Rapid City’s Premier
Biotech Innovation Lab & Shared Research Facility
From concept to company in months, not years. Access fully equipped wet labs, tissue culture facilities, and prototyping spaces, without the $500K+ buildout.
The Black Hills’ First Community Wet Lab
Launch Your Life Science Startup Without Breaking the Bank
Building a biotech company shouldn't require millions in infrastructure before you can run your first experiment.
Rapid Moonshots provides BSL-1/BSL-2-certified wet-lab space, cell culture facilities, prototyping equipment, and a collaborative community at a fraction of traditional lab costs.
✓ Fully equipped from day one
✓ No long-term leases or construction
✓ Shared resources, lower overhead
✓ Grant-ready compliance infrastructure
Traditional Lab Infrastructure Is a Startup Killer
Most biotech founders face an impossible choice:
Self-fund a $500K+ lab buildout before validating their science
Delay research for 12-18 months, navigating construction, permits, and equipment procurement
Burn through seed funding on overhead instead of R&D
Work in isolation without peer feedback or collaborative resources
The Moonshot Solution: Instant Infrastructure, Immediate Impact
Walk into a turnkey research facility designed specifically for early-stage innovation:
✓ BSL-1 and BSL-2 wet lab benches ready for molecular biology, microbiology, and chemistry research
✓ Dedicated tissue culture suite with Class II biosafety cabinets and CO₂ incubators
✓ Prototyping and fabrication space for medical device hardware and lab tool development
✓ Temperature-controlled storage including -80°C freezers for long-term sample preservation
✓ Regulatory compliance support for IRB, IACUC, IBC, and grant applications
✓ Community of peers for troubleshooting, collaboration, and mentorship
Your focus stays on science. We handle the infrastructure.
Complete Wet Lab Infrastructure for Life Science Research
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Shared wet lab benches equipped for molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry.
Equipment includes:
Shared benching with dedicated storage
Chemical fume hoods and safety systems
Centrifuges, shakers, vortexers, and pH meters
Shared equipment wall (spectrophotometer, gel imaging, etc.)
Chemical storage cabinets (flammables, acids, bases)
Ideal for: Protein purification, enzyme assays, bacterial culture, chemical synthesis, reagent preparation
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Dedicated cleanroom environment for mammalian cell culture, primary cell work, and sterile processing.
Equipment includes:
Class II Type A2 biosafety cabinets
Humidified CO₂ incubators (37°C)
Water baths and bead baths
Inverted microscopes for cell visualization
Pipette stations and media preparation area
Ideal for: Cell line maintenance, transfection experiments, viability assays, cell-based therapeutics development
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Contamination-free zone for sensitive DNA/RNA work, PCR, and genomic analysis.
Equipment includes:
PCR hoods (UV sterilization)
Thermal cyclers and qPCR systems
Gel electrophoresis systems
Microcentrifuges and nanodrop
Nucleic acid extraction stations
Ideal for: Gene cloning, CRISPR work, qPCR validation, sequencing prep, genotyping
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Comprehensive cold storage solutions for sample integrity and research continuity.
Storage options:
Walk-in 4°C cold room OR large capacity lab refrigerators
-20°C freezers for enzyme and reagent storage
Shared -80°C ultra-low freezer for long-term biobanking
Liquid nitrogen dewars (available upon request)
Sample inventory management system
Ideal for: Biobanking, longitudinal studies, clinical sample storage, reagent libraries
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Fabrication Lab for Medical Device & Lab Tool Innovation
Ground-floor prototyping area for biotech hardware, diagnostic devices, and lab automation builds.
Equipment includes:
FDM and resin 3D printers
Laser cutter for precision parts
Electronics workbenches with soldering stations
Hand tools and assembly area
CAD workstations
Ideal for: Point-of-care diagnostic prototypes, microfluidic devices, lab automation tools, wearable biosensors
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Vibration-isolated microscopy room for high-resolution cellular and fluorescence imaging.
Equipment includes:
Fluorescence microscope with multi-channel filters
Phase-contrast and brightfield microscopy
Digital camera system and image analysis software
Sample preparation station
Ideal for: Immunofluorescence, live cell imaging, cell morphology analysis, fluorescent reporter assays
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Private Offices & Meeting Rooms
Professional spaces for investor calls, grant writing, and focused work.
Includes:
1-2 person private offices (limited availability)
Bookable conference room with presentation equipment
High-speed internet and video conferencing setup
Secure document storage
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Open collaborative workspace designed for cross-disciplinary innovation.
Features:
Hot desks with power and connectivity
Whiteboard walls for brainstorming
Community coffee bar
Workshop and seminar space
Pitch practice area with feedback culture
Weekly community events: Journal clubs, grant workshops, pitch practice sessions, technical troubleshooting roundtables
Critical Support Infrastructure
Glasswash & Autoclave Room
Floor-standing autoclave, glasswasher, sterilization staging
Chemical Storage & Safety Station
Flammables cabinets, corrosives storage, spill kits, SDS library
Biohazard Waste Handling
Secure red bag waste, sharps disposal, and chemical waste staging for licensed pickup
Shipping & Receiving Bay
Dry ice delivery, liquid nitrogen dewars, FedEx/UPS coordination, cold chain integrity
Personal Lockable Storage
Individual cages for reagents, equipment, lab coats, and personal items
Rapid Moonshots Is Purpose-Built For:
Early-Stage Biotech Startups
Skip the $500K+ lab buildout. Access BSL-2 wet labs, tissue culture, and prototyping space on flexible memberships while you validate your technology and secure Series A funding.
Medical Device & Diagnostic Innovators
Combine wet lab capabilities with fabrication space to develop and test point-of-care diagnostics, wearable biosensors, and next-generation medical devices.
SBIR/STTR Grant Recipients
Grant-ready facility with compliance infrastructure (BSL-2, IBC, IRB support) that meets federal funding requirements. Move quickly from award to active research.
Academic Spin-Outs & University Researchers
Bridge the gap between university lab and commercial facility. Access industry-grade equipment while securing funding and building your team.
Independent Scientists & Consultants
Conduct contract research, develop intellectual property, or provide specialized services without the overhead of maintaining your own laboratory.
STEM Education & Competition Teams
Support hands-on science education, iGEM teams, Science Olympiad, and advanced high school/community college research programs with real lab access.
Biohacking & Citizen Science Community
Democratize access to life science tools for responsible, ethical community experimentation and learning.
If you’re building science, hardware, or deep tech in the Black Hills, this is your launchpad.
Why Rapid City? Why Now?
The Black Hills’ Biotech Ecosystem Is Emerging. Don't Get Left Behind
The region is experiencing unprecedented growth in:
Defense & Aerospace Innovation driving advanced materials and biosensor development
Agricultural Biotech leveraging South Dakota’s ag economy
Medical Device Manufacturing is expanding from Sioux Falls into the western corridor
STEM Talent Pipeline from SD Mines, BHSU, and regional community colleges
But there’s been one critical gap: shared lab infrastructure.
Moonshot Biolabs changes that by providing:
✓ Affordable access to world-class research facilities
✓ A talent magnet attracting researchers and founders to the region
✓ Collaboration hub connecting biotech, engineering, and business communities
✓ Proof that you don’t have to leave South Dakota to build a world-changing company
The future of life science innovation in the Black Hills starts here.
Spaces Are Limited.
Start Your Moonshot Today.
Membership applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. As Rapid City’s biotech community grows, lab bench availability will fill quickly.