A competition of startups-to-be offers some insight into Philly’s biotech chops: three Philly-based companies made it to the final stages of the Freedom from Cancer Startup Challenge alongside some 50 companies from around the world.

The business plan face-off, created by Bethesda, Md.-based nonprofit Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI), is an open innovation challenge that seeks to spur, over time, 100 potential startups to join the fight against cancer. It will look to deliver on its goal through the commercialization of existing technologies at government institutions and universities.

Winners will have access to a training program, a small seed investment and access to legal counsel for the technology licensing process. Funding for the competition was provided by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and MedImmune.

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