How Forward BIOLABS Gives Wisconsin's Biotech Founders a Running Start with Jessica Martin Eckerly

How Forward BIOLABS Gives Wisconsin's Biotech Founders a Running Start with Jessica Martin Eckerly

“If you're a founder without any sort of Forward BIOLABS, you have some experiments that you need to do. And without anything like this, they have to think, ‘Well, how am I gonna get that done?’” Jessica reflects on her 20 plus years of experience moving academic discoveries into the marketplace and explains why biotech founders face such high barriers to entry. From expensive lab equipment, safety requirements, and regulatory testing to complex logistics, she breaks down how shared lab space and on-site support can save startups significant time and cost. She also shares how Forward BIOLABS began as a “napkin scratch” idea that required fundraising, stakeholder alignment, and quick validation through early tenant companies. We also discuss how Forward BIOLABS fits into Wisconsin’s broader innovation ecosystem, including partnerships across universities, nonprofits, and industry. Jessica highlights collaboration with organizations like WARF and WiCell, the strength of biotech talent in Madison, and why many companies choose to stay in Wisconsin as they scale rather than relocate to coastal hubs. She also shares examples like Elephas Bio, which grew from early-stage tenancy into a major personalized medicine company. TUNE IN TO LEARN: Why biotech startups struggle with space, equipment, and regulatory complexity How Forward BIOLABS helps founders launch faster with shared lab infrastructure and support Why Wisconsin’s biotech ecosystem is growing through collaboration across universities, nonprofits, and industry JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION: (00:00) Introduction (04:10) Building the 2018 pilot lab launch (06:34) Why biotech startups cost more (08:41) All in one lab simplicity advantage (11:09) Founder unlocks and early wins (12:17) When founders should join labs (15:04) Ecosystem front doors and referrals (17:10) Elephas Bio cancer startup spotlight (20:44) Why startups stay in Madison (24:13) Milwaukee pilot ICP funding program (26:38) Milwaukee ecosystem momentum tour insights (27:44) Culture safety and fit screening (31:55) What's next in 2026 expansion plans (35:18) How to get involved quickly CONNECT Connect with Jessica Martin Eckerly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eckerlyjm/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eckerlyjm/] Check out Forward BIOLABS: http://www.forwardbiolabs.org [http://www.forwardbiolabs.org] PODCAST SPONSOR Valency Fund Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies. Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/ [https://linkly.link/2dbUJ] 🔻 CONNECT WITH US 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter https://www.startupwi.org/ [https://www.startupwi.org/] Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events [https://www.startupwi.org/events] Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Connect with Jacob Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org [jacob@startupwi.org] Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive. This podcast is made by your friends at Headway. https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io]

Inside the Founder Forward Vision for UW-Madison with Jon Eckhardt

“I cannot wait till like I'm somewhere up in Northern Wisconsin, I stop and open the door, and there's the founder of a company that came from this process.” In this episode, I sit down with Jon Eckhardt, Pyle Bascom Professor at the Wisconsin School of Business, to explore the university’s push to become more founder forward. Jon shares why entrepreneurship should be treated as a true career path, with support systems similar to medicine, law, and engineering. Jon reflects on the experiences that shaped his thinking, from serving in the Army to co-founding gener8tor and studying entrepreneurship through data science. He explains how UW-Madison uncovered startup activity happening across nearly every discipline on campus, proving entrepreneurial talent exists far beyond business school. We also discuss the origins of tech transfer at Wisconsin, the limits of traditional commercialization models, and why the future of entrepreneurship support should focus more on cultivating founders themselves. Jon shares how lower startup costs, shifting capital dynamics, and stronger statewide collaboration could help position Wisconsin as a leader in innovation-driven entrepreneurship. TUNE IN TO LEARN: * Why UW-Madison is embracing a founder forward approach to entrepreneurship * How entrepreneurship is emerging across every corner of campus, not just business school * How universities can better connect students, alumni, investors, and communities across the state JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION: (00:00) Introduction (02:24) Army lessons that shaped Jon’s leadership (03:32) Using data science to study startups (04:24) Building gener8tor and mentoring founders (06:06) Discovering hidden founders across campus (09:33) Thousands of students have startup ideas (13:52) How tech transfer started at Wisconsin (17:01) Why founders matter more than patents (20:39) Treating entrepreneurship as a career path (23:43) Exposing students to entrepreneurship early (27:54) Measuring startup success at UW-Madison (33:58) Connecting student founders across Wisconsin (39:34) Why startup costs are collapsing today (45:06) The truth about bootstrapping startups (52:04) What comes next for founder forward initiatives NOTES Connect with Jon Eckhardt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joneckhardt/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joneckhardt/] Check out University of Wisconsin-Madison: https://entrepreneurship.wisc.edu/ [https://entrepreneurship.wisc.edu/] Check out the Empowering the Wisconsin Idea Report: https://news.wisc.edu/content/uploads/2024/09/EmpoweringtheWisconsinIdea-Report-Final4-Accessible-3.pdf [https://news.wisc.edu/content/uploads/2024/09/EmpoweringtheWisconsinIdea-Report-Final4-Accessible-3.pdf] PODCAST SPONSOR Valency Fund Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies. Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/ [https://linkly.link/2dbUJ] 🔻 CONNECT WITH US 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter https://www.startupwi.org/ [https://www.startupwi.org/] Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events [https://www.startupwi.org/events] Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Connect with Jacob Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org [jacob@startupwi.org] Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive. This podcast is made by your friends at Headway. https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io]

Fixing the Data Problem Slowing Down Life-Saving Drugs with Justin Byers

“If nobody else is going to do this, I'm gonna jump in with both feet and I'm gonna make it happen.” In this episode, I sit down with Justin Byers, founder and CEO of Axio BioPharma, to explore how his company is solving one of biotech's most overlooked bottlenecks: the broken flow of data between early-stage research and large-scale manufacturing. Through AI-powered data pipelines, Axio is helping get life-saving therapies to patients faster and more reliably. Justin traces his path from bench scientist to biotech founder, sharing hard-won lessons from building a company in one of the most regulated industries in the world. He also makes the case for why high-throughput domestic drug manufacturing is more than a business opportunity. It's a national priority. We also dig into Midwest BioCapital, Justin's pre-seed and seed-stage fund backing the next generation of Midwest biotech startups, and why the partnerships you choose in those earliest stages can make or break everything that follows. TUNE IN TO LEARN: * How Axio BioPharma is using AI to streamline drug development and reduce risk * The challenges of building a biotech company in the U.S. and the role of data pipelines * How Midwest BioCapital aims to fill the early-stage funding gap for Midwest startups JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION: (00:00) Introduction (01:17) Justin’s background in biochemistry and molecular biology (02:51) The creation of Axio BioPharma (05:00) The challenges of drug manufacturing and data management (07:22) Why AI is crucial in the drug development process (10:05) The role of Midwest BioCapital in supporting early-stage biotech companies (12:37) Building data pipelines for the pharmaceutical industry (15:45) The importance of partnerships in the biotech startup world (19:15) How Madison’s ecosystem supports biotech innovation (22:30) The balance of growth and focus in a biotech startup (25:50) What’s next for Axio BioPharma and Midwest BioCapital Connect with Justin Byers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-byers-03760931/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-byers-03760931/] Check out Axio BioPharma: https://www.axiobiopharma.com/ [https://www.axiobiopharma.com/] PODCAST SPONSOR Valency Fund Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies. Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/ [https://linkly.link/2dbUJ] 🔻 CONNECT WITH US 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter https://www.startupwi.org/ [https://www.startupwi.org/] Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events [https://www.startupwi.org/events] Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Connect with Jacob Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org [jacob@startupwi.org] Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive. This podcast is made by your friends at Headway. https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io]

Building Belonging in Startup Communities with Angela Damiani

“Every entrepreneur in Wisconsin has a place in this community.” In this episode, I chat with Angela Damiani, CEO and Co-founder of NEWaukee, a brand engagement agency that has been making waves with its innovative activations, events, and community-building efforts. Angela shares the story of how NEWaukee, initially a social club for entrepreneurs, evolved into a thriving agency and a leader in fostering Wisconsin’s startup culture. She discusses the creation of the Midwest Founders Community (MFC), a decentralized network connecting founders across the region, and the inspiring work of elevating the Wisconsin tech scene through collaboration and mutual support. From building a brand experience agency to leading an influential community of founders, Angela reflects on the importance of connection, mentorship, and a culture of belonging. She also shares the challenges of balancing multiple businesses and how she's helping others navigate the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. TUNE IN TO LEARN • How the Midwest Founders Community connects founders to capital, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs • The role of brand activations in building meaningful relationships within a community • Insights into the challenges of Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem and why it's crucial to foster risk-taking and innovation through community support JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION (00:00) Introduction (03:50) NEWaukee’s social club origins (04:49) Discovering revenue models (07:22) Night market's staying power (13:15) Proudest project expansions (15:28) The social architecture concept (20:21) Belonging through warm invitations (25:17) Midwest founders community building (26:17) Finding the right founder crowd (28:22) Growing beyond NEWaukee’s boundaries (29:55) Real-time founder support calls (31:07) Funding and sponsorship challenges (33:54) Safe spaces for founders' doubts (42:14) Milwaukee's startup ecosystem pulse (44:30) Risk, capital, and customer sandboxes (47:30) Vision for a founder fund Connect with Angela Damiani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeladamiani/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeladamiani/] Check out NEWaukee: https://www.newaukee.com/ [https://www.newaukee.com/] PODCAST SPONSOR Valency Fund Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies. Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/ [https://linkly.link/2dbUJ] 🔻 CONNECT WITH US 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter https://www.startupwi.org/ [https://www.startupwi.org/] Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events [https://www.startupwi.org/events] Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Connect with Jacob Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org [jacob@startupwi.org] Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive. This podcast is made by your friends at Headway. https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io]

Your Cell Phone is Already Using This Tech (You Just Don't Know It) with Russell From of WayFi Wireless

“There’s no reason every small business in Wisconsin shouldn’t use this.” In this episode, I chat with Russell From [https://www.linkedin.com/in/russfr/], President and Co-Founder of WayFi Wireless [https://wayfiwireless.com/], a company revolutionizing connectivity for businesses and nonprofits across Wisconsin and the world. He shares the inspiring journey of how WayFi Wireless uses cutting-edge technology to fix cellular dead zones by leveraging wifi, without the hefty costs traditionally associated with infrastructure. From working at Verizon to tech founder, Russell discusses WayFi Wireless' 10,000+ global deployments powered by PassPoint technology, bridging the digital divide by offering free connectivity to users that’s funded entirely by carriers. He also  shares their recent "Best Open Roaming Deployment" award, their work with the Coverage Across America Program in Wisconsin, and the hard-earned lessons he’s gathered while building a startup from the ground up. TUNE IN TO LEARN: * How cell phone carriers pay for Wi-Fi to reduce churn and enhance customer experience * How Passpoint/Hotspot 2.0 ensures seamless, secure connections without popups or apps * What it takes to go from MVP to scale through partner strategy, support, and distribution JUMP INTO THE CONVERSATION: (00:00) Intro (00:36) Meet Russ of WayFi Wireless (02:03) From Verizon engineer to founder (06:38) Why Passpoint and open roaming took off (12:40) Pivoting to Wi-Fi and scaling to 1,200 locations (22:22) The business of Wi-Fi monetization (28:41) How blockchain speeds up carrier payments (35:57) Lessons from corporate to startup life  (42:05) The transition from funding to self-sustaining growth (46:08) Big wins and international expansion CONNECT Connect with Russell From: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russfr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/russfr/] Check out WayFi Wireless: https://wayfiwireless.com/ [https://wayfiwireless.com/] FOLLOW Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter: https://www.startupwi.org [https://www.startupwi.org] Check out Headway: https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io] Connect with Jacob Miller:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] PODCAST SPONSOR Valency Fund Flexible funding solutions designed for sustainable growth of Wisconsin companies. Learn more at https://www.valencyfund.com/ [https://linkly.link/2dbUJ] 🔻 CONNECT WITH US 🔻 Subscribe to the Startup Wisconsin Newsletter https://www.startupwi.org/ [https://www.startupwi.org/] Upcoming Tech and Startup Events in Wisconsin (400+ every year) https://www.startupwi.org/events [https://www.startupwi.org/events] Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-wisconsin/] Connect with Jacob Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kineticbear] Interested in being a guest? Reach out! jacob@startupwi.org [jacob@startupwi.org] Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive. This podcast is made by your friends at Headway. https://www.headway.io [https://www.headway.io]