# John Flavin

> John Flavin is the Chicago-based founder and CEO of Portal Innovations, a venture development platform combining early-stage investment, equipped laboratories, and company-building support. His earlier work includes company finance and operations, Chicago Innovation Mentors, and leadership of the University of Chicago’s expanded Polsky Center. He also created and hosts Lab Rats to Unicorns.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Portal Innovations
- **Organizations:** Portal Innovations, Lab Rats to Unicorns, Pyxis Oncology, ClostraBio, Grove Biopharma, University of Chicago / Polsky Center (former), Chicago Innovation Mentors (former), MATTER (co-founder), Endotronix (former), Advanced Life Sciences (former), MediChem Life Sciences (former)
- **Education:** B.S. in Business Administration, Marquette University, M.B.A. in Finance, Lewis University
- **Known for:** Expanded Chicago Innovation Mentors to more than 180 mentors and 66 ventures by 2013., Led the expanded Polsky Center when university venture support functions were unified in 2016., Founded Portal Innovations in 2020.

## Career timeline

- **Early 1990s** — Helped build MediChem Life Sciences in Chicago; later served as chief operating officer.
- **2011-2013** — Led Chicago Innovation Mentors from its October 2011 early launch until joining UChicago in September 2013.
- **2013** — Named executive director of the Chicago Innovation Exchange at the University of Chicago.
- **2016** — Chosen to lead the expanded, unified Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
- **2018-2020** — Served as CFO of Endotronix from April 2018 through February 2020.
- **2018-2019** — Joined Pyxis in June 2018; began board service in May 2019, according to its filings.
- **2020** — Announced the launch of Portal Innovations on March 5.
- **2021** — Lab Rats to Unicorns began publishing; Pyxis completed its IPO.
- **2026** — Portal opened its New Jersey Innovation Hub and was selected to manage a fund backed by NJEDA and RWJBarnabas Health.

## Achievements

- Expanded Chicago Innovation Mentors to more than 180 mentors and 66 ventures by 2013.
- Led the expanded Polsky Center when university venture support functions were unified in 2016.
- Founded Portal Innovations in 2020.
- Co-founded Pyxis Oncology and served as its founding chairman.
- Created and hosts the entrepreneurship podcast Lab Rats to Unicorns.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Portal reported an October 6 appearance by Flavin on CNBC’s Fast Money discussing China and the pharmaceutical industry.
- **2026-08** — NJEDA announced a commitment of up to $5 million, matched by an up-to-$5-million commitment from RWJBarnabas Health, to a Portal-managed fund for New Jersey Innovation Hub companies.
- **2026-07** — Portal announced the July 14 opening of the New Jersey Innovation Hub with 16 founding member companies.
- **2026-06** — SLAS listed Flavin as a panelist at its June 18 Chicago regional meet-up alongside Shana Kelley and Robert Campbell.

## Links

- Website: https://www.portalinnovations.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-flavin-3008a219/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@labratstounicorns

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/john-flavin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09