Many people in traditional pharma and biotech have never heard of “parent-founders.” When a child is diagnosed with a rare pediatric disease, many parents don’t wait for someone else to act. They found their own companies — FAMCOs (family-founded companies) — with one singular mission: develop a cure for their child and others like them. These FAMCOs are operating at the same intensity and scientific rigor as traditional biotech teams… yet they’ve largely flown under the radar. Why? Because many ultra rare diseases have such small patient markets that traditonal pharma sees little economic incentive to invest. Over 90% of rare diseases still have no FDA-approved treatment. At @1000cures, we’re working to change that. We exist to break down the systemic barriers these parent-founders face and provide them the capital, infrastructure, and operational support they need to succeed. It’s time to shine a light on this powerful, under-recognized force in drug development — and accelerate the cures their children deserve. If you’re a parent-founder, investor, or anyone working in rare disease, we’d love to connect!