# Hong Tan

> Hong Tan is an engineer and entrepreneur who founded ForteBio in 2001 and helped develop biolayer interferometry (BLI), the optical measurement technology behind the Octet platform. His earlier work spanned data storage, telescope control systems and fiber-optic components. He later co-founded Gator Bio with Robert Zuk and serves as its CEO, continuing work on BLI instruments, biosensors and automated laboratory workflows.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Gator Bio
- **Organizations:** Gator Bio, ForteBio, Wave Crossing, Access Medical Systems, ET Healthcare, Iomega, Seagate, Maxtor
- **Education:** BSEE, Xi’an Jiaotong University, MSEE and PhD, Auburn University, EMBA, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Founded ForteBio and helped create BLI technology and the Octet product concept., Established research and manufacturing operations in China for Wave Crossing and ForteBio., Co-founded Gator Bio with Robert Zuk to develop further BLI instruments and biosensors.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Dismissed from a Boulder data-storage startup; later described the experience in a 2018 essay.
- **2000** — Founded fiber-optic component company Wave Crossing.
- **2001** — Founded ForteBio.
- **2003** — Brought Winnie Wan into the early ForteBio venture, according to his retrospective meeting note.
- **2004** — Following the first venture financing, assumed the CTO role at ForteBio.
- **2008** — Left ForteBio and began the next entrepreneurial chapter with Robert Zuk; also completed an EMBA.
- **2017** — Co-founded Gator Bio with Robert Zuk.
- **2019** — Gator Bio introduced its first Gator Prime instrument in March.
- **2025** — Gator Bio announced a biosensor partnership with Monod Bio in December.
- **2026** — Gator Bio and Hudson Lab Automation announced an integrated BLI automation solution in February.

## Achievements

- Founded ForteBio and helped create BLI technology and the Octet product concept.
- Established research and manufacturing operations in China for Wave Crossing and ForteBio.
- Co-founded Gator Bio with Robert Zuk to develop further BLI instruments and biosensors.
- Worked on the control system for NASA’s High Energy Imaging Device telescope project.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — Gator Bio and Hudson Lab Automation announced an integrated platform with company-reported capacity of 1,200-plus samples per day, depending on workflow configuration.
- **2025-12** — Gator Bio and Monod Bio announced a licensing partnership to incorporate an AI-designed NovoBody binding protein into a biosensor.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/recycledentrepreneur

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/hong-tan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22