I-270 Innovation Labs Enabling Agile Enterprise Growth in the Capital Region
Kemp Proteins Leverages Flexible Labs to Successfully Navigate Expansion
By Sam Hopkins | August 16, 2023
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What does platform mean these days? Is it a core of computer code? A basic set of scientific procedures? Something more?
The founders of I-270 Innovation Labs see their facility as a platform in the truest sense of the word – a base or a firm foundation to build on. Located in Frederick, Maryland, I-270 Innovation Labs was established with the goal of providing flexible growth opportunities to both emerging startups and expanding enterprises.
David Hicks, Chief Operating Officer of Kemp Proteins, found himself and his company in a desirable but uncomfortably tight spot a few years back. Kemp’s organic growth led to a surge in customer demand. However, the facility Kemp occupies did not have the space and some of the technical specifications to allow the firm to keep in step with customer demands.
Hicks identified a very appealing space adjacent to Kemp’s existing headquarters but, just like the stories of thirsty travelers seeing a mirage in the desert, he assumed there was no way it would be ready for specialized operations anywhere near the timeframe that customers were requiring. Nor did Hicks want to be tethered to a corporate-owned facility elsewhere with accompanying stringent terms on space, leasing, or equipment, or, worse yet, a potentially sticky situation on the intellectual property front. But upon closer look, the space surprised him.
Founded by Luis Rugeles and Doug Bane with the purpose of offering a turnkey, research-grade lab space to scientific companies met just about every requirement, including Kemp’s rigorous quality management system (QMS) requirements. ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 are auditable standards that are absolutely sacrosanct to companies like Kemp Proteins. There are also particular infrastructure needs that must be satisfied, such as high-voltage power and handling of gasses that may be generated in an industrial process. Again here, I-270 Innovation Labs was ready to go.
Within a short amount of time, Kemp Proteins was able to get the operational space it needed to advance its core business and keep customers happy, as well as provide a landing and training ground for its growing team of scientists and technicians. The QMS compliant spaces, with plenty of room to move around, meant that new personnel could get up to speed in the real world production environment, conducting the day-to-day work to meet client demands as well as getting to know each other and the business through lunch and learn activities.
This story began with a mixed blessing of increased demand and scarce space. The saving grace for Kemp Proteins was the availability of the I-270 Innovation Labs, which met the need quickly and comprehensively. Now, Kemp Proteins, and COO Hicks, happily have their ideal space next door to headquarters.
Reflecting on his journey to date, after the acquisition of the business not long ago, Hicks explained why he thinks unaffiliated, flexible lab platforms are going to be key for the industry moving forward. “We have been fortunate to inherit a great organization poised for substantial growth, and much deserving of additional investment,” Hicks says. “Sometimes, as they say, rapid growth is a headache but always a good problem to have. I-270 Innovation Labs has been an invaluable partner helping us to get to our next destination, faster and much more conveniently and efficiently. In our experience, it is now uncommon to find flexible leases that are affordable, and also come with high quality, specialized lab infrastructure on top of great operational support, and, with no governance/ownership strings attached.”
For his part, Rugeles, CEO of I-270 Innovation Labs, emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership. “We have been delighted to support Kemp Proteins and have them as one of our members,” Rugeles says. “Their tenure here has been an excellent opportunity for us to showcase how our model is appealing beyond startups and to established enterprises both from afar and nearby.”
“Kemp Proteins’ rapidly evolving staffing mix, business needs, and technical requirements allowed us to really stress-test our innovative platform as well as our own operational readiness,” Rugeles adds.
“We are certain that Kemp Proteins has moved forward much more efficiently, avoiding much disruption and cost while maintaining financial and operational autonomy. We are sure their growth will continue and expect to partner again.” From a strong base, the story will surely continue.
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Sam Hopkins has spent the past decade in the Baltimore area life-science and healthcare ecosystem, including roles at Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, the U.S. Army, and early-stage companies. He spent the previous decade as a journalist, which saw him cover everything from clean energy conferences in Morocco, to Soviet-era Estonian rock’n’roll, to trailblazing CEOs in Timonium. Sam is an avid athlete and coach, and he lives with his wife and two sons in Baltimore’s Oakenshawe neighborhood. You can often find him around town spinning records as DJ Balagan, or performing in musical groups Sink and South of Boundary.
