldn’t we move here?”
This attitude underpins the company’s success to date, having secured significant investment as well as five allocations of grant funding from Innovate UK, which has supported collaborations with partners in Canada, Oxford, and Cambridge. Adam said: “We are a small and independent startup and the advantage this gives us is speed and agility.
“We began in an attic with a lizard incubator and pond cleaning gloves. In three years, we’ve moved from there to the Tech Parks – where we built a lab with support from Tom and his team, because it was quicker and more cost effective than using offsite labspace – and now, we’re in our new home.
“I want more people to start biotech businesses here in Sheffield and I hope our example shows that it can be done. There are many talented individuals in this city, and if I can do it, so can they.”
Tom Wolfenden, Sheffield Technology Parks CEO, added: “Jack and Adam’s entrepreneurial approach is really impressive; they take risks, aren’t afraid of doing things differently and see opportunities where others may not.
“Unicorn leaves a lasting legacy at Sheffield Technology Parks, we worked closely with the team to create our first bespoke lab space and we’ll soon complete our fifth. It’s encouraging that no sooner had Unicorn moved out, another two lab users moved in. We have an exciting science economy emerging in Sheffield and Unicorn are real trailblazers within it.”
