Stem and progenitor cell research is a complex and exciting field which promises curative discoveries in numerous areas including cancer, diabetes, and regenerative medicine. Use of biotic factors or growth factors has played an essential role in the development of stem cell research. These biologically active components have been administered into stem cells either to improve or maintain the stem cell proliferation, or to encourage controlled differentiation into more defined cell types. Small molecules such as 6-Bromoindirubin-3´-oxime (BIO), cardiogenol-C, etc can help stem cell research by controlling or influencing the regulatory changes in a controlled manner and to help understand the mechanisms during stem cell differentiation. Extra cellular matrix (ECM) is another significant biotic factor, which mediates cell and tissue behavior by influencing cell-matrix interactions. Thus, in this review we would like to emphasize significance of various growth factors in stem cell research.