Iowa Biotechnology Association

What Iowa Biotechnology Association does

The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association founded in 1994 and headquartered at 500 East Court Avenue, Suite 112, Des Moines, Iowa. IowaBio represents more than 100 member companies across Iowa's bioscience ecosystem spanning human and animal health, food and agriculture, biofuels, and environmental biotechnology, alongside universities, colleges, service providers, and state and federal associations. Its core products and services are organized around five pillars: a tiered membership program, the Biovantage discount program, recurring events and networking (notably the Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference and Annual Golf Outing), state and federal legislative advocacy, and STEM workforce development through the Future Biotech Leaders Fund and scholarship pipeline.

IowaBio's revenue mechanics are anchored on two streams: recurring membership dues from biotech companies, universities, and service providers (subscription model, pricing not publicly disclosed), and affiliate/referral economics from the Biovantage program, which aggregates member discounts on lab supplies (Fisher Scientific, Avantor/VWR), courier services (UPS), office supplies (Amazon Business), insurance (AssuredPartners), and corporate cards (BREX). Go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-led, leveraging an annual calendar (golf outing, baseball social, IBSC, annual member meeting) plus digital channels including monthly newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), and Vimeo. IowaBio does not develop proprietary technology; its delivery platform is a member portal (members.iowabio.org) operated on the GrowthZone association management system.

Operating with 1-10 employees, IowaBio is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Jessica Hyland. Recent strategic moves include a 2026 joint leadership arrangement with BioConnect Iowa, a September 2025 Memorandum of Understanding with India's Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), and a 2024 Ag Startup Engine partnership embedding a $25,000 pitch investment at the IBSC conference. The organization has issued annual Iowa Biotech Leader Awards since at least 2022 and operates the Future Biotech Leaders Fund (established 2021) via the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.

Name

Iowa Biotechnology Association

Legal name

Iowa Biotechnology Association

Website

https://iowabio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association founded in 1994 in Des Moines, Iowa, representing 100+ member companies across the state's human and animal health, agricultural, biofuels, and environmental biotechnology sectors through membership dues, the Biovantage vendor discount program, legislative advocacy, events, and STEM education initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from biotech companies, universities, colleges, associations, and service companies across Iowa's life sciences ecosystem.
2. Biovantage Program: Partnership program offering discounted lab supplies, office supplies, lab design/build-outs, insurance, and courier services through vendor partnerships like Fisher Scientific, UPS, Amazon Business, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) is a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association founded in 1994 that serves as the statewide voice for Iowa's biotechnology industry. It provides membership services, advocacy, networking events, and STEM education programs to more than 100 biotech companies, universities, and service organizations across Iowa.

Product overview

The Iowa Biotechnology Association is a non-profit, membership-based organization founded in 1994 that provides benefits and services to promote the interests and growth of life sciences industries in Iowa. Its portfolio consists of a membership program offering networking, advocacy, and business development services; the Biovantage Program providing discounted lab supplies and business services through vendor partnerships; legislative advocacy at state and federal levels; and STEM education initiatives including scholarships, workplace experiences, and support for science fairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IowaBio: Shortened trade name for the Iowa Biotechnology Association used in marketing and communications
• Future Biotech Leaders Fund
• Future Biotech Leaders Scholarship
• Iowa Biotech Showcase and Conference (IBSC)

Products and services

• IowaBio Membership Program Annual membership program providing biotechnology companies, universities, and service organizations with advocacy representation, networking opportunities, and access to industry resources in Iowa.
• BioVantage Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 member companies represented across Iowa's biotechnology industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Iowa Office of InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2026Co-host of the Biotechnology Reception on September 2, 2026, bringing together Iowa's biotech innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry partners for networking at the University of Iowa BioVentures Center in Coralville.
• BioConnect IowacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026BioConnect Iowa and the Iowa Biotechnology Association announced a joint service arrangement to share leadership, combining their resources to better serve Iowa's biotechnology ecosystem and strengthen the state's bioscience industry voice.
• Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025IowaBio and ABLE signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2025 establishing a formal long-term collaboration to foster growth and success of biotechnology industries in Iowa and India, highlighting common missions and interests in a thriving biotechnology economy.
• India's Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024During Governor Reynolds' India trade mission, a MoU was signed between IowaBio and ABLE representing various industries including agribiotech and industrial biotech fields.
• Community Foundation of Greater Des MoinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines manages the Future Biotech Leaders Fund, a charitable initiative established by IowaBio in 2021 to support STEM education across Iowa through scholarships, stipends, and programming.
• CJ Bio AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonor to the Future Biotech Leaders Fund supporting STEM education initiatives.
• Fisher ScientificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiovantage program partner and donor to the Future Biotech Leaders Fund, offering discounted lab supplies to IowaBio members.
• KENT CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonor to the Future Biotech Leaders Fund supporting STEM education initiatives in Iowa.
• Fisher ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiovantage program partner offering discounted lab supplies and equipment to IowaBio members.
• Avantor by VWRminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiovantage program partner offering discounted lab supplies to IowaBio members.
• UPSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIowaBio's sole vendor for lab courier services through the Biovantage program, offering up to 70% savings on UPS Next Day Air services and up to 65% on international services.
• Amazon BusinessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiovantage program partner offering discounted office supplies to IowaBio members.
• AssuredPartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBiovantage program partner offering discounted insurance services to IowaBio members.
• BREXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial corporate card of BIO through the Biovantage program, offering streamlined reporting, rewards, and controls for life sciences customers including 3x points on lab equipment.
• Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowaBio was appointed to the Governor's STEM Advisory Council in September 2011 by Executive Order 74. The council, led by Executive Director Jeff Weld, aims to increase STEM interest and achievement in Iowa through collaboration of legislators, educators, business, nonprofits, students and families.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iowabio
• Facebookfacebook.com/IowaBio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Iowa Biotechnology Association