BioBuzz

Virginia’s life sciences ecosystem is entering a defining moment.

With growing momentum across biohealth, advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, startup formation, and venture investment, the Commonwealth has a real opportunity to build something distinct: not another Boston, RTP, or New Jersey, but a more connected life sciences ecosystem where founders can move from discovery to company formation, commercialization, and scale without leaving Virginia.

In this episode of *What’s the Buzz?!*, BioBuzz Founder & CEO Chris Frew sits down with Michael Steele, President & CEO of Activation Capital, to talk about what it takes to turn promising science into scalable companies.

The conversation will explore Activation Capital’s role as Virginia’s life sciences innovation authority, its continuum of founder support through Basecamp, Pathfinder, Frontier BioHealth, and Pioneer Connect, and why programs, mentorship, capital, infrastructure, and community all matter in helping entrepreneurs navigate the path from concept to commercialization.

For founders, researchers, investors, ecosystem builders, and life sciences leaders watching Virginia’s next chapter, this conversation will unpack what is being built, why it matters now, and how Activation Capital is helping shape the future of biohealth innovation in the Commonwealth.