ICP awards provide early-stage biohealth companies across Wisconsin with tailored support to accelerate growth and attract investment
Madison, WI [02/03/2026] – Forward BIOLABS, in partnership with BioForward Wisconsin, is pleased to announce the Round 1 awardees of the Innovation to Commercialization Pipeline (ICP) program. Eighteen emerging biohealth companies across Wisconsin have been selected to receive ICP awards. Awardees span a broad range of Wisconsin’s biohealth sectors, including biomanufacturing, diagnostics, life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and radiopharmaceuticals.
Wisconsin’s biohealth sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, generating billions in economic activity and supporting a broad spectrum of high-skill, high-impact jobs across research, manufacturing, and healthcare. Sustaining that momentum depends on a strong pipeline of new companies capable of translating innovation into commercial success. The Innovation to Commercialization Pipeline (ICP) program strengthens that pipeline, providing early-stage biohealth companies with the targeted support needed to reduce risk, position themselves to attract additional investment, and grow into the next generation of Wisconsin-based industry leaders.
“The ICP award enables Sonoptima to accelerate critical commercialization milestones for our wearable, ultrasound-based, AI-enabled device that continuously monitors patients’ internal anatomy during radiation therapy. This award will support the development of a robust regulatory strategy, supported by expert regulatory consultation, to prepare Sonoptima for the upcoming FDA submission. As we continue advancing our medical device, the ICP award is also enabling us to implement a strong intellectual property strategy to expand our market opportunity and enhance our attractiveness to investors and partners,” said Michael Sealander, CEO, Sonoptima.
Award recipients were selected through a competitive review process by the ICP Award Committee, composed of respected and experienced industry leaders. Applications were evaluated based on commercialization readiness, strategic use of funds, and potential impact on Wisconsin’s biohealth sector. Led and overseen by Jessica Martin Eckerly (CEO and Co-founder, Forward BIOLABS) and Lisa Johnson (CEO, BioForward), the following leaders served as members of the ICP Award Committee:
· Brad Garcia, Director Strategy & Operations, AbbVie
· Elizabeth Hagerman, Chief Innovation Officer, UW Health; Executive Director, Isthmus Project
· Jay Hill, Vice President, Advanced Technology, GE Healthcare (Retired)
· Jenni Le, Principal, Venture Investors Health Fund
· Jill Enos, Managing Partner, Titletown Tech
· Justin Krause, Vice President, Global Operations Coordination and Integrations, Exact Sciences
· Laura Hilty, Principal, HealthX Ventures
· Nicolas Paris, Chief Executive Officer, Gilson
· Sarah Duellman, Biotech Industry Strategy & Growth Lead, Promega
“Programs like ICP are possible because organizations such as Forward BIOLABS and BioForward make the effort to support founders early in their journey. Their leadership and strategic vision bring critical financial support to start-up companies, especially at an early stage, when achieving key technical and commercial milestones makes a meaningful difference to the company’s probability of success,” said Elizabeth Hagerman, Chief Innovation Officer at UW Health and Executive Director of the Isthmus Project. “Programs like this amplify the value of early-stage investment from Wisconsin-based angels and funds, including UW Health’s Isthmus Project, helping lift Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem to a national level.”
As one of five projects comprising the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub, ICP strengthens Wisconsin’s growing biohealth ecosystem. Supported through the 2023 WI Act 96 state-matched Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub funding, the program reinforces the state’s commitment to advancing early-stage biohealth companies and fostering the statewide innovation ecosystem.
“Having the State of Wisconsin fund ICP sends a strong signal about the importance of Wisconsin’s early-stage biohealth companies. The ICP award is helping de-risk the scale-up, regulatory, and IP aspects of the Smart Dressings we are developing for diabetic foot ulcer, bed sore, and other chronic wound patients. Ultimately, Phoenix-Aid’s goal is to affordably improve patient outcomes, and ICP will help move us in that direction,” said Ashwinraj Karthikeyan, CEO, Phoenix-Aid.
“We’re excited to officially announce these ICP awardees and begin working with this outstanding group of companies,” said Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and Co-Founder, Forward BIOLABS. “This first round of awards marks an important milestone for the program as we provide financial support to overcome commercialization risks and strengthen their investment readiness. ICP is one more way Forward BIOLABS is advancing its mission to support early-stage startups at critical points in their growth. We’re also looking forward to the next ICP round in 2026 as we continue supporting more young biohealth companies growing in Wisconsin.”
ICP Round 1 Awardees
· Archeus Technologies – Developing a portfolio of radiopharmaceutical therapy and imaging agents in oncology
· Arkayli Biopharma – Developing targeted precision delivery for safer, more effective therapies in pediatric rare skin and vascular diseases.
· Axio Biopharma – An AI-Ready Biologics CDMO establishing a cross-site data ecosystem
· AyrFlo Innovation Labs –Developing a non-invasive wearable breathing sensor that detects post-surgical deterioration early
· Craniosure – Developing a smartphone app to help primary care providers screen infants for head shape differences and improve access to high-quality craniofacial surgical care
· Estrigenix Therapeutics – Developing drugs to treat symptoms of menopause
· ImgGyd – Developing hardware and software for image-guided placement of minimallyinvasive electrodes and catheters into the brain using MRI or CT
· Immuto Scientific – Building a transformative platform for fully-automated, high-throughput structural characterization of proteins in solution and in living cells
· Kivi Bio – Company serving early-stage and scaling biohealth companies across Wisconsin and the Midwest that lack the capital or infrastructure for immediately acquiring biomanufacturing equipment
· Phoenix-Aid – Developing an advanced wound care dressing made from a patented nanocomposite carbon-polymer
· Refined Sciences – Specializing in bioprocessing components and assemblies (single-use and multi-use) for the biopharmaceutical industry
· Retham Technologies – Developing a breakthrough diagnostic for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) that will reduce patient risk and drive healthcare cost savings
· Roddy Medical – Setting a new standard in medical line securement technology that has already saved patient lives, improving clinical safety and patient outcomes
· Sonoptima – Developing a wearable, AI-enabled, ultrasound technology for optimal timing of radiation therapy for pelvic malignancies
· Soul Mobility – Building mobility products in the complex rehab sector of the wheelchair industry
· Stem Pharm – Developing small-molecule therapies for neuroinflammatory diseases using proprietary human neuroimmune organoids, initially focused on Alzheimer’s disease
· Varizymes – A molecular biology reagent firm with 30-minute sample-to-answer point-of-care molecular diagnostic products
· Vibetech Enterprises – Developing advanced rehabilitation technology to provide safe, accessible exercise and rehabilitation for improved physical mobility
About Forward BIOLABS: Forward BIOLABS is a premier coworking life science innovation hub that empowers early-stage biotech startups to launch and scale quickly. Headquartered within University Research Park in Madison, Wisconsin, Forward BIOLABS has supported more than 60 startups by providing fully equipped, professionally maintained shared laboratories and office spaces, removing the barriers of time, cost, and complexity typically associated with starting a biotech company. As it expands its footprint in Madison and pilots a presence in Milwaukee, Forward BIOLABS continues to foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial ecosystem that accelerates scientific breakthroughs and drives innovation across Wisconsin.
About BioForward Wisconsin: BioForward Wisconsin is the unified voice of the state’s biohealth industry and the lead organization for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub. Representing more than 260 member organizations across a fully integrated health solutions network—including biopharma, medical device, diagnostics, digital health, research institutions, and healthcare systems—BioForward drives initiatives that deliver measurable impact. In 2026, BioForward is focused on turning momentum into measurable outcomes by strengthening entrepreneurship, accelerating company growth, advancing talent and workforce development, and elevating Wisconsin’s position as a nationally competitive and globally relevant biohealth powerhouse.
Media Contact:
Bianca Fung bfung@forwardbiolabs.org
