Where life sciences innovators build their companies in the Roanoke Blacksburg region.
We deliver hands-on programming, expert guidance, and business services built for the specific challenges life sciences companies face at every stage, from RoVa Labs tenants to the wider regional ecosystem.
Life sciences ventures don’t scale on generic startup advice. They need customized, case-by-case support. Innovation Studio is built to deliver it.
Build a path
from research to market.
A free, four-day, in-person commercialization bootcamp built for biotech, medtech, and health-tech innovators.
Led by Bill Walker, inventor, serial entrepreneur, and educator.
open next week
Programs
Life science innovation follows a different path than typical tech ventures — longer timelines, regulatory hurdles, and a more challenging road from bench to market. Innovation Studio exists to help founders navigate that path. Our programs and services meet early-stage entrepreneurs where they are, equipping them to build their businesses right here, in the region’s life science innovation ecosystem.
Life sciences founders don’t have to figure out the region alone. Book a free 30-minute 1-on-1 session for guidance and introductions tailored to your venture. We also offer an Ecosystem Overview presentation covering the region’s tech and life sciences resources, and a mini workshop on crafting your 30-second elevator pitch for networking.
Beer & Biotech: Meet and connect with founders, researchers, clinicians, investors, and other members of the biotech and medtech community every month at our signature monthly event, Beer & Biotech. Hosted at RoVa Labs, this is an informal gathering featuring a short speaker talk, networking, and or course, beer.
A free, 4-day, in-person bootcamp at RoVa Labs for life sciences innovators — built for researchers with actionable Biotech, Medtech, or Health-tech research (TRL 4-7), or practitioners with a concept at the bench-testing stage.
Life science entrepreneurship means longer timelines, regulatory hurdles, and different funding needs than a typical startup path. This cohort-based course prepares participants to navigate that journey, and each one leaves with a personalized commercialization plan.
Graduates are eligible for 6 months of free wrap-around support through Innovation Studio, including bench and incubator space ($9K value) and 1:1 expert coaching ($5K value).
Six months of bench space at RoVa Labs — a $9K value — including access to shared dry and wet labs, plus coworking, meeting, event, and office space. Available to Commercialization Academy graduates who apply for the space through Innovation Studio.
Six months of 1:1 coaching — a $5K value — available to Commercialization Academy graduates. Once you finish the program, book time with our locally based life sciences Entrepreneur in Residence, who helps guide founders through the speed bumps and questions early-stage life science startups face while building and scaling their businesses.
Six months of free grant writing support, open to any life science entrepreneur or innovator working with Innovation Studio at RoVa Labs. Our network of sector-specific grant writing experts helps early-stage Biotech, Medtech, and Health-tech companies prepare STTR and SBIR submissions.
Up to 6 months of legal support, open to any early-stage life science entrepreneur or innovator working with Innovation Studio at RoVa Labs. Whether it’s questions about IP and licensing or other legal issues early-stage life science entrepreneurs navigate, our legal partners provide as-needed consultations.
Regulatory compliance is often one of the most cost-prohibitive parts of the journey for early-stage life science entrepreneurs. That’s why we’ve designed programs with partners tailored to be accessible at the earliest stages. Open to any entrepreneur working with Innovation Studio.
Join the regional biotech community at our monthly gatherings
