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BioLattice Named 2025 Startup of the Year at BioLabs Investor Day

  • Meredith Martindale
  • Apr 24
  • 2 min read

Updated: May 12

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the HiveBio community! BioLattice Ophthalmics, Inc., a member of our inaugural cohort, has been named Startup of the Year at the 2025 BioLabs for Advanced Therapeutics Philadelphia Investor Day. The award includes a digital badge for slides and social media, a trophy, and generous bonus awards from the event sponsors.


L-R: Mary Beth Cicero, Co-founder and CEO, 3Daughters / Amelia Zellander, BioLattice Founder & CEO / Melina Blees, Business Operations & Strategy Director + Head of BioLabs for Advanced Therapeutics Philadelphia
L-R: Mary Beth Cicero, Co-founder and CEO, 3Daughters / Amelia Zellander, BioLattice Founder & CEO / Melina Blees, Business Operations & Strategy Director + Head of BioLabs for Advanced Therapeutics Philadelphia

Led by founder and CEO Amelia Zellander, PhD, BioLattice wowed investors and fellow innovators alike with a compelling presentation that showcased the startup’s groundbreaking work in advanced biomaterials. Chosen from a competitive pool of emerging life science ventures, BioLattice’s win is a testament to both their scientific vision and execution. The company is addressing the need for tissue repair solutions, beginning with cornea. Their aim is to transform innovative ideas into medical products as a means of expanding patient access to solutions that restore, repair or rebuild damaged cornea tissue.


"I appreciated the opportunity to present BioLattice and connect with my colleagues at BioLabs Investor Day. I am honored that BioLattice received the 2025 Startup of the Year Award,"

BioLattice wasn’t the only HiveBio company to participate at the event. Other Cohort 1 innovators represented at the BioLabs event included Ajaya Bio, Bound Therapeutics, Cerespectus, Higher Medicine, and QuneUp, who participated in the poster session.


Thanks to Melina Blees and the entire BioLabs team for hosting such a fantastic gathering of startups and investors and for continuing to elevate the life science ecosystem in Philadelphia.


“This recognition affirms what we already know at HiveBio. That the future of biotech is being built right now, by brilliant founders like Amelia and the rest of Cohort 1,” says Dr. Tia Lyles-Williams, HiveBio’s Founder and Chief Innovation Officer. 

Congratulations again to BioLattice for the well-deserved recognition! More updates to come as HiveBio innovators continue to make their mark.



Meet the cohort by registering for the showcase webinar on May 26, or request an invite to LaunchBio’s Innovators Happy Hour during BIO International in Boston on June 19 to connect with the cohort and other industry leaders in person.

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