# Caralynn Nowinski Collens

> Caralynn Nowinski Collens is a physician-turned-entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Dimension Bio (formerly Dimension Inx), a Chicago biotechnology company building regenerative therapeutics that give the body a blueprint to heal itself. Its BioNidum platform fuses materials science, 3D-printing, and digital manufacturing to turn cells into implantable, tissue-like therapies. Before biotech, she spent eight years co-founding and running UI LABS, the innovation collaborative that launched MxD, the U.S. national hub for digital manufacturing. She trained as an M.D./MBA at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has been recognized on Crain's Forty Under Forty, Tech 50, and Notable Women in STEM lists.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Dimension Bio
- **Organizations:** Dimension Bio (formerly Dimension Inx), UI LABS, MxD, City Tech Collaborative, Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Imerman Angels, The Chicago Network
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** M.D. and M.B.A. (joint program), University of Illinois at Chicago
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led UI LABS, launching MxD, the U.S. national hub for digital manufacturing, Built a 350+ partner organization network and deployed $100M across 75+ solution-development projects, Led Dimension Inx's $12M Series A in 2023

## Career timeline

- **During med school** — Co-founded a biotech startup focused on gene therapy for brain cancer while an M.D./MBA student at UIC
- **Early career** — Worked in venture capital and corporate finance on university spin-outs (ARCH Development Partners, Midwest Venture Partners, Sikich Investment Banking)
- **2011** — Co-founded UI LABS as a concept
- **2014** — Launched UI LABS and MxD (formerly DMDII), the U.S. digital manufacturing hub
- **2014-2019** — Served as CEO of UI LABS, building 350+ partner network and deploying $100M across 75+ projects
- **2019** — Spun out MxD and City Tech Collaborative as independent entities
- **2019** — Joined Dimension Inx as CEO after months aligning on vision with co-founders Ramille Shah and Adam Jakus
- **2020** — Named to SME's 30 Leaders Transforming Manufacturing; served as MxD Board Chairman until 2020
- **2023** — Led Dimension Inx's $12M Series A (Prime Movers Lab); FDA 510(k) clearance for CMFlex, the first 3D-printed regenerative bone graft; named Female Founder of the Year and Dealmaker of the Year
- **2025** — Featured on the Prime Movers Lab Podcast; company rebranded as Dimension Bio around its BioNidum platform

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led UI LABS, launching MxD, the U.S. national hub for digital manufacturing
- Built a 350+ partner organization network and deployed $100M across 75+ solution-development projects
- Led Dimension Inx's $12M Series A in 2023
- Oversaw FDA 510(k) clearance of CMFlex, described as the first 3D-printed regenerative bone graft
- Crain's Chicago Business Forty Under Forty, Tech 50, and Notable Women in STEM
- SME 30 Leaders Transforming Manufacturing (2020)
- Female Founder of the Year and Dealmaker of the Year (2023)
- Summited Mount Kilimanjaro

## Latest updates

- **2025** — Featured on the Prime Movers Lab Podcast discussing Dimension Bio's regenerative tissue therapeutics and the BioNidum platform.
- **2023-02** — Closed a $12M Series A led by Prime Movers Lab and secured FDA clearance for CMFlex.

## Links

- Website: https://dimension.bio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caralynncollens/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/dimensioninx
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/DimensionInx/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/caralynn-collens
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-01