The Agile BioFoundry (ABF) hosted its annual Industry Day on February 17, 2026 in Emeryville, CA. The event served as an opportunity to connect with and gather feedback from the biomanufacturing industry. 65 representatives from 42 companies/institutions were in attendance at the event, and more than 80 attendees participated virtually.
The Industry Day featured flash talks on ABF demonstration projects and capabilities, panels on emerging themes in biomanufacturing, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. Representatives from Terragia, BioMADE, LanzaTech, Visolis, Agilent, and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) gave industry perspective talks. Attendees also toured ABF’s Automated Lab and its supporting facility, the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU).
“This year we were very intentional about shifting to an in-person and hybrid format to create space for more candid, high-value conversations with our industry partners,” said Jesse Colangelo, ABF Business Development Lead. “The smaller, in-person discussions led to a depth of dialogue we simply couldn’t achieve in a fully virtual setting. We heard more nuanced feedback, had more concrete conversations about commercialization barriers, and strengthened relationships that will shape how ABF evolves moving forward.”
“It was a pleasure to be part of such a well-organized and quite engaging event,” said Milan Hanacek, founder of ABF partner Azolla and a panelist at the Industry Day. “I especially appreciated the opportunity to connect with colleagues across the biotechnology community and to exchange insights on so many important topics. The discussions were both stimulating and forward-looking.”