OBI Client Company Recent Wins
- Application for the phase 0 grant from Business Oregon was accepted.
- Partnering with Case Western Reserve University on a five-year, $2.93 million National Cancer Institute grant to develop a rapid, chairside test for oral cancer. The project brings together Hemex’s diagnostic platform expertise with academic research to advance a more accessible approach to earlier detection.
- Has been announced an Early-Stage semifinalist for the 2026 Bend Venture Conference (BVC).
- Graduate of OBI, has been announced a Growth Tech semifinalist for the 2026 Bend Venture Conference (BVC).
Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!
A Sold-Out Night for Oregon Bioscience
Last week, the Oregon Bioscience Incubator was packed for our Annual Startup Spotlight Expo, bringing together a sold-out room of investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, industry professionals, and ecosystem partners from across Oregon’s bioscience community.
Startup Spotlight is about more than showcasing exciting science. It’s about creating the connections that help early-stage companies move forward. Throughout the evening, attendees had the opportunity to meet OBI founders, learn about the technologies being developed right here in Oregon, and connect with the investors, mentors, partners, and collaborators who can help turn promising ideas into growing companies.
We were honored to welcome OHSU President Dr. Shereef Elnahal, who spoke about the importance of the Oregon Bioscience Incubator’s mission and the need for organizations like OBI to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of Oregon’s bioscience sector.
The evening also featured our panel, Biotech Funding in 2026: What Investors Are Saying Yes To, moderated by Cara Turano of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. Ben Nahir of Elevate Capital, Shula Jaron of ONAMI, and Shashi Jain of Portland Seed Fund shared a candid look at today’s funding environment, including what gets investors excited, what can trigger an immediate pass even when the science is strong, how investor expectations have changed, and what founders can do to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
Most importantly, the room was full of conversations. Founders meeting investors. Scientists connecting with entrepreneurs. Ecosystem partners discovering new ways to collaborate. That is exactly why Startup Spotlight exists and why bringing Oregon’s bioscience community together matters.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s Expo such a success. We’re already looking ahead to the next Annual Startup Spotlight Expo in September 2027. We have a feeling we may need a bigger room.
Meet the Founder Spotlight
“Getting to contribute to what’s being built here has been as meaningful to me as growing my own business.”
— Christopher Wilson, Founder, MedAxis
Meet the Founder: Christopher Wilson | MedAxis AI
Christopher Wilson is the founder of MedAxis AI, a Portland firm that helps early-stage life sciences and MedTech companies coordinate fundraising, build partnerships, and develop their commercial efforts. He brings two decades of commercial experience at Smith & Nephew, DSM, and Teleflex, an MBA, and Stanford certificates in Biodesign and AI in Healthcare. He also hosts Stories in Life Sciences, a podcast featuring founders and investors, and serves as a BioMentor with OTRADI and the Oregon Bioscience Incubator.
What inspired you to start MedAxis AI?
My years in medical devices showed me how much it takes to bring an innovation to market. That became especially clear during Biodesign, where I brought the commercial perspective to a team of clinicians, engineers, and scientists. Working together reinforced the value of connecting science with commercial thinking early. As I explored AI, I saw new ways to help small teams put that thinking into practice and accelerate commercialization. MedAxis AI grew out of bringing those experiences together.
What problem are you and MedAxis AI solving?
Life sciences founders are advancing their science while also building the relationships that move a company forward. Before commercialization, that can mean coordinating a fundraise, engaging potential partners, and preparing for market entry. Once a product or service is ready, it includes finding customers and developing those opportunities. MedAxis AI helps teams organize and execute that work. We combine life sciences experience with practical AI and automation to help founders identify the right people, coordinate outreach and follow-up, and turn conversations into next steps.
What milestones has MedAxis AI reached?
Since founding MedAxis AI in late 2025, we’ve grown into a team of four working with life sciences companies in Oregon, across the US, and in Europe. Founders are using our platform to coordinate their fundraising efforts, and we’ve helped teams rebuild their commercial outreach. We’ve also launched a commercialization assessment that helps founders identify gaps in their readiness and prioritize what to address next. Stories in Life Sciences has passed 30 episodes featuring founders and investors on both sides of the Atlantic, and we’ve received press credentials to cover The MedTech Conference this fall.
What are you most excited about for the future?
I’m excited about how much more a small life sciences team can accomplish when industry knowledge and practical AI come together. We’re developing ways to connect a company’s scientific capabilities with market signals that suggest a potential customer or partner may need them. That could give teams a clearer sense of where to focus and when to start a conversation. More broadly, I see an opportunity to make this kind of commercial support accessible earlier, when founders are building relationships and laying the groundwork for growth.
How has being an OBI BioMember supported your company?
I grew up in Oregon, but most of my career was spent working remotely for large companies, so I was in the industry without being closely connected to what was happening at home. OBI helped me build those local relationships, including one that became client work. I’ve presented MedAxis AI at an Accelerate Biotech happy hour, worked with three Oregon founders this year through the BioMentor network, and will be mentoring in the new BioBuild program. Getting to contribute to what’s being built here has been as meaningful to me as growing my own business.
BioMentor Spotlight:
Douglas J. Kawahara
Doug is a C-level executive with >30 years of biotechnology industry experience (predominantly startup & early-stage companies) in executive leadership, business/corporate development (in-/out-licensing; partnering; M&A), strategic marketing/market analysis, intellectual property, R&D management, and preparation of business plans and investor presentations.
He brings experience in multiple therapeutic areas (oncology, inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, infectious disease, CNS, CV, regenerative medicine), and a broad range of therapeutic classes (small molecules, peptides, biologics, oligonucleotides), preventive and therapeutic vaccines as well as medical foods, platform technologies, and diagnostics.
Previous positions include President & CEO, Elex Biotech (Portland, OR); Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Oligos Etc. (Wilsonville, OR); and Vice President, Business Development, Receptor BioLogix (Palo Alto, CA). Doug maintains an international network in pharma, biotech and investment communities.
Build the Company Your Science Deserves: Early Access to BioBuild
BioBuild is an eight-week commercialization cohort from Oregon Bioscience Incubator designed to help early-stage bioscience companies turn promising technologies into focused, fundable, and actionable businesses. Founders will gain practical guidance, expert mentorship, and tools to tackle the challenges that come with moving a technology toward commercialization, including market validation, regulatory strategy, intellectual property, partnerships, business strategy, and funding readiness.
If you’re building a bioscience company and want a clearer path from promising science to a stronger, more investable business, BioBuild is designed for you. The first cohort launches in January 2027, with applications opening October 5.
Early access: Learn more about BioBuild and be the first to receive updates about the upcoming program.
Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards 2026
The Oregon entrepreneurial community has been growing for decades, supported by founders, mentors, investors, and partners who continue to build a strong and connected ecosystem across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
This year, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is celebrating 35 years of Oregon entrepreneurship with the 2026 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards, presented by Columbia Bank.
Join OEN on Thursday, November 12, at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland for an evening celebrating the people, companies, and community helping shape the region’s entrepreneurial future.
Step Into the OBI Network: BioMembership Is Here
Want to be part of OBI but do not need lab or office space? BioMembership was created with you in mind. It is designed for startups, service providers, and ecosystem partners who want to stay closely connected to OBI’s community, programs, and momentum without becoming a resident company.
BioMembers gain access to OBI-hosted events, member pricing for select educational programs, opportunities to reserve conference space, and increased visibility within our growing bioscience network. It is a flexible way to stay engaged, build meaningful relationships, and remain plugged into the energy and opportunity happening here every day.
If you are looking for connection, collaboration, and a seat at the table, BioMembership makes it simple to be part of OBI.
Learn More about BioMembership
Upcoming Events at OBI
Accelerate Biotech Networking Lunch at Bend Venture Conference
Thursday, October 15th | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Get Tickets Here
Upcoming Community Events
Bend Venture Conference
October 15 & 16
Tickets on Sale Now!
Emerging Talent
The Oregon bioscience community continues to grow, and talented professionals are looking for their next opportunity to contribute. The resumes featured below represent individuals with a range of experience and skills who are currently open to new roles. If your team is hiring or looking to connect with experienced talent, we’d be happy to help make an introduction.