Illumina has announced the selection of three start-up companies for the inaugural Illumina Accelerator funding cycle. The selected companies are Encoded Genomics, EpiBiome, and Xcell Biosciences. It is the world's first business accelerator focused solely on creating an innovation ecosystem for the genomics industry. It is led by
Dr Amanda Cashin.

"The initial companies in our accelerator rose to the top of a highly competitive application process based on their potential to deliver innovative genomics apps in areas as diverse as healthcare and agriculture. Under Dr Amanda's leadership, Illumina, along with partners Yuri Milner and Silicon Valley Bank, is very excited to work with these entrepreneurs to help them expand the next-generation sequencing market," said Dr Mostafa Ronaghi, Illumina's senior vice president and chief technology officer.

The Illumina Accelerator will provide selected startups with seed investment, business guidance, access to company's sequencing systems and reagents, and fully operational lab space in the San Francisco Bay Area during the six-month cycle.