Key Takeaways
- CROs, lab service companies, and biotech businesses with revenue qualify for Bankable
- SBA research business loans unavailable to E-3 holders
- Lab equipment and operational working capital fundable
- Contract research revenue is ideal for Bankable underwriting
- 48-hour decisions up to $3M
Australian biotech and life science professionals are globally recognized — CSIRO research institutions, world-class university research programs, and Australian biotech companies like Cochlear and CSL have established Australian science internationally. E-3 holders in biotech are typically PhD scientists or senior research professionals who have identified commercial opportunities in US life science markets.
Revenue-generating biotech businesses — contract research organizations (CROs), lab service companies, diagnostic laboratories, and biotech tools businesses — are fundable through Bankable. Pre-revenue discovery-stage companies are typically better served by venture or NIH grant funding; Bankable serves revenue-generating commercial operations.
The E-3 Funding Barrier
The SBA's 100% citizen/national ownership rule disqualifies every E-3 holder from government-backed loans — regardless of how long you've been in the US, how profitable your business is, or how strong your credit score is. Banks that primarily originate SBA loans have no viable product to offer you. That's not a reflection of your business quality; it's a policy gap that Bankable was built to bridge.
Revenue-based funding through Bankable requires no green card, no citizenship, and no SBA involvement. What matters: your business generates consistent revenue, has been operating for at least 6 months, and has a US business bank account. That's the core of what we evaluate. Check your Bankability Score to see your options in minutes.
Challenges in This Sector
- SBA business loans unavailable to E-3 holders regardless of research credentials
- Lab equipment is extremely expensive — mass spectrometers, sequencers, imaging systems run $50K–$1M+
- Regulatory compliance (FDA, CAP, CLIA) requires significant ongoing investment
- Research contracts often have milestone-based payment schedules
- Lab-grade consumables and reagents require ongoing working capital
- Specialised staff (PhD scientists, lab technicians) are scarce and expensive
Funding Solutions for E-3 Holders
- Equipment Financing: Lab instruments and scientific equipment with asset-backed terms.
- Contract Research Working Capital: Bridge milestone-based contract payments.
- Consumables & Reagents: Working capital for lab supplies and reagents.
- Staff Investment: Fund specialised scientist and technician hiring.
- Compliance Capital: FDA/CLIA/CAP accreditation and compliance investment.
CRO and Lab Service Revenue
Contract research organizations (CROs) with multi-contract portfolios generate predictable monthly revenue from research engagements. A CRO with 5 active pharmaceutical company contracts generating $30K/month average contract value has $150K/month in revenue — a strong Bankable profile. Diagnostic laboratories with volume-based billing from healthcare providers also generate predictable revenue suited to Bankable's model.
Capital Products Available
Revenue-Based Funding
Up to $5M based on your monthly revenue. No green card, no SBA. 48-hour decisions.
Apply Now →Equipment Financing
Asset-backed funding for equipment — available to non-citizen business owners.
Check Eligibility →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Biotech and research business ownership is not restricted by E-3 status.
No. Bankable requires 6+ months of consistent contract or service revenue. Pre-revenue discovery companies should seek venture or NIH grant funding.
CROs, diagnostic labs, lab service companies, bioanalytical laboratories, biotech tools companies, and life science services firms.
Yes. Scientific instrument financing with asset-backed terms up to 60 months.
Typically $20K+/month in consistent contract or service revenue.
We evaluate trailing averages. Milestone payment schedules create lumpy revenue that we normalize across 6 months.
Yes. Regulatory compliance and accreditation costs are valid working capital uses.
Yes. Labs with consistent billing volume from healthcare clients qualify.
48-hour decisions. Funds in 3–5 business days.
Yes. Specialised scientific staff hiring is a supported use case.