What Colorado BioScience Association does

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, that serves as the singular industry body representing the state's life sciences ecosystem. The organization operates under a membership-based business model with 11-50 employees, generating revenue through tiered membership dues, multi-level event sponsorships (Sustaining, Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), event registration fees for signature programs including the biannual Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor + Partnering Conference and Annual Awards Celebration, and affiliate revenue share from partner cost-savings programs such as the Fisher Scientific Member Savings Program (delivering 56% average discounts and $16.3M in member savings over two years) and BIO Business Solutions.

CBSA's core technology footprint is centered on the Colorado BioScience Connect member platform, powered by KBI Biopharma, which consolidates event management, career center functionality, member directory, and community networking into a single interface. The organization also operates a dedicated career platform at careers.cobioscience.com. Beyond technology infrastructure, CBSA's primary value delivery is non-digital: policy advocacy (including successful lobbying for expansion of Colorado's Advanced Industries Tax Credit from $750K to $4M), workforce development through the affiliated Colorado BioScience Institute and NSF-funded QA/RA Certificate Programs, and ecosystem positioning through the Colorado Hub for Health Impact national economic development campaign launched in February 2024 with 22 founding partners (now 30+).

The association serves four primary customer segments: life sciences companies at all stages (725+ bioscience firms in Colorado), academic and research institutions (including the University of Colorado system), economic development organizations (Metro Denver EDC, Aurora EDC, Boulder Economic Council), and life sciences professionals. Enterprise sponsors span major pharmaceutical and medical technology firms (Medtronic, Eli Lilly, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies), contract manufacturers (KBI Biopharma, AGC Biologics), diagnostics firms (Biodesix), and emerging biotech startups (Umoja Biopharma, Enveda, Ambrosia Biosciences). The organization is led by President & CEO Elyse Blazevich, with board governance chaired (as of March 2026) by Byron Hewett.

Name

Colorado BioScience Association

Legal name

Colorado BioScience Association

Website

http://www.cobioscience.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colorado BioScience Association is a Denver-based nonprofit trade association founded in 1997 that serves Colorado's life sciences ecosystem of 725+ companies through membership services, policy advocacy, workforce development, networking events, and exclusive cost-savings programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Sciences Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses (THAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Life sciences association
• Biotech industry advocacy
• Membership trade organization
• Workforce development programs
• Policy advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CBSA generates revenue through membership fees from life sciences companies, organizations, and academic institutions. Membership provides access to cost savings programs, networking events, policy advocacy, and workforce development resources.
2. Sponsorship: The association offers multiple sponsorship tiers (Sustaining Sponsor, Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Corporate Supporter) for its events and programs, providing visibility and access to the Colorado life sciences ecosystem.
3. Event Registration: Revenue from registration fees for signature events including the Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor + Partnering Conference, Annual Awards Celebration, and Drive to Five Innovation Tour.
4. Revenue Share from Partner Programs: CBSA receives a revenue share on purchases made by members through the Fisher Scientific Member Savings Program and other partner cost-savings programs. Over the past two years, participating members saved $16.3M through the Fisher Scientific program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Colorado BioScience Association is a nonprofit trade association that provides membership-based services to Colorado's life sciences industry, including networking events, policy advocacy, exclusive cost-savings purchasing programs (Fisher Scientific, BIO Business Solutions), workforce development through the affiliated Colorado BioScience Institute, and signature investor-facing events such as the Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor + Partnering Conference. Members gain access to the Colorado BioScience Connect member portal, career center, sponsorship visibility, and statewide economic development campaigns positioning Colorado as a life sciences hub.

Product overview

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is a trade association and membership organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a unified software product or platform-plus-modules architecture. CBSA provides membership benefits including networking events, advocacy, cost savings programs, career center, and industry resources to Colorado's life sciences community. The organization operates member platforms such as Colorado BioScience Connect (powered by KBI Biopharma) for member experience, but this is a member-facing portal for events and networking, not a standalone software product with modules. No discrete branded product names, modules, or add-on offerings were identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBSA Membership Annual subscription-based membership providing Colorado life sciences companies with tiered benefits including access to cost-savings programs, networking events, policy advocacy, workforce development resources, and brand visibility through the Colorado BioScience Connect portal.
• Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor + Partnering Conference Biannual signature event where investors and strategic partners converge to meet presenting life sciences companies from the Rocky Mountain region, supporting capital formation and partnership deal flow.
• Annual Awards Celebration Annual gala event celebrating Colorado's life sciences leaders, recognizing Company of the Year, Rising Star, and Deal of the Year recipients, and showcasing the ecosystem's top performers.
• Drive to Five Innovation Tour Two-day curated tour across Colorado's health innovation corridor that showcases the state's life sciences assets to prospective companies, investors, and partners.
• CBSA Career Center Online career platform hosted at careers.cobioscience.com connecting life sciences professionals with job opportunities at Colorado-based member companies and the broader state ecosystem.
• Colorado BioScience Connect Member Portal Online member portal powered by KBI Biopharma that brings events, member experience tools, career opportunities, and community networking into a single interface for CBSA members.
• Fisher Scientific Member Savings Program Exclusive CBSA member benefit providing preferred pricing on laboratory supplies, equipment, and services with 56% average discount off list price, waived freight and hazmat fees, and access to 1.7M+ products from 6,500 suppliers.
• BIO Business Solutions Program Group purchasing program in partnership with BIO delivering CBSA members preferred pricing on business services from ADP, Airgas, Brex, Chubb, Clean Harbors, Nikon, ODP, UPS Healthcare, and 20+ other vendors.
• CBSA Sponsorship Tiers Multi-tier sponsorship program (Sustaining Sponsor, Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Corporate Supporter) providing companies brand visibility and access to CBSA's events, programs, and ecosystem.
• Colorado BioScience Institute Workforce Programs Workforce development programs operated through the Colorado BioScience Institute (under CBSA leadership), including STEM programs and the NSF-funded Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program delivered with CU Denver and CU Anschutz.

Quantifiable outcome

• $16.3M in member savings through Fisher Scientific program over two years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Colorado Hub for Health Impact ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2024National economic development campaign positioning Colorado as America's epicenter for life sciences innovation. Launched with 22 founding partners including AGC Biologics, BNBuilders, Calcon Constructors, CRB Group, KBI Biopharma, MOA Architecture, Murphy Company, NexCore Science & Tech, Sterling Bay, and U.S. 36 Collaborative. Campaign emphasizes Colorado's talent, location, infrastructure, community, and competitive costs.
• Metro Denver Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead economic development partner for Colorado Hub for Health Impact campaign, promoting Metro Denver region as a leading location for life sciences companies.
• Fitzsimons Innovation CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation campus partner supporting Colorado Hub for Health Impact with world-class facilities and startup support ecosystem.
• Aurora Economic Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner representing Aurora's life sciences assets including Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado bioscience clusters.
• Colorado Health & Tech CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing state-of-the-art facilities for growing health and technology companies.
• SyncUp ColoradocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitation partner for the Life Sciences Employer Talent Collaborative, providing expertise in workforce development strategy.
• Colorado SucceedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation and workforce development partner co-developing the Life Sciences Employer Talent Collaborative.
• University of Colorado DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF grant partner for Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program expanding Colorado's life sciences workforce through ExLENT initiative.
• University of Colorado AnschutzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF grant partner for QA/RA Certificate Program at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, part of Colorado BioScience Institute workforce development activities.
• Colorado BioScience InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce cultivation partner operating under CBSA leadership, building knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities for Colorado's life sciences ecosystem.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for Advanced Industries Accelerator Grants and tax credit programs. CBSA advocates for these critical funding mechanisms that have delivered $151M in grants attracting $2.9B in follow-on capital.
• Fisher Scientific (Thermo Fisher Scientific)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partner providing Fisher Scientific Member Savings Program with 56% average discount off catalog products, waived freight and hazmat fees, and access to 1.7M+ products from 6,500 suppliers.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership providing CBSA members access to BIO Business Solutions cost-savings program including ADP, Airgas, Brex, Chubb, Clean Harbors, Nikon, ODP, UPS Healthcare, and 20+ other vendors.
• Colorado Legislative StrategiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLobbying partner advocating for CBSA's policy priorities at the Colorado General Assembly.
• Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational confederation of state-based bioscience trade organizations. CBSA participates in annual summits and policy discussions on Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and other industry issues.
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational industry association for biotechnology. CBSA collaborates on federal advocacy, PDAB policy discussions, and BIO convention participation.
• Primavera GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCampaign manager and marketing communications partner for Colorado Hub for Health Impact, managing initiative including visual identity and website development.
• KBI BiopharmacoreTechnology or IntegrationTitanium sponsor powering Colorado BioScience Connect platform with next-generation technology for faster, clearer member experience.
• AGC BiologicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustaining Sponsor and presenter of the Annual Awards Celebration. Contract biopharmaceutical manufacturing organization.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BioOhio: Ohio's bioscience growth association supports industry expansion through advocacy, networking, and workforce programs at a comparable state-level scale to CBSA's Colorado focus.
• NewYorkBIO: New York's bioscience trade association runs policy advocacy, networking, and member services for the state's life sciences community — comparable to CBSA's regional trade-association operating model.
• BioNJ: New Jersey's statewide bioscience trade association provides membership, advocacy, networking events, and workforce development for a similarly concentrated pharma/biotech ecosystem — a structural analog to CBSA.
• MassBio: Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is the largest US state-level life sciences trade association, offering membership, advocacy, events, and cost-savings programs analogous to CBSA — making it the most directly comparable peer.
• California Life Sciences: California's statewide life sciences trade association (formed via BayBio/CHI merger) serves a similarly diverse biotech, medtech, and digital health membership with advocacy and capital-access programming comparable to CBSA's offering.
• Life Sciences Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's statewide life sciences trade association (formerly Pennsylvania Bio) operates a comparable model of membership tiers, advocacy, events, and workforce initiatives for a state-level biotech and medtech cluster.
• iBIO (Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization): Illinois' statewide life sciences trade association delivers member advocacy, capital access programming, and signature events (e.g., iBIO IndieBio) that parallel CBSA's Investor + Partnering Conference and policy advocacy work.
• BioForward Wisconsin: Wisconsin's statewide biohealth trade association offers member services, policy advocacy, cost-savings programs, and networking for a regional biotech ecosystem — directly comparable to CBSA's mission and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): BIO is the national trade association for the biotechnology industry; CBSA is both a member/partner of BIO and a delivery channel for BIO Business Solutions, making BIO the umbrella incumbent with overlapping advocacy and member-services scope.

Regional players

• Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA): CSBA is a national federation of state bioscience associations in which CBSA participates; it operates across US geographies rather than within Colorado and acts as a peer convening body for state associations like CBSA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cobioscience
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoBioScienceAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/profile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado BioScience Association