Georgia Bio

What Georgia Bio does

Georgia Life Sciences (formerly Georgia Bio) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) industry association founded in 1989 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It operates as the unified industry voice and leading convenor for Georgia's life sciences sector, serving member companies across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and digital health. The organization rebranded from Georgia Bio to Georgia Life Sciences in 2024 to reflect the broader scope of its membership base and the full breadth of Georgia's life sciences ecosystem.

The organization's core offering is a portfolio of member programs rather than a unified technology platform. Programs span four functional pillars: workforce pipeline development (Biotech Teacher Training Initiative, Equipment Depot, Career Network, Ambassadors Program, Emerging Leaders Network, BioGENEius Challenge), economic development (BioReady Communities, Life Sciences Real Estate), entrepreneurship support (Incubators, Access to Capital, Gains mentorship), and advocacy (Legislative Watch, Patient Advocacy Forum, Georgia Rare Disease Advisory Council). The annual Georgia Life Sciences Summit serves as the flagship convening event featuring startup showcases, investor Q&A sessions, and poster presentations with participation from Johnson & Johnson and venture capital firms including Ascenta Capital, Solas BioVentures, NovaQuest, and Numinous Capital.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring annual membership dues from life sciences companies, transactional event revenue from Summit registration, sponsorships, and exhibit fees, and advertising/sponsorship packages. Distribution is concentrated within the Southeast USA, with go-to-market focused on direct membership engagement through a secure online portal, the annual Summit, and legislative engagement events such as Day at the Capitol. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and is led by President & CEO Maria Thacker Goethe and Executive Vice President Stacey Bowlin (promoted June 2026), leveraging partnerships and volunteers to deliver programming breadth that exceeds its lean staff structure.

Name

Georgia Bio

Legal name

Georgia Life Sciences

Website

https://gabio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Georgia Life Sciences is a non-profit 501(c)(6) industry association serving as the unified voice and leading convenor for Georgia's life sciences sector. It delivers workforce development, policy advocacy, economic development, and entrepreneurship programs to member companies across biotech, pharma, medtech, diagnostics, and digital health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54199)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAPAA

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Industry-Specific Training (Healthcare, Tech, etc.)

SECONDARYMPAAADAD

Healthcare & Life Sciences PR

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications Agencies

SECONDARYTHAHAJAB

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

SECONDARYBPACADAL

Life Sciences & Biotech (R&D/Clinical) Staffing

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Professional & Technical Staffing (IT/Engineering/Healthcare/Finance)

Keywords

• Life sciences association
• Industry advocacy services
• Workforce development programs
• Biotechnology education training
• Industry membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from life sciences companies including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and digital health sectors. Membership provides access to cost-savings programs, networking, advocacy, workforce development, and event participation.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from the annual Georgia Life Sciences Summit (August 25-26) including registration fees, sponsorships, exhibit fees, and poster session participation. Also includes the Patient Advocacy Forum and other regional events.
3. Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages that provide access and influence within Georgia's life sciences industry, including combined reach across exclusive programming, key initiatives, events, media channels, and industry association networks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Georgia Life Sciences (formerly Georgia Bio) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) industry association that sells membership to Georgia's life sciences companies across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and digital health sectors. Its commercial offerings include paid annual memberships, the annual Georgia Life Sciences Summit with registration, sponsorships, and exhibits, the Patient Advocacy Forum, and curated cost-savings programs for members. The association also delivers advocacy, workforce pipeline programs, entrepreneurship support, and economic development services as part of its member value proposition.

Product overview

Georgia Life Sciences (formerly Georgia Bio) is a nonprofit membership-based industry association serving Georgia's life sciences sector. Rather than offering a unified product platform, the organization provides a portfolio of member programs including workforce development initiatives (Biotech Teacher Training Initiative, Equipment Depot, Career Network, BioGENEius Challenge, Emerging Leaders Network), economic development services (BioReady Communities, Life Sciences Real Estate), entrepreneurship support (Incubators, Access to Capital, Gains Program), advocacy programs (Legislative Watch, Patient Advocacy Forum, RDAC), the annual Georgia Life Sciences Summit, a Cost-Savings Program, and the Georgia Life Sciences Podcast. The organization rebranded from Georgia Bio to Georgia Life Sciences to better reflect the full breadth of Georgia's biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and digital health sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Georgia Life Sciences Membership Annual paid membership for Georgia-based life sciences companies across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and digital health sectors. Provides access to advocacy, networking events, cost-savings programs, workforce development initiatives, and strategic partnerships.
• Georgia Life Sciences Summit Annual flagship conference held August 25-26 featuring a Startup Showcase, investor Q&A sessions, poster sessions, networking, and exhibits. Includes registration fees, sponsorship packages, exhibit fees, and poster session participation. Sold to life sciences companies, investors, researchers, and industry leaders.
• Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship packages providing access and influence within Georgia's life sciences industry, including combined reach across exclusive programming, key initiatives, events, media channels, and industry association networks. Sold to enterprises seeking visibility and partnership opportunities.
• Patient Advocacy Forum Forum connecting patient advocates with industry stakeholders to advance patient-centered healthcare priorities in Georgia. Available to patient advocates, life sciences companies, and healthcare stakeholders.
• Cost-Savings Program Curated discounts on products and services critical to running a successful life sciences business for member organizations. Available exclusively to members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 5,375 students through Biotech Teacher Training Initiative (BTTI)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• MATTER NGOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMATTER NGO is a key partner in Emory University's surplus PPE redistribution effort coordinated by Georgia Life Sciences. MATTER received 218 pallets (116,194 pounds) of surplus PPE for global healthcare and humanitarian programs, demonstrating Georgia Life Sciences' role in facilitating international health partnerships.
• Emory UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmory University's Business Operations Department partnered with Georgia Life Sciences to redistribute approximately 1,000 pallets of surplus PPE worth $10.5 million. Georgia Bio Sciences coordinated distribution of roughly 60,000 pounds of PPE to Georgia public schools, biotech classrooms, and education networks across five Regional Education Service Agencies.
• Athens-Clarke County Academy (ACCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Life Sciences collaborated with local industry, county and state leaders, and ACCA to create the Biomanufacturing Program workforce development initiative. The partnership connects students with internships at local biomanufacturing companies, addressing workforce needs across Athens-Clarke County's growing biomanufacturing sector.
• Johnson & JohnsonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerJohnson & Johnson is a sponsor of the Startup Showcase at the Georgia Life Sciences Summit (August 25-26), highlighting early-stage innovation across MedTech and Therapeutics. J&J's external innovation team participates in the program and conducts 1:1 meetings with selected startups to discuss strategic alignment and potential collaboration opportunities.
• Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Life Sciences participates in EBRC Annual Meetings to advance the bioeconomy industry ecosystem, connecting researchers, trainees, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, investors, and policymakers to accelerate translation of engineering biology innovations into new products, companies, and economic growth.
• PULSE (Partnership for the U.S. Life Science Ecosystem)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Life Sciences is aligned with PULSE, which represents the broader U.S. life science ecosystem, advocating for pro-competitive policy reforms to support life sciences M&A and collaborations that drive American innovation.
• BioReady CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Life Sciences administers the BioReady Communities program, a statewide initiative that certifies Georgia communities as prepared for life sciences business development, providing expert advice and guidance for companies seeking locations and resources in Georgia.
• Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Life Sciences partners with LSWC (LifeSciencesWorkforce.org) to address workforce development needs across Georgia's life sciences sector, providing resources for certificate and degree programs and supporting talent pipeline initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MassBio (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council): MassBio is the leading state-level life sciences trade association for Massachusetts, offering membership, advocacy, workforce programs, and major convenings (e.g., MassBio Innovator Summit). It is the most established and best-funded state life sciences association in the U.S., making it the closest functional peer to Georgia Life Sciences.
• BioFlorida: BioFlorida serves as Florida's statewide life sciences industry association, providing advocacy, networking, and economic development support. Comparable in mission and Southeast regional orientation to Georgia Life Sciences.
• BioNJ: BioNJ is New Jersey's life sciences trade association, providing advocacy, networking, and educational programming for the state's biopharma and medical device sector. Comparable as a state-level industry association serving a major U.S. life sciences cluster.
• Life Sciences Pennsylvania: Life Sciences Pennsylvania is the statewide association for Pennsylvania's life sciences industry, offering advocacy, networking, and education. Comparable as a state-level industry trade group with a focus on biotech, pharma, and medical devices.
• MichBio: MichBio is Michigan's life sciences industry association, providing advocacy, education, and networking for biotech, pharma, medical device, and digital health members. Comparable as a state-level industry association with similar programming scope.
• NCBIO (North Carolina Biosciences Organization): NCBIO is the trade association for North Carolina's life sciences industry, with similar advocacy, workforce development, and convening functions. Comparable as a Southeast-adjacent state association with a strong biomanufacturing and CRO member base.
• iBIO (Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization): iBIO is the trade association representing Illinois's life sciences community, with advocacy, workforce, and member programming functions. Comparable as a state-level life sciences industry association with policy and workforce mandates.
• California Life Sciences: California Life Sciences is the statewide life sciences association formed from the merger of BayBio and CaBIO, serving biotech, medtech, and digital health members in California with advocacy, networking, and workforce initiatives. Directly comparable in mission, member services, and statewide advocacy scope.

Broad incumbents

• AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association): AdvaMed is the national trade association for medical device and diagnostics manufacturers, providing federal advocacy and industry convening. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the life sciences advocacy space relevant to several of Georgia Life Sciences' member segments.
• BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization): BIO is the national trade association for the biotechnology industry, providing federal advocacy, the BIO International Convention, and broad member services. Comparable as the umbrella national industry body, but operates at much greater scale and geographic scope than Georgia Life Sciences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/georgia_bio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Bio