BioLabs Expands to Rochester, Minnesota, in Strategic Collaboration with Mayo Clinic and others to Accelerate HealthTech Innovation
(Rochester, Minn.) October 15, 2025 – Today, BioLabs, the premier international innovation platform and operator of a network of shared laboratory spaces for life science startups, was officially welcomed to Rochester, Minnesota. BioLabs’ expansion into the Midwest, known as BioLabs Rochester, MN, includes a new 16,000-square-foot facility in Two Discovery Square. Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, Destination Medical Center (DMC), the City of Rochester, and Mortenson, with JLL supporting the leasing, the announcement was made at a Welcome Reception in Discovery Square in Rochester, MN.
Slated to open in late 2026, the Rochester site marks BioLabs’ first location in the Midwest and will offer flexible, turnkey lab and office space for early-stage biotech and HealthTech companies. The facility will be located in Discovery Square—an emerging innovation district within walking distance of Mayo Clinic’s flagship campus.
“This new BioLabs site will strengthen Minnesota’s position as a global leader in HealthTech,” said Governor Tim Walz. “Mayo Clinic is a magnet for top talent and innovation, and this project amplifies our state’s commitment to next-generation discovery.”
BioLabs Rochester will enable companies to scale efficiently without large upfront investments in lab infrastructure. Startups will gain access to state-of-the-art lab equipment, on-site support services, and a vibrant innovation community anchored by Mayo Clinic.
“Mayo Clinic is committed to accelerating discovery and fostering an environment where science, clinical care, and entrepreneurship thrive,” said Dr. Janani Reisenauer, Medical Director for Research Innovation, Business Development at Mayo Clinic. “BioLabs’ presence reinforces that commitment and will help translate discoveries into real-world therapies.”
“It is our privilege to work with an amazing group of stakeholders in Rochester,” said Johannes Fruehauf, Founder and CEO at BioLabs. “We are proud to be part of their mission to expand access to state-of-the-art facilities for scientists and entrepreneurs in the Minnesota ecosystem. Like all of our sites, the Rochester site will be designed to stimulate creative interaction, collaboration, and community with the extraordinary bonus of offering access to Mayo Clinic’s world-class scientific capabilities.”
“BioLabs will be a tremendous asset for Rochester and a key part of our innovation economy,” said Rochester Mayor Kim Norton. “We’re excited to welcome this project and the innovators it will attract.”
“This announcement delivers on the original vision of the Destination Medical Center—to make Rochester a destination for innovation,” added Patrick Seeb, Executive Director of DMC. “This facility is not just infrastructure—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of HealthTech breakthroughs.”
The project is expected to attract global innovators and investors looking to engage with Minnesota’s MedTech leadership—centered in Medical Alley, the world’s most concentrated cluster of medical device and health innovation companies.
“Discovery Square has been a critical part of fulfilling the DMC vision by being a center of innovation and an economic engine that attracts new companies and entrepreneurs to Rochester, said David Mortenson, chairman of Mortenson. “The addition of BioLabs creates the opportunity to substantially accelerate that momentum.”
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About DMC
Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota's history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to live, work and play in America's City for Health. For more information, visit dmc.mn.
About BioLabs
A membership-based innovation platform and network of shared laboratories, BioLabs offers beautifully designed coworking environments that pair fully equipped and supported lab, office and event spaces with relevant programming and unparalleled access to capital and industry partners. These fertile, supportive ecosystems allow young companies to shift their focus from startup operations to experimentation and innovation so they can reach their scientific potential quickly and achieve business success. Companies can start with a single lab bench and scale up as they grow. The expanding BioLabs network currently operates labs in the US: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont; in Europe, Paris and Saclay, France, Heidelberg, Munich and Berlin, Germany; and, in Kawasaki, Japan. Learn more at www.biolabs.io.