Rowen Foundation

What Rowen Foundation does

Rowen Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 2020 that owns and stewards Rowen, a 2,000-acre master-planned knowledge community in Gwinnett County, Georgia, located on University Parkway (State Route 316) approximately 35 miles from Atlanta, Athens, and Gainesville. The foundation operates as a public-private partnership with Gwinnett County and the Development Authority, which provides loan financing repaid as land is sold. Phase 1 infrastructure was completed in 2024, delivering 800 acres of fully entitled land with utilities, two miles of Greenroads-certified complete streets, smart city infrastructure, and preserved greenspace. Remaining 1,200 acres are scheduled for development over a 30+ year buildout horizon, targeting up to 100,000 jobs and $8-10 billion in annual Georgia economic impact at full scale.

The foundation's core offering consists of entitled real estate parcels (low-density designations L1, L2, L11 and medium-density M1-M18) sold or leased under flexible deal structures — direct land sales, long-term ground leases, and joint ventures with developers. Target tenant segments include biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, agricultural technology firms, environmental technology and clean energy companies, medical device makers, and enabling-technology providers in AI, robotics, and microelectronics. The Living Lab Platform — formalized through April 2024 agreements with the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia — provides a collaborative research framework spanning electric mobility, smart city technologies, and environmental stewardship. The Convergence Center, with groundbreaking planned for Fall 2026, will anchor Rowen Village as a mixed-use hub for education and community programming.

Revenue mechanics rely on one-time land sales and recurring ground lease income, augmented by joint venture participation and loan repayment flows to Gwinnett County. UCB's announced $2 billion biologics manufacturing campus in March 2026 — spanning 460,000 square feet on 79 acres and expected to create 330+ jobs — represents the first major private tenant and the largest capital investment in Gwinnett County history. Marketing and tenant acquisition occur through direct enterprise sales, site selector relationships, economic development partnerships (Georgia Department of Economic Development, Partnership Gwinnett, Metro Atlanta Chamber), and an active events calendar including the annual Convergence Summit and Rowen Ramble community events. The foundation's nonprofit, mission-driven governance model is positioned as a structural differentiator for long-term vision preservation and stakeholder alignment versus conventional developer-led projects.

Name

Rowen Foundation

Legal name

Rowen Foundation

Website

https://rowenlife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rowen Foundation is an independent nonprofit that owns and stewards Rowen, a 2,000-acre master-planned knowledge community in Gwinnett County, Georgia, selling and leasing entitled land parcels to biopharma, agtech, environmental technology, and medical device companies through flexible deal structures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Master-planned Innovation District Real Estate

NAICS

Other Activities Related to Real Estate (531390), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Master-planned knowledge community
• Innovation district development
• Biotech research park
• Life sciences real estate
• Sustainable infrastructure projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Gwinnett County

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Land Sales: Rowen sells entitled land parcels to qualifying businesses and developers. The foundation offers flexible deal structures including land sales for companies building their own facilities.
2. Ground Leases: Long-term ground lease arrangements for companies preferring not to own land outright, providing flexibility for tenants while generating recurring revenue for the foundation.
3. Joint Ventures: Joint venture partnerships with developers and operators for specific parcels or facilities within the Rowen knowledge community.
4. Loan Agreement Funding: Rowen receives funding through a Loan Agreement with the Development Authority of Gwinnett County. As land is sold, the Foundation repays the loan plus 2% annual interest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Rowen Foundation operates and stewards a 2,000-acre master-planned knowledge community in Gwinnett County, Georgia, providing entitled land parcels, long-term ground leases, and joint venture opportunities to life sciences, agricultural technology, and environmental technology companies. The foundation offers purpose-built infrastructure including Greenroads-certified roadways, smart city utilities, and a Living Lab platform that enables collaborative academic-industry research. Revenue is generated through direct land sales, ground leases, and joint venture partnerships with developers and operators.

Product overview

Rowen Foundation operates a single unified offering - the Rowen Knowledge Community - a 2,000-acre master-planned innovation district. The core product includes developable real estate parcels (L1, L2, L11 for low-density; M1-M18 for medium-density), Rowen Village as the central mixed-use hub, and the Living Lab Platform for academic-industry research partnerships. The Convergence Center (groundbreaking planned Fall 2026) will anchor educational and community programming. Rowen provides end-to-end innovation support services including site selection, incentive coordination, and workforce development connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rowen Knowledge Community A 2,000-acre master-planned innovation district in Metro Atlanta featuring offices, research facilities, collaboration spaces, and preserved greenspace for knowledge-based businesses in agriculture, medicine, and environmental sciences.
• Rowen Village

Quantifiable outcome

• $5 billion total economic impact from UCB project over 6-7 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• UCBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026First major tenant at Rowen - global biopharmaceutical company investing $2 billion in biologics manufacturing campus. Expected to create 330+ jobs and generate $5 billion in total economic impact. Campus spans 460,000 square feet on 79 acres.
• University System of Georgia / Technical College System of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2024Living lab agreements signed in April 2024 enabling collaborative research on Rowen site. First project involves UGA, Georgia Gwinnett College and Gwinnett Technical College creating programs for electric mobility, energy and infrastructure industries.
• Gwinnett CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between the Rowen Foundation and Gwinnett County to develop the 2,000-acre knowledge community. Gwinnett County provides funding through a Loan Agreement with the Development Authority of Gwinnett County, with the Foundation repaying the loan plus 2% annual interest as land is sold. County committed $174 million in incentives and infrastructure investments for UCB project.
• University of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partnership driving agricultural and environmental sciences research. UGA's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences conducts pioneering research in plant sciences, food safety and environmental resource management with $43.8 million in external funding. UGA is developing a new School of Medicine in Athens. Partnership includes living lab agreements and collaborative academic programs.
• Georgia Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Georgia Tech brings world-class expertise in civil and environmental engineering (ranked Top 10 in U.S.) and biomedical engineering (No. 2 nationally). Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) advances agricultural technology through robotics, automation and imaging. GTRI awarded record $941 million in research sponsorships in 2023.
• Emory UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Emory University, ranked among Top 25 by U.S. News & World Report, brings health sciences and environmental research excellence. Emory's Winship Cancer Institute has attracted billions in federal funding. Partnership includes Emory's Center for AI Learning for AI literacy initiatives. Joint Biomedical Engineering program with Georgia Tech ranked No. 2 nationally.
• Spelman CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with No. 1 HBCU in the nation for over 17 years. Spelman provides pipeline for Black women in STEM with biochemistry and biology programs that produced 104 doctoral graduates in biomedical sciences over the past decade. 90% of faculty have doctoral degrees.
• Georgia Gwinnett CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Georgia Gwinnett College, the first four-year public college created in the U.S. in the 21st century. Ranked most ethnically diverse Southern regional college for 11+ years by U.S. News & World Report. Offers programs in environmental science, health science, biology and chemistry.
• Georgia Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partnership promoting accountability, public engagement, and community growth. GDEcd provides tax credits and incentive programs including Georgia Job Tax Credit, Quality Jobs Tax Credit, R&D Tax Credit, and Quick Start workforce training program.
• Georgia PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Georgia Power, Georgia's largest electric utility, provides infrastructure and power services. Georgia Power ranked top in customer satisfaction among electrical utility companies in the South by JD Power 2024.
• Metro Atlanta ChambercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership for economic development and business attraction. Collaboration on InnovATL series and Convergence Summit events to promote Rowen and the broader Atlanta region to prospective businesses and investors.
• Partnership GwinnettcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Gwinnett County's economic development organization for business attraction, talent recruitment, and regional marketing. Partnership Gwinnett drives revitalization through Community Improvement Districts.
• University System of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving lab agreement signed with University System of Georgia allowing utilization of Rowen site for research and educational needs. Partnership enables collaborative programs between institutions, industry partners, and students.
• Technical College System of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving lab agreement enabling technical college students and faculty to utilize Rowen site for research and workforce training. Partnership supports electric mobility, energy and infrastructure industry workforce development.
• UGA Georgia Network for Electric MobilitykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UGA's Georgia Network for Electric Mobility to strengthen innovation ecosystem. Activities include autonomous mobility, in-road charging, smart city technologies, environmental stewardship, and workforce development.
• Curiosity Lab at Peachtree CornerskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 5G-enabled living lab at Peachtree Corners for development of cutting-edge e-mobility solutions in smart city environment. Creates experiential learning opportunities for researchers and students.
• National Science Foundation - Innovation Engine GrantkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRowen participates in NSF Innovation Engine Grant - a multistate public-private initiative focused on user-inspired research, innovation and workforce development in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
• Atlanta Regional CommissionkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Atlanta Regional Commission for regional planning and transportation improvements. ARC completed Development of Regional Impact (DRI) analysis for Rowen assessing transportation improvements needed over next 10-15 years.
• McKessonkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare distribution company with 400 employees in Duluth, GA region. Contributes to healthcare and life sciences ecosystem in the Rowen Region.
• AGCOkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal agricultural equipment company headquartered in Duluth, GA developing smart farming technologies. Supports agricultural innovation ecosystem aligned with Rowen's programmatic drivers.
• Children's Healthcare of AtlantakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor pediatric healthcare system nationally ranked in four specialties by U.S. News & World Report 2024. Recently opened $1.5 billion, 446-bed hospital 25 minutes from Rowen.
• Emory HealthcarekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmory University Hospital ranked No. 1 in Georgia and metro Atlanta for 13 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Provides clinical research and healthcare innovation partnerships.
• Northside HospitalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthside Hospital Gwinnett (388-bed Level II trauma center in Lawrenceville) ranked among 15 Best Hospitals in Georgia. Contributes to healthcare ecosystem and clinical trial capabilities.
• Piedmont HealthcarekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system in Georgia providing clinical care and research partnerships supporting Rowen's life sciences ecosystem.
• SK BatterykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric vehicle battery manufacturer driving e-mobility innovation with strategic partnerships with leading automakers like Ford and Hyundai. Supports Rowen's clean energy and sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Research Triangle Park Foundation: North Carolina-based nonprofit foundation that develops and operates one of the largest research parks in the United States. The most direct functional peer: Rowen CEO Mason Ailstock was previously COO at RTP, and both organizations steward master-planned innovation districts with university, industry, and government partnerships.
• Pegasus Park: Dallas-based life sciences and social impact innovation campus developed by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and J. Small Investments. Directly comparable as a multi-anchor mixed-use innovation district targeting biotech, agtech, and social impact tenants with a foundation governance model.
• Cummings Research Park: One of the largest research parks in the United States located in Huntsville, Alabama. Comparable as a large-acreage master-planned research park hosting biotech, aerospace, and technology tenants with university and government research partnerships.
• University City Science Center: Philadelphia-based nonprofit research park connecting universities, startups, and corporations. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit that operates research and innovation infrastructure facilitating university-industry collaboration, similar to Rowen's Living Lab platform.
• The University Financing Foundation (TUFF): Atlanta-based nonprofit financing organization that advises on university-anchored real estate developments. Most directly comparable as a peer nonprofit entity - Rowen CEO Mason Ailstock was previously VP of Operations at TUFF, which manages assets in excess of $1.5 billion including Georgia Tech's Tech Square and other university innovation districts.

Emerging players

• BIOGENERATOR: St. Louis-based nonprofit bioscience startup creator and operator of 39 North, a plant and life sciences innovation district. Comparable as a nonprofit-led innovation ecosystem focused on bioscience company formation with anchor research institution partnerships.
• Cornell Tech (Bloomberg Center / Roosevelt Island campus): Cornell University's applied sciences and technology campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City. Comparable as a university-anchored innovation district that integrates research, graduate education, and industry partnerships on a purpose-built campus.

Broad incumbents

• Alexandria Real Estate Equities: Public REIT specializing in life sciences office and laboratory campuses in major innovation clusters including South Lake Union (Seattle), Mission Bay (San Francisco), and Cambridge (Boston). Comparable as a major operator of purpose-built life sciences real estate, though Alexandria is a for-profit public company and serves as the established incumbent that Rowen competes against.

Regional players

• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit supporting robotics, AI, and life sciences startup creation. Comparable as a nonprofit innovation intermediary, though focused on venture development rather than real estate stewardship; relevant for understanding regional innovation ecosystem models.

Others

• Brandery: Cincinnati-based nonprofit startup accelerator. Tangentially comparable as a nonprofit-led innovation intermediary supporting founder development and corporate partnerships, though operating in a different region and focused on accelerator services rather than real estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/masonailstock

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Rowen Foundation