# Caralynn Nowinski Collens

> Caralynn Nowinski Collens is the Chicago-based co-founder and CEO of Dimension Bio. A Northwestern graduate with MD and MBA degrees from the University of Illinois Chicago, she founded a university spinout as a student, worked in venture capital and investment banking, and co-founded UI LABS, the innovation collaborative that launched the institute now known as MxD. Her public interviews emphasize team building, complementary expertise, disciplined choices and a family enthusiasm for mountain adventures.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Dimension Bio
- **Organizations:** Dimension Bio (formerly Dimension Inx), UI LABS, MxD, University of Illinois, ARCH Development Partners, Midwest Venture Partners, Sikich Investment Banking, SanoGene Therapeutics, The Chicago Network, Granite Creek Capital Partners
- **Education:** B.S., Communication Sciences & Disorders, with departmental honors, Northwestern University, MD / MBA, University of Illinois Chicago
- **Known for:** Co-founded UI LABS, which launched the national digital manufacturing institute now known as MxD., Led Dimension during its February 2023 $12 million Series A financing., Named to Crain’s Chicago Business Forty Under Forty in 2008.

## Career timeline

- **1999** — Graduated from Northwestern University.
- **During graduate study** — Co-founded SanoGene Therapeutics and helped lead its university spinout and strategic equity investment.
- **Early career** — Principal at ARCH Development Partners and Midwest Venture Partners; senior vice president at Sikich Investment Banking.
- **Before UI LABS** — Associate vice president for innovation and economic development at the University of Illinois.
- **2011-2014** — Helped develop and launch UI LABS.
- **2014-2019** — Led UI LABS, whose collaborative programs included the digital manufacturing institute now called MxD.
- **2019** — Joined Dimension Inx as CEO in late 2019.
- **2021** — Began serving as a Fathom Digital Manufacturing director in December 2021, according to company filings.
- **2025** — Dimension Inx introduced the Dimension Bio name in May.

## Achievements

- Co-founded UI LABS, which launched the national digital manufacturing institute now known as MxD.
- Led Dimension during its February 2023 $12 million Series A financing.
- Named to Crain’s Chicago Business Forty Under Forty in 2008.
- Named a finalist for the Outstanding Tech CEO Award at 1871’s 2026 Momentum Awards.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Named a finalist for 1871’s 2026 Momentum Awards Outstanding Tech CEO Award; public voting was advertised for August 5-19.
- **2025-09** — Appeared on the Prime Movers Lab podcast.
- **2025-05** — Dimension Inx introduced the Dimension Bio name.

## Links

- Website: https://dimension.bio/home
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caralynncollens/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Caralynn_CHI

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/caralynn-nowinski-collens
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11