How Wisconsin Has Become a Rising Biohealth Powerhouse and Startup Haven From networking, to funding, to hiring top talent and everything in-between, an increasing number of biohealth startups are calling the Badger State home.

In America's heartland, a quiet transformation is underway. Amidst the rolling plains and tranquil lakes, there's a place with a vibrant ecosystem that's teeming with ground-breaking ideas, driven entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders.

If you guessed that this place is the state of Wisconsin, you'd be right. Boasting a rich community that's conducive to startup growth and the advancement of cutting-edge technologies, Wisconsin was recently designated by the federal government as a regional tech hub with a specific focus on the state's growing biohealth sector¹.

At the epicenter of this transformation stands Forward BIOLABS, a co-working laboratory space and accelerator. Founded by Jessica Martin Eckerly and a team of passionate entrepreneurs and professionals, Forward BIOLABS provides startups and early-stage companies with the necessary resources, infrastructure, and support to develop and commercialize cutting-edge biotechnologies and healthcare solutions.

Unlocking local startup potential.

Eckerly's own journey into entrepreneurship was fueled by her background in bioscience and her passion for fostering innovation. She had worked for startups prior to opening Forward BIOLABS and recognized the need for democratizing access to lab space for projects with great ideas and startup potential.

"There were multiple people at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with research that they wanted to spin out to startup companies, but there wasn't lab space with enough operational infrastructure and equipment to truly be helpful. I knew that we had to make it easier to get these projects off the ground," Eckerly explains.

Following a model she saw that was previously only used in larger cities such as Boston or San Francisco, Eckerly brought a co-working lab idea to Wisconsin. With that, Forward BIOLABS was born.

"It can be difficult to take something from a research study or discovery and turn it into a product or something that can help masses of people. I got into this venture because I was incredibly interested in the human element of all this—I wanted to help people take these ideas and turn them into a company," she says. "Several stakeholders and partners here in Madison came on board, because we all agreed—we wanted to see people be successful, to see new therapies evolved, to see new methods of testing people for sickness, and a great way to do that was through helping people access the resources they need."

With so much potential for creating impactful new businesses, why did Eckerly choose to establish roots in the Midwest? Her answer is simple. "Wisconsin is a research powerhouse," she says.

Fueled by its renowned research institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin offers a fertile environment for biohealth startups. "There's also the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), which is one of the top, most-respected technology transfer organizations in the nation. In short, there is great science happening across many disciplines, and the quality of science in Wisconsin truly sets us apart," Eckerly says.

A state that's rich with talent, investment, and has a passionate community.

Last October, the federal government selected Wisconsin as one of 31 Regional Tech Hub designations in the field of personalized medicine and biohealth technology. This designation has swiftly yielded results, with Microsoft announcing a significant investment in expanding its data center footprint. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the hub by offering Entrepreneurship Partner Grants to biotech organizations, with a pledged amount of $500,000 to help bolster innovation and research in biohealth and personalized medicine, while positioning the state to compete for up to $75 million in federal funding.

"Receiving an EDA designation of Wisconsin as a Biohealth Tech Hub is a well-deserved honor for our state," Eckerly says. "We have a long history of producing biohealth innovations that are life changing for patients around the world. The Tech Hub designation shines a bright light on the great work being done here by our scientists, startups, and established companies. That recognition will open doors to bring in more resources and funding that will help solve pressing issues in healthcare."

Wisconsin's tech hub recognition highlights the state's commitment to fostering technological advancement while also serving as a catalyst for attracting investment and talent—and Wisconsin has no shortage of native talent, according to Eckerly.

"I often hear about companies that are looking for what might be the best state for them, and they all talk about talent. One of the largest connection points we have with our startups at Forward BIOLABS is the connection to highly qualified talent," she explains. As part of their mission, the organization maintains a robust network of industry professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, and local universities, which provides startups with access to a pool of experienced talent.

"We have a long history of producing biohealth innovations that are life changing for patients around the world. The Tech Hub designation shines a bright light on the great work being done here by our scientists, startups, and established companies."

~ Jessica Martin Eckerly, co-founder and CEO, Forward BIOLABS

In addition to the quality of research and talent that can be found in Wisconsin, Eckerly cites the startup ecosystem and access to funding as more reason to start and grow a business in the Badger State. Wisconsin boasts a vibrant entrepreneurial community that's characterized by collaboration, mentorship, and support networks—which is where organizations like Forward BIOLABS come in. Wisconsin-based founders have access to mentorship programs and networking opportunities, enabling them to navigate the complexities of launching and scaling a biohealth venture.

And beyond the networking and operational resources that Forward BIOLABS provides, the state also has its own robust funding opportunities. The WEDC plays a pivotal role in nurturing biohealth startups like Forward BIOLABS and others. "WEDC has been fantastic. They provided us with a grant early on to help Forward BIOLABS start because they genuinely saw the value in getting our facilities set up to help multiple future startups. They're also one of the frequent connections we make for startups," Eckerly explains.

The WEDC also has programs that help startups directly, such as the Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) program, which offers tax credits to investors who support startups, incentivizing investment in early-stage companies and fostering growth in Wisconsin's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Then there's WEDC's SBIR grant matching program, which matches funds to Wisconsin businesses that have been awarded federal SBIR or STTR grants. This program aims to support innovative companies in the state by leveraging federal funding to spur further growth and development.

A place where startups achieve success.

To highlight the opportunities that Wisconsin and Forward BIOLABS has to offer the biohealth space, Eckerly points to one startup success story: Elephas Bio. The company addresses the challenge of cancer treatment response by developing a technology suite to assess how human live tumor fragments (hLTF)™ react to cancer therapies by utilizing advancements in cancer biology, multimodal microscopy, and artificial intelligence.

"They came to us in the early phases to get some lab work done. They've just recently announced another round of funding, and they are moving quickly and seeing a lot of early success," Eckerly says.

With the requisite backing and resources such as Forward BIOLABS and the WEDC, startups in Wisconsin stand primed to continue making substantial contributions to the advancement of healthcare and biotechnology on a global scale.

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