New Brunswick, N.J. — In a major step to accelerate life sciences innovation in New Jersey, Portal Innovations has been selected to design and manage a 30,000-square-foot lab and incubator space at the HELIX NJ Innovation Hub in New Brunswick. The announcement marks a strategic partnership aimed at supporting early-stage biotech and health startups emerging from top research institutions such as Rutgers, Princeton, and NJIT.
Portal Innovations, a Chicago-based venture development firm, is known for providing “Crafted Capital”—a blend of seed funding, cutting-edge lab space, specialized equipment, and business expertise—to early-stage life sciences companies. The firm has already helped over 90 startups advance scientific breakthroughs toward commercialization.
At HELIX NJ, Portal will operate the incubator space located in H-1, the first of three buildings that will make up the 1.6 million-square-foot Health & Life Science Exchange. The facility will feature wet and dry labs, private offices, and collaborative workspaces, along with programming designed to connect entrepreneurs with investors, pharmaceutical partners, and global innovation networks.
“New Jersey is the state of innovation,” said Governor Phil Murphy, celebrating the move as part of the state’s broader strategy to lead in fields ranging from life sciences to artificial intelligence. “HELIX NJ is the perfect home for Portal Innovations as they expand their impact.”
The HELIX NJ initiative is being spearheaded by the New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) in partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Rutgers University, Hackensack Meridian Health, RWJBarnabas Health, and Middlesex County. The hub’s strategic location near major research institutions and metro areas like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston offers access to a vast talent pool and academic infrastructure.
“Portal’s presence at HELIX will play a critical role in our efforts to drive new technologies and create long-term economic growth,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. “New Jersey has long been a leader in life sciences, and this partnership strengthens our innovation ecosystem.”
John Flavin, Founder and CEO of Portal Innovations, noted that the partnership aligns with Portal’s mission to “enable faster scientific breakthroughs for patients” by supporting startups at the earliest stages. “We’re honored to be part of this next chapter for New Jersey’s innovation economy,” he said.
Christopher Paladino, President of DEVCO, added that Portal is the ideal partner to help fulfill HELIX NJ’s mission of fostering collaboration across startups, researchers, and major biopharma companies. “This is about building a space where discovery turns into impact—locally and globally.”
The second HELIX NJ building, H-2, is already under construction and will house the new Nokia Bell Labs. As the innovation district grows, HELIX NJ is expected to serve as a national model for how academic institutions, venture capital, and public-private partnerships can drive next-generation health and biotech innovation.
