Wisconsin’s biohealth future on display

Wisconsin’s biohealth industry is continuing to develop as a powerful engine of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. This much was clear from BioForward’s 11th Annual Startup Showcase at the Wisconsin Biohealth Summit on Oct. 21, 2026, at Milwaukee’s Baird Center.

Leaders from six Wisconsin-based companies at various stages of growth—ranging from behavioral health technology and healthcare reimbursement to drug development, medical devices, and novel therapeutics—presented innovative solutions aimed at some of healthcare’s most significant challenges.

According to BioForward, the sector generates more than $37 billion in annual economic impact, supports more than 58,000 jobs, and includes more than 2,200 companies across medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, digital health, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing. What’s more, Wisconsin ranks No. 1 in the nation for medical imaging manufacturing.

The showcase was moderated by Jessica Martin Eckerly, CEO and cofounder of Forward BIOLABS, a Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub partner that offers turnkey lab space, infrastructure, and a support network to help scientific startups launch and grow quickly.

“All our efforts are aimed at one thing, and that is helping companies grow, stay, and be successful here in Wisconsin,” said Eckerly.

The Startup Showcase featured the following healthcare innovators:

Melissa Tran, CEO of ProsperityEHR

Behavioral health has become one of the fastest-growing segments of healthcare, yet providers often struggle with operational issues and complex privacy requirements.

“Behavioral health has been very segmented for a very, very long time,” said Tran, joking that Madison-based ProsperityEHR is a “geriatric startup” because it has been in business for more than 30 years.

Now more modernized, ProsperityEHR helps behavioral health organizations improve operations by connecting and sharing patient data across electronic health record systems. This modernized data flow strengthens referral networks and clinical outcomes and helps providers navigate the often-difficult reimbursement process.

Justin Nicols, CEO and Founder of Sift Healthcare

Simply put, Milwaukee-based Sift Healthcare improves how providers get paid. “Half of all healthcare providers in a large, integrated system now are operating at a negative operating margin,” said Nicols, adding that about one in 10 healthcare claims is initially denied.

Using data analytics and AI, Sift helps hospitals reduce claim denials, improve reimbursement, and navigate the complex world of healthcare payments.

Matt Cordio, CEO of MedServe

MedServe is a Milwaukee-based company that helps outpatient healthcare facilities keep medications secure, organized, and tightly tracked through smart storage systems, reducing errors and improving patient safety.

“It’s a line of cabinets. They’re actually made right here in Wisconsin,” said Cordio. “We take our Midwestern roots to heart.”

According to Cordio, MedServe medication-management systems are used in about 300 facilities in 46 states, including 80 healthcare systems. 

Laura King, CEO and Founder of BiaCure Therapies

Pewaukee-based BiaCure Therapies is developing an innovative, high-frequency energy technology aimed at providing a non-invasive cure for an often-overlooked medical condition called “onychomycosis,” commonly known as toenail fungus.

King shared that this condition affects about 35 million Americans. “It’s a huge market with really no good solutions.” Early lab results report 85% eradication rates and plans are underway to begin clinical testing with a targeted commercial launch to follow.

Michael Widlansky, M.D., Co-Founder of Sanacor

For diabetics, the greatest health threat is often not the disease itself, but the damage it can inflict on the heart. To address this risk, board-certified cardiologist Michael Widlansky shared that his startup company, Sanacor, is developing a novel therapeutic aimed at preventing vascular damage associated with diabetes.

To help bring this much-needed solution to market, Sanacor is tapping into deep scientific research and AI-assisted drug development. Widlansky noted that one of the biggest challenges in bringing technology out of a university into a startup ecosystem: “It’s the gap between that technology existing and actually having the tools to build it into a startup.”

Katie MacFarlane, CEO and Executive Director of Arkayli Biopharma

Madison-based Arkayli Biopharma is developing a topical treatment for infantile hemangioma—a vascular tumor appearing half the time on the face, head, and neck—that affects newborns and can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.

The key, according to CEO Katie MacFarlane, is acting early.

“If you remember nothing else about what I tell you today, what is so critical is to intervene during that time of rapid growth, preferably before eight weeks,” she said.

That’s because many families face a difficult decision: wait to see whether the lesion worsens or begin treatment that can carry significant side effects. “The doctors and the patients kind of roll the dice,” MacFarlane said.

Arkayli has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance to begin clinical testing and is raising a $10 million Series A round.