François Baneyx
François Baneyx is Vice Provost for Innovation and Director of CoMotion at the University of Washington, where he also serves as Professor and Rehnberg Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering and directs the Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales. He co-founded Proteios, which is still running. He is an authority on protein production technologies and the biological fabrication of advanced materials with applications in medicine, sensing, optoelectronics, and catalysis.
UW CoMotion Labs announces data center Climate Tech Incubator supported by Microsoft and E8, launching Feb–May 2027
On September 15, 2026, UW CoMotion Labs, supported by Microsoft and E8 with Elemental Impact as advisor, launched a four-month Climate Tech Incubator focused on data center energy, cooling, water, and materials challenges. The February–May 2027 Seattle program targets pre-seed and seed founders, offering commercialization support, technical mentorship, and investor connections to accelerate deployment.
Curinos and UW’s CoMotion Relaunch Fintech Incubator at Startup Hall to Drive Innovation
Curinos and the University of Washington's CoMotion have partnered to relaunch a fintech incubator at Startup Hall, providing mentorship, data licensing, and fintech expertise to support innovation. The incubator focuses on various financial sub-verticals including AI-driven automation, data analytics, and digital banking.
Plug and Play Expands to Seattle with New Accelerator at UW’s CoMotion Labs
Silicon Valley innovation platform Plug and Play is expanding into the Seattle area with two new offices, including one at the University of Washington's CoMotion Labs, to support early-stage startups and regional innovation. The expansion is part of a strategic collaboration with SBI Holdings and SNBL.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell Launches Climate Innovation Hub to Boost Green Economy and Downtown Revitalization
Mayor Bruce Harrell has launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, a collaborative space in downtown Seattle focused on advancing climate technology and supporting green economy growth. The hub is a partnership among the City of Seattle, University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs, 9Zero, and VertueLab, aiming to foster innovation and contribute to downtown revitalization.
Seattle, UW, 9Zero, and VertueLab Launch Climate Innovation Hub to Boost Clean Energy Startups and Downtown Recovery
Seattle, alongside the University of Washington, 9Zero, and VertueLab, has launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub to support climate tech entrepreneurs and revitalize the downtown area post-pandemic. The hub includes a climate tech incubator program starting in spring, aiming to foster clean energy sector growth in the Pacific Northwest.
Plug and Play Launches Two Startup Accelerators in Seattle with UW, SNBL, and SBI Holdings Partnership
Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play is launching two new startup accelerator programs in the Seattle region, partnering with the University of Washington and Japanese firms SNBL and SBI Holdings, to support early-stage tech startups, especially in AI. The initiatives include physical spaces, investment funds, and community events to leverage Seattle's growing tech ecosystem.
University of Washington Joins NSF-Funded $15M Northwest Innovation Hub Led by UC Berkeley for Technology Commercialization
The University of Washington has been selected as part of a new federally funded Northwest Region Hub by the National Science Foundation to support technology commercialization with up to $15 million distributed among eight universities over five years. UW’s CoMotion will administer funding and programming to enhance innovation training, mentorship, and customer discovery for entrepreneurs.
Pack Ventures partners with University of Washington, raises $30M fund to back UW founders
Pack Ventures, an independent VC fund, has formalized a partnership with the University of Washington and CoMotion to support UW-affiliated startups, launch its second fund, and is raising $30 million with over 50 investors so far. Founder Ken Horenstein says the fund will lower investment barriers for alumni, attract faculty and students, boost philanthropy, and he has pledged up to 2% of his personal proceeds to the UW.
University of Washington’s CoMotion Innovation Arm Moving to Condon Hall Near Startup Hall in 2023
The University of Washington's innovation arm, CoMotion, will relocate from the Blume building to Condon Hall near Startup Hall later this year, expanding its space and event capabilities. Startup Hall is part of the Portage Bay Crossing neighborhood, which aims to foster research, education, and entrepreneurship.
Pack Ventures launches 506(c) pre-seed fund to back University of Washington founders, pledges 10% of returns to UW
Pack Ventures (Pack VC), a pre-seed and seed 506(c) fund, launched to invest in University of Washington-affiliated founders and broaden accredited investor access; leaders pledge 10% of personal fund returns to UW and will host an online introduction for accredited investors on Feb. 17.
Creative Destruction Lab to launch nine-month, equity-free Seattle accelerator with Microsoft and UW for 20–25 computational health startups this November
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is launching a Seattle hub this November at the University of Washington to run a nine-month, equity-free accelerator for 20–25 computational health startups in partnership with Microsoft and UW’s business, engineering, and computer science schools; UW students can shadow the program. The program is funded by founding members, enforces objective milestones with the possibility of booting nonperforming companies, and stems from UW’s Innovation Roundtable efforts led by Emer Dooley and others.
University of Washington launches Husky FAST Start to standardize licensing for spinouts after 35-startup pilot
The University of Washington launched Husky FAST Start, a standardized licensing process with template term sheets and agreements to speed and cut costs for startup license negotiations, after piloting it with 35 startups. The move, timed with the Bayh-Dole Act’s 40th anniversary, aims to help UW founders commercialize innovations from a university that has spun out 73 startups in five years and signed over 5,000 commercial licenses.
University of Washington taps Justin Dunnicliff as NSIN university program director; Meredith Han named VP of Product at FlyHomes
The University of Washington partnered with the Department of Defense’s National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and named UW alumnus Justin Dunnicliff as university program director to run NSIN programs at UW, connecting students to DoD-related research and employment opportunities. The article also notes Meredith Han, an early Amazon employee and angel investor, has become VP of product at FlyHomes.
Organizations
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University of Washington Professor and Rehnberg Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering 2025–present, Vice Provost for Innovation and Director of UW CoMotion 2019–present, Director, Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (a DOE EFRC) 2018–present, Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering 2014–2019, Charles W.H. Matthaei Professor of Chemical Engineering 2005–2025, Director, Center for Nanotechnology 2005–2013, Co-Director, Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center (NSF MRSEC) 2005–2012, Site Director, National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NSF NNIN) 2004–2012, Professor 1992–2005 · current
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Proteios Co-Founder 2015–present · current
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UW CoMotion Labs current
Education
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The University of Texas at Austin Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemical Engineering · 1986–1991
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Ecole Nationale Superieure des Ingenieurs Genie Chimique Ingenieur, Chemical Engineering · 1984–1987
