How a Boutique Life Science Incubator Found its Launchpad with the Florida SBDC
BioTechNMed of Hillsborough County
When Dr. Maryam Alavi founded BioTechNMed, a boutique incubator focused on wellness, healthcare, and biotech life sciences, the vision had been forming for years. “I moved to the U.S. and started my graduate school. From that time, I remember that every month, every week, in [the] lab, I start [thinking]: how about building this product? How about having that? So, I end up making a notebook for myself,” Alavi said. “I always [felt] like my mind gave me [a] million ideas, but [they stayed] in ideation,” she added. After completing her PhD, contributing to cell and gene therapy research at Harvard Medical School and Stony Brook, and later relocating to Florida, she recognized an opportunity to turn innovation into action.
What began as independent consulting evolved into something bigger: an incubator and consulting business designed to help founders bring ideas to market. BioTechNMed supports entrepreneurs from idea validation and formulation to pilot development, brand creation, and commercialization — guiding clients from “innovation to income.”
To make that vision a reality, Dr. Alavi partnered with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, working closely with business consultant Barry Haynes. Through strategic guidance, mentorship, and valuable networking opportunities, the Florida SBDC helped her confidently launch and scale her business.
“I want[ed] to build this business, and I didn’t know anything after that. So, the interaction that I had with Barry — you may call it accountable mentor, consultant — but he already knew the roadmap and he took me step-by-step,” Alavi said.
In just two years, BioTechNMed has grown in revenue as well as in its number of clients. “Since the time that I started working with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, my business [has] grown from zero, from scratch, to having almost 21 clients in two years — making the revenue close to the six digits,” Alavi said.
The business has also grown from a home office startup to relocating operations. “I ended up moving my office, not only the office, but also the laboratories, to USF CONNECT and right now I’m building a team of five people,” Alavi explained.
Her proudest milestone? “The new phase of being able to have my own laboratory and having this freedom of producing products in house for my clients,” Alavi said with a smile.
As BioTechNMed continues to expand, Dr. Alavi plans to keep the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County by her side. “As I grow my business, [the] Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County… I’m gonna stay with them forever, until the time that I really cannot stay with them, because I’m seeing how much it helped my business.”
Dr.Alavi concludes by sharing a piece of advice to her business owner colleagues regarding the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County: “Don’t hesitate and don’t even wait for one more second, because I’m a good example of the person who really didn’t know anything.”
“They’re very approachable. They even think more about your business than you think about your business… I don’t think you can find this amount of support and help from something outside, from any sort of like business development package outside.”
