Bio on the Bay Launches

Chris Frew launched Bio on the Bay during a recession when the Baltimore area had lost 1,000+ jobs. At the time, there were no life sciences groups focused on jobseekers and he saw a need and felt a calling to support. His goal and vision then has been the foundation of BioBuzz from the start: to build a more connected workforce and collaborative community.

We're on to Something...

The first Bio on the Bay event might have solidified our mission, but the next few events solidified our why.

We had hundreds of attendees every month, with dozens of people getting jobs as a result. But our meetups were creating more than just an opportunity and a space for candidates and employers to meet. In an industry built on trust, our events were creating a trusted space for conversations ultimately building a connected community.

The Voice of the BioHealth Capital Region

Fast forward to 2016 and the region-wide effort to better brand the MD/DC/VA ecosystem to gain national notoriety. Chris Frew and BioBuzz alongside countless others, were front and center as integral parts of the discussion. 

It was identified that a lot of silos exist in the ecosystem and there was no singular voice focused on celebrating the successes, innovators, companies, and ultimately the workforce in the region. 

So when Steve Case, Founder of AOL, shared “Every successful ecosystem needs a strong media partner to celebrate the entrepreneurs and businesses, and to tell their stories” during a presentation at an Anchor Ventures event, sponsored by TEDCO, it clicked for Chris Frew. And thus, BioBuzz's media arm was born to be the voice for the BioHealth Capital Region.

Workforce Genetics Launches

Marketing, sales and branding were becoming more prevalent in the talent acquisition process. And so, Workforce Genetics (WGx) launched to create a better system to do the work and the outreach, complimenting BioBuzz's media and events focus. WGx's goal was to have a product as a service - to go beyond the region. And thus our perpetual beta continued with employer branding audits, consulting, talent pipelining, and the list goes on.

BioBuzz.io Launches

BioBuzz.io launches as a true media platform, growing from an events-only organization to real-time, digital media coverage. 

Adam Van Bavel, Co-Founder and Head of Business Development, played a pivotal role in this.

But the launch of our website was so much more than just a milestone. BioBuzz also incorporated at this time, becoming the official entity that we are today.

Our Inaugural Awards

Our Annual Awards were created out of the desire to celebrate the success’ in industry, despite the trying times of the pandemic. Of course, they HAD to be Reader’s Choice Awards, showcasing our desire and continuous priority to listen to our community and rise above the silos that limit cohesiveness and collaboration.

COVID Realizations

During COVID, when everything went digital, BioBuzz had some pivotal realizations on just how important it was for employers to have an outlet to reach candidates. And so, we became a go-to resource for employers who wanted to do just that, leaning in to our employer brand and recruiting services. 

BioBuzz served an unmet need for employers to have a channel to directly engage candidates beyond headline news. Company, mission, leadership. The same things that were important to BioBuzz for regional storytelling and community building were important to employers' hiring.

Philly Launches

With the decision made to scale, our team worked tirelessly to craft our go-to-market strategy while also choosing the markets of interest. 

First up: Philly! We launched with soft coverage of the Greater Philadelphia ecosystem in August 2022 and held our first event that November.

RTP Is Next

Research Triangle Park (RTP) was the next on the list. We launched with soft coverage of the ecosystem in January 2023 and look forward to our first event in late 2023 / early 2024.