Pasadena BioCollaborative Incubator Marks 22 Years and Welcomes 100th Company

Pasadena Bioscience (Photo – City of Pasadena)

Pasadena is celebrating a major milestone in its growing life sciences and innovation ecosystem as the Pasadena BioCollaborative Incubator (PBC) reaches 22 years of operation and officially welcomes its 100th company. The achievement underscores the city’s long-standing commitment to supporting scientific research, cultivating entrepreneurial talent, and strengthening its position as a regional hub for breakthrough technologies.

By News Desk

For more than two decades, the PBC has played a central role in Pasadena’s innovation landscape by offering laboratory space, hands‑on training, and business support for emerging biotech and environmental technology startups. Its programs have helped attract high‑impact companies, develop local scientific talent, and fuel the city’s expanding innovation pipeline.

The incubator’s newest member, VelvEtch, becomes the 100th company to join the program. The startup is developing new bio‑compatible polymers with potential applications in drug delivery, implantable sensors, and neural interface technologies. Its arrival reflects the increasing concentration of early‑stage scientific ventures choosing Pasadena as the place to build transformative solutions.

The milestone will be celebrated during Innovate Pasadena’s Connect Week on April 15, in partnership with the City of Pasadena’s Economic Development Division and regional tech and development partners. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and community leaders to highlight the momentum of Pasadena’s life sciences sector and its growing network of innovators.

Economic Development Director David Klug emphasized the importance of the sector, noting that Pasadena’s life sciences industry remains a cornerstone of the city’s innovation economy and that the PBC continues to play a critical role in supporting early‑stage companies and advancing breakthrough technologies.

PBC President Eric Duyshart called the milestone an exciting moment for both the incubator and the broader scientific community, expressing gratitude for the companies and institutional partners that have contributed to its mission of supporting entrepreneurs and training individuals pursuing laboratory careers.

Registration for the April 15 celebration and all Connect Week events is available at Luma.com/InnovatePasadena.

Connect Week Schedule

• Sunday, 4/12, 4:00 pm – VIP Kickoff Reception
• Monday, 4/13, 6:00 pm – Pasadena Innovation Showcase
• Tuesday, 4/14, 2:00 pm – Quantum Day Pasadena
• Tuesday, 4/14, 6:00 pm – The Climate Cost of AI
• Wednesday, 4/15, 4:30 pm – Deep Tech Crawl
• Thursday, 4/16, 6:00 pm – Pasadena Tech Happy Hour