BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) was proud to join innovators, resource partners, and public officials at the first-ever BioConnect event—a new platform designed to foster collaboration across Montgomery County’s life sciences community. Held at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) in North Bethesda, the event was co-hosted by Montgomery County, MCEDC, and UM-IHC, and marks the start of a recurring series aimed at deepening connections between startups, investors, and regional stakeholders.
BHI’s Executives-in-Residence Luis Gutiérrez, and Jennifer Butler attended the event alongside Montgomery County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-Gonzalez, offering an opportunity to express appreciation for the County’s continued support of the BHI EIR program and broader innovation infrastructure.
The event featured an in-depth presentation on UM-IHC’s mission to build a learning health system for the state, powered by artificial intelligence, real-time health data, and advanced computing. Funded through a $70 million partnership between the County, the State of Maryland, and the University System of Maryland, UM-IHC is at the forefront of integrating research, computation, and patient outcomes.
“Events like BioConnect reflect the growing strength of our regional ecosystem,” said Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation. “Bringing together startup founders, investors, elected leaders, and institutional partners in one room is how progress gets made—and BHI is proud to support these efforts and contribute to their long-term success.”
The April 10th gathering concluded with dedicated networking among life sciences companies and resource partners, reinforcing Montgomery County’s role as a national leader in biotech commercialization and innovation-driven economic growth.
As BioConnect will continue as a recurring series, BHI looks forward to building new partnerships and helping companies scale through strategic commercialization support and deep ecosystem engagement.