New Orleans BioInnovation Center
A nonprofit life sciences incubator in New Orleans. It offers free commercialization consulting, lab and office space, an early-stage biotech fund and an international pitch competition.
New Orleans BioInnovation Center at a glance
| Established | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Address | 1441 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 |
| Programmes | 4 standing programmes |
| Fees | 2 of 3 programmes that state a policy are free |
| Official website | neworleansbio.com |
| info@neworleansbio.com |
Which New Orleans BioInnovation Center programme fits you
4 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercialization Team: free consulting | Startups developing biotech, digital health or clean technologies | — | — | — | Free |
| BioChallenge | Life sciences and neurotechnology startups able to travel to New Orleans | — | — | — | Free |
| New Orleans BioFund | Early-stage small businesses in Louisiana, especially biotechnology | — | — | — | — |
| BioFellows | Students and PhD candidates interested in biotech and venture capital | — | — | — | Paid |
Track record
What New Orleans BioInnovation Center reports about its portfolio.
All figures self-reported — neworleansbio.com, as of Oct 2026.
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at New Orleans BioInnovation Center, separate from the funding calls above.
Commercialization Team: free consulting
IncubationFree consulting on company planning, market research, intellectual property and financing for biotech, digital health and clean-technology startups.
Best for: Startups developing biotech, digital health or clean technologies
- Free
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
NOBIC's Commercialization team offers free consulting to assess promising new technologies and then move them toward the market.
What you get
- Business planning, including business plans, financial forecasts and valuations
- Market research and go-to-market strategy
- Intellectual property support, including invention disclosure and freedom-to-operate searches
- Grant application reviews and pitch deck coaching
- Seminars and networking events on legal, financing and regulatory topics
How to apply: Fill out the intake form linked from the Commercialization page.
BioChallenge
CompetitionA pitch competition for life sciences startups, with cash prizes and a travel stipend for finalists.
Best for: Life sciences and neurotechnology startups able to travel to New Orleans
- Free
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
BioChallenge is NOBIC's pitch competition for life sciences startups with new technologies. The 2026 theme is neuroscience, and the event takes place on October 29, 2026 in New Orleans. Six finalists were announced to compete for cash prizes.
Who can apply: Life sciences startups, including biotechnology, digital health, neurotechnology and life science companies. Applicants must travel to New Orleans to compete, and travel stipends are provided.
How to apply: The 2026 application deadline was August 1. Check the BioChallenge page for the next cycle.
An early-stage investment fund for bioscience and health innovation companies in Louisiana.
Best for: Early-stage small businesses in Louisiana, especially biotechnology
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The New Orleans BioFund is part of NOBIC. It invests in early-stage companies with strong potential for economic and community impact, with a special emphasis on biotechnology. It describes its capital as flexible and founder-friendly, for hiring specialised staff, buying equipment and reaching milestones.
Who can apply: Small businesses in Louisiana. The BioFund was started with federal and state community development funding.
How to apply: Use the Apply link on the BioFund section of the NOBIC website. The application form was not read for this page.
BioFellows
FellowshipA paid part-time fellowship at the intersection of biotech, venture capital and startup building.
Best for: Students and PhD candidates interested in biotech and venture capital
- Paid
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
NOBIC BioFellows is a paid fellowship for students and early-career researchers. Fellows learn about investing and startup due diligence, work alongside the Center's teams, and take part in BioChallenge and conferences.
What you get: Venture capital and investment analysis experience, mentorship, networking and exposure to life science commercialization.
Fellowship terms: Fall, spring and summer semesters, at 20 hours per week around school schedules. Pay is hourly. The fellowship can be extended by mutual agreement.
Labs & facilities
Equipment and space on campus.
Wet-lab space for lease
Shared core lab
Office suites
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
How to apply to New Orleans BioInnovation Center
Choosing the right route
NOBIC has four different routes. If you need help with a technology, a business plan or grant applications, start with the Commercialization team. If you are raising early capital, look at the BioFund. If you are building a life sciences company with a pitch ready, look at BioChallenge. If you are a student who wants to work in the field, look at BioFellows.
How applications work
- Commercialization: fill in the intake form linked from the Commercialization page.
- BioFund: use the Apply link on the BioFund section of the website.
- BioChallenge: check the BioChallenge page for the current cycle. The 2026 application deadline was August 1.
- BioFellows: the application route was not stated on the page we read. Contact the Center at info@neworleansbio.com.
What reviewers look for
The pages do not publish selection criteria. For BioChallenge, the 2026 theme was neuroscience. For the BioFund, the page highlights companies with strong potential for economic and community impact.
About New Orleans BioInnovation Center
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center, usually called NOBIC, is a nonprofit business incubator in New Orleans, Louisiana. It supports companies in life sciences, environmental technology and medical fields, with a focus on biotechnology. The Center was established in 2011 and is based at 1441 Canal Street, in the Medical District.
How its programmes work
NOBIC runs four main offers. Its Commercialization team gives free consulting to help startups plan their company, test their market, review intellectual property and prepare for financing. A New Orleans BioFund invests in early-stage bioscience and health companies. BioChallenge is a pitch competition for life sciences startups, and the 2026 edition has a neuroscience theme. BioFellows is a paid fellowship for students and early-career researchers who want to learn about venture capital and startup building.
Who can apply
The Commercialization team works with startups developing biotech, digital health and clean technologies. The BioFund invests in local small businesses, with an emphasis on biotechnology. BioChallenge is open to life sciences startups, and the 2026 competition required applicants to travel to New Orleans to compete. BioFellows is aimed at students, including PhD candidates.
Facilities
The Center's building is an incubator at 1441 Canal Street. It offers wet-lab spaces, lab benches, office suites and meeting rooms for lease. A shared core lab gives tenant companies access to research equipment, and a 100-person conference centre is available for events.
Scale
NOBIC's impact page says that in less than ten years it has seen the creation of more than 225 new companies and 650+ high-wage jobs. It also reports that client startups have gone on to raise substantial funding. These are the Center's own figures and have not been independently checked.
Who runs it
Kris Khalil is Executive Director of the Center and Managing Director of the New Orleans BioFund. The board includes senior figures from Tulane University, LSU Health Sciences New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana and Louisiana Economic Development.
Locations
The Center is at 1441 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. Its general inbox is info@neworleansbio.com.
Get in touch
Send a message to New Orleans BioInnovation Center — we'll forward it on your behalf.
Who they work with
Stage
Frequently asked questions about New Orleans BioInnovation Center
What is New Orleans BioInnovation Center?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center is an incubator based in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What does New Orleans BioInnovation Center do?
The New Orleans BioInnovation Center, usually called NOBIC, is a nonprofit business incubator in New Orleans, Louisiana. It supports companies in life sciences, environmental technology and medical fields, with a focus on biotechnology.
Where is New Orleans BioInnovation Center located?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center is located at 1441 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112.
What programs does New Orleans BioInnovation Center run?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center runs Commercialization Team: free consulting, BioChallenge, New Orleans BioFund and BioFellows.
Do New Orleans BioInnovation Center programmes charge a fee?
Most do not. Commercialization Team: free consulting and BioChallenge are free to join, while BioFellows charges a fee.
Does New Orleans BioInnovation Center provide funding?
Selected startups in some New Orleans BioInnovation Center programmes can receive grant support, including BioChallenge. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What stage of startup does New Orleans BioInnovation Center support?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center supports startups at the Ideation, Validation and Early Revenue stages.
What facilities does New Orleans BioInnovation Center offer?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center offers Wet-lab space for lease, Shared core lab and Office suites.
How do I apply to New Orleans BioInnovation Center?
NOBIC has four different routes. If you need help with a technology, a business plan or grant applications, start with the Commercialization team. If you are raising early capital, look at the BioFund. If you are building a life sciences company with a pitch ready, look at BioChallenge. If you are a student who wants to work in the field, look at BioFellows.
When was New Orleans BioInnovation Center founded?
New Orleans BioInnovation Center was founded in 2011. It is an incubator.
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