FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

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.  

All recipients work within the biohealth sector. A notable 74% of the selected companies include a woman or minority as a founder or leader, highlighting Forward BIOLABS’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry.  

“Forward Memberships exemplify our mission to accelerate innovation by providing promising startups with not only physical lab space but also a robust variety of state-of-the-art equipment as well as real-time technical, operational, and business support. We are excited to see their work progress within our community,” said Jessica Martin Eckerly, co-founder and CEO of Forward BIOLABS. 

WEDC is supporting the Forward Membership Program with a $192,200 Entrepreneurship Partner Grant to provide direct support to biohealth entrepreneurs. Applications were carefully reviewed and approved by a selection committee composed of local and regional leaders. 

“The Membership applicant pool was incredibly strong, and the recipients embody the innovation and resilience that define Wisconsin’s growing biohealth ecosystem,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward. “These programs continue to highlight the importance of fostering collaboration and innovation, which is a major part of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub projects as well. The companies are not only advancing groundbreaking technologies but also strengthening Wisconsin’s position as a leader in the global biohealth industry.” 

The 2024 Forward Membership Recipients are: 

  • Allostasis Bio LLC – developing next-generation platforms to prevent rejection of pluripotent stem cell-based therapies 

  • Axio BioPharma – a CDMO leveraging AI to accelerate mammalian protein development, focusing on cost-effective antibody manufacturing services 

  • AyrFlo Innovation Labs, Inc. – developing a non-invasive wearable wireless patch to monitor patient’s breathing health and to prevent respiratory failure 

  • eMBR Genomics – pioneering the science for multi cancer early detection through a simple liquid biopsy 

  • Intrinsic Powers – developing neurotechnology to detect consciousness in unresponsive patients, supporting clinical and family decision-making on life sustaining care 

  • Nelambos LLC – developing a diagnostic assay for the early detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs) 

  • NexGen Cells LLC – using patented technology, developed a workflow to extend the functional life of donors' non-immortalized primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) 

  • Polymer Forge – synergizing advanced optoelectronics, polymer chemistry, and facilitated evolution in a powerful platform for high-throughput multimodal drug discovery 

  • RojoBio – harnessing biotech to unlock plants' full potential for pharma, nutrition, cosmetics, and agriculture 

  • SeLight, LLC – Developing a label-free flow cytometry system to measure cell metabolism on the single-cell level in real-time 

  • Sensify Life – developing scalable non-invasive digital biomarkers for early detection of neurodegeneration by measuring changes in smell and in the retina 

  • Squire Biosciences – developing viral backbones and cell lines to lower manufacturing costs and boost yields of major viral vectors for gene and cell therapy 

  • WisperBio – research and early development of a biologic 

About Forward BIOLABS: Forward BIOLABS is a non-profit co-working life science laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, with a mission to make it easier to start a company. This goal is accomplished by providing early-stage startups with a fully equipped and supported laboratory on an affordable and flexible basis, and a collaborative community of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Learn more at forwardbiolabs.org.  

About WEDC: The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is a state agency focused on supporting economic development initiatives, fostering business growth, and creating job opportunities across Wisconsin. Learn more at wedc.org.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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.

The Forward Memberships program offers various membership types tailored to startups at different stages, from fundraising and grant writing to de-risking technologies. A challenge often faced by Biohealth startup companies is the need to gather scientific data in a laboratory with extensive infrastructure and expensive equipment; a Forward Membership for a lab bench will provide immediate access to these resources in the co-working lab. For other startups, a Forward Membership for the office offers a collaborative environment for grant-writing support and networking opportunities. Eligible startups selected will receive a membership for 12 months that provides access to Forward BIOLABS’ fully equipped co-working laboratory and/or office options, along with shared resources and a vibrant community.

"The resources provided by a Forward Membership will enable entrepreneurs to advance their technologies and become a part of our startup community, all while planning for the next phase of their company’s growth,” said Jessica Martin Eckerly, co-founder and CEO at Forward BIOLABS. “Wisconsin has been recognized as a national Tech Hub because of our burgeoning Biohealth industry. Forward Memberships will allow the next generation of personalized medicine companies to join our innovative co-working lab space, located in the heart of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub region.”

WEDC is providing Forward BIOLABS with a nearly $200,000 Entrepreneurship Partner Grant (EPG) aimed at supporting organizations that provide technical assistance and other support to entrepreneurs.

“WEDC is proud to partner with Forward BIOLABS because they play such a vital role in helping startups take those critical first steps from concept to reality,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “Their Forward Memberships will provide valuable resources and opportunities to Biohealth innovators, particularly nontraditional founders, reflecting our overall commitment to growing our regional Biohealth Tech Hub."

To apply for a Forward Membership, startups will complete a brief application to assess eligibility and fit. The selection process for the membership will prioritize startups in the Biohealth sector, with a focus on companies founded by women and minorities.

For more information about the Forward Memberships program and application details, please visit our website, and click on “Join the Lab.”

About Forward BIOLABS:

Forward BIOLABS is a non-profit co-working life science laboratory located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a mission to make it easier to start a biotech company. This goal is accomplished by providing early-stage startups with a fully equipped and supported laboratory on an affordable and flexible basis, and a collaborative community of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Learn more at forwardbiolabs.org.

About WEDC:

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is a state agency focused on supporting economic development initiatives, fostering business growth, and creating job opportunities across Wisconsin. Learn more at wedc.org.

Contact:

Laura Kaiser
Forward BIOLABS
[email protected]