Forward BIOLABS in the News - select articles

Forward BIOLABS Announces 15 Biohealth Startups as Forward Membership Winners

Forward Memberships support early-stage biohealth companies with lab space, resources, and community to accelerate innovation

Madison, WI, [12/10/2024] –- Forward BIOLABS, with support from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Forward Membership Program.

The Forward Membership Program awards early-stage startups a variety of memberships with access to Forward BIOLABS’ fully equipped co-working laboratory and office, complemented by shared resources and a vibrant community. The awards help startups transition from concept to commercialization more efficiently by providing the essential equipment, resources, and connections needed to thrive in the competitive biohealth industry.

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Forward BIOLABS Introduces Forward Memberships to Support Biohealth Entrepreneurs

Madison, WI, 07/25/2024 – Forward BIOLABS is thrilled to announce the launch of Forward Memberships, a new initiative made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Forward Memberships will enable promising Biohealth entrepreneurs, including those from underrepresented groups, to advance their research and bring their innovations to fruition.

Expanding on the success of Wisconsin’s recent $49M Phase 2 award and designation as a regional Tech Hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), Forward Memberships bolsters support for early-stage startup companies in the personalized medicine and Biohealth sectors. Forward BIOLABS’ turnkey, co-working life science labs and offices are fully equipped, maintained, and supported, with concierge introductions, training, and networking that help startups grow. Forward BIOLABS operates on a month-to-month membership model, which allows rapid and affordable changes such as adding a lab bench or office cubicle to accommodate growth.

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Forward BIOLABS hosts Gov. Tony Evers and Missy Hughes announcing new $100-million Wisconsin Investment Fund on May 29, 2024

Gov. Tony Evers was joined by Secretary Missy Hughes of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and others Wednesday at Forward BIOLABS in announcing the creation of a $100-million, public-private Wisconsin Investment Fund focused on emerging businesses in Wisconsin. The fund, which will have an emphasis on venture capital investments in rural and other underserved parts of the state, will combine $50 million from the U.S. Treasury and its State Small Business Credit Initiative and $50 million from private funds selected through a vetting process within WEDC.

Watch the event coverage by WisconsinEye: Governor Evers Announcement of Wisconsin Investment Fund Partners

Five of six recipient funds have been selected. They are:

HealthX Ventures, $15 million. HealthX invests largely in the digital health sector but also in other health-care innovations.
Venture Investors, $12 million. Venture Investors invests primarily in health care innovation, such as therapeutics, medical devices, health IT and diagnostics.
Serra Ventures, $7 million. Serra Ventures invests nationally, especially in the agriculture and food technology space. Some past Serra investments have been in Wisconsin companies.
NVNG, $6 million. NVNG (short for “nothing ventured, nothing gained”) invests broadly in Wisconsin tech sectors.
Idea Fund of La Crosse, $5 million. Part of the Badger Fund of Funds network, the Idea Fund of La Crosse invests broadly in the Upper Midwest in sectors such as information technology, health IT, data analytics, supply chain, agriculture, manufacturing and financial services.

A sixth fund yet to be selected would account for the remaining in $5 million in public dollars. All 50 states received varying amounts through the SSBCI program.See below for articles pertaining to the announcement of the Wisconsin Investment Fund.

Wisconsin Investment Fund website

Forward BIOLABS Recognizes Distinguished Experts on its Advisory Board

Madison, Wisconsin – Forward BIOLABS, a leading biotechnology co-working laboratory and innovation hub, is recognizing the 22 esteemed leaders on its Advisory Board. These accomplished Advisors bring a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation across a range of industries, further strengthening Forward BIOLABS' commitment to accelerating startup development and growth, particularly in biohealth and other sciences.

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Forward BIOLABS unveils advisory board, recognizing leaders in state biohealth industry

Forward BIOLABS is touting the expertise of its newly unveiled advisory board, which offers insight and support to the Madison-based organization’s leadership.

The co-working space, which specializes in life science laboratories, first launched its pilot program in 2018 before moving to a larger space. Its goals include supporting the state’s biotech ecosystem and helping life science startups get off the ground earlier. The group today is officially announcing the 22 members of the board, though many have been involved with Forward BIOLABS from the very beginning. That’s according to CEO and co-founder Jessica Martin Eckerly.

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UW–Madison joins state consortium to bolster Wisconsin’s lead in biohealth

In addition to partnering with existing businesses, UW–Madison has created the means for nascent biohealth advancements to grow into industry participants. This work includes the development of the Isthmus Project — a health technology incubator based at UW Health — and a partnership with Forward BIOLABS, which has successfully attracted over $290 million in investment with 19 companies graduating into larger facilities throughout the region.

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Five startups from UW-Madison with great ideas to protect the earth

Cleantech startups, including ChloBis, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison are bringing their innovations to Wisconsin and beyond, with new technologies to address global sustainability issues.

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UW-Madison: Five health tech startups you should know

Five innovative University of Wisconsin–Madison startups are leveraging scientific research to provide new insights into medicine and treatments, which improves people’s lives and boosts Wisconsin’s economy. Three of these companies are located at or graduated from Forward BIOLABS: AyrFlo, BrainXell, Immuto Scientific.

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'Things are good': Experts express optimism about Madison’s economy

Juan Gomez, vice president of lending and investments at Madison Development Corporation, speaks to Jessica Martin Eckerly, co-founder and CEO of coworking laboratory Forward BIOLABS, at Wednesday's “State of the Sectors,” an annual panel on economic trends hosted by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce.

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Wearable sensor can help unlock the potential of exosuits in real-world environments

Wearing an exosuit could help people rehab from an injury or even give them extra oomph if they’re carrying something heavy. But, according to University of Wisconsin–Madison and Harvard University researchers, not everyone who dons a wearable robot today can immediately reap benefits from the assistance.

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*Scroll down to see select articles from startup members

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: President of Advocate Aurora Research Institute & Chief Research Officer and System Vice President for Research at Advocate Aurora Health

Amit Acharya, was interviewed recently for Becker’s Healthcare Podcast and mentioned the impact of the sponsorship of Forward BIOLABS.

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Business Class: $60M research park project could mean more lab space for Madison's biotech sector

An increasing number of Madison companies, many at University Research Park, are searching for a local space to innovate and expand beyond their current quarters.

WisBusiness: The Podcast with Amit Acharya of Advocate Aurora Health

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Advocate Aurora Health in WisBusiness.

Advocate Aurora to lend lab, clinical research capabilities to Madison biohealth startups

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Advocate Aurora Health in WisconsinInno.

Advocate Aurora and Forward BIOLABS to bring solutions to emerging biohealth startups

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Advocate Aurora in Aurora Health Care Research News.

Early-stage biotech startups find common ground at Forward BIOLABS

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in Madison Magazine.

Why the founders of Cultured Decadence moved their company to Madison, Wisconsin – and you should too

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Cultured Decadence in Livability.

Forward BIOLABS, with UW-Madison, bolsters Wisconsin biohealth sector

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in University of Wisconsin-Madison News.

Forward BIOLABS brings the perks of co-working to the lab

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Cultured Decadence in The Cap Times.

Investment in Forward BIOLABS Paying Off for Bioscience Startups

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in CISION PR Newswire.

Forward BIOLABS leverages coworking to support biotech startups

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in WISBUSINESS.

Biotech startups share space, services at Madison's Forward Biolabs

Featuring Forward BIOLABS and Gregor Diagnostics in Wisconsin State Journal.

Guest column: University Research Park reflects life sciences growth

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in Wisconsin Technology Council News.

WEDC grant helps Forward BIOLABS phase 1 laboratory space hit capacity, eye expansion

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in In Wisconsin.

Forward BIOLABS to host early stage life sciences startups

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in WisBusiness.

Initiative focuses on advanced technology innovations in biomanufacturing

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in University of Wisconsin-Madison News.

Biomanufacturing initiative launched in partnership with UW-Madison

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in Wisconsin State Journal.

WEDC awards $750,000 grant to support development of biomanufacturing initiative

Featuring Forward BIOLABS in Milwaukee Business Journal.