Caralynn Nowinski Collens

Dr. Caralynn Nowinski Collens is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dimension Inx Corp., a biotechnology company developing regenerative therapeutics that restore lost function due to disease, trauma, or aging. She is passionate about building teams and organizations that harness technology to drive transformational change and improve the quality of people’s lives.

Drawing from her experiences as an entrepreneur, executive, and investor, Caralynn brings a unique perspective to product and process innovation. She has a track record for translating vision into results that matter and delivering economic returns, and she has been recognized for deploying innovative business models and curating partnerships to tackle grand challenges.

Caralynn has advised leaders from startups to Fortune 100 companies, universities, and all levels of government. She loves to problem-solve and engage on the challenges of technology transfer and commercial innovation, whether it’s one-on-one or speaking to a room of thousands. Notable speaking invitations include the U.S. Congress, The Atlantic Council, McKinsey & Company, The Economist, The New York Times, Forbes, TEDx, and The Financial Times.

As the co-founder of UI LABS, a first-of-its-kind technology organization focused on the digital future of industries, Caralynn built the organization from concept in late 2011 through launch in 2014. As CEO, she drove the creation and growth of MxD, the U.S. hub for digital manufacturing (formerly DMDII), and the City Tech Collaborative, building a network of 350+ partner organizations, deploying $100M across 75+ solution development projects, and ultimately spinning out MxD and City Tech as independent entities in 2019. She continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of MxD until 2020.

After starting her first company while a joint medical/business student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Caralynn spent her early career in venture capital and corporate finance, primarily focused on technology-based university spin-outs. She is proud to have been included as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “Forty Under Forty”, “Tech 50”, and “Notable Women in STEM”. In 2020, SME recognized Caralynn as one of “30 Leaders Transforming Manufacturing”, and in 2023, she was honored as “Female Founder of the Year” and a “Dealmaker of the Year”.

Caralynn is a member of the Executive Council of Granite Creek Capital Partners and formerly an Independent Director of Fathom Digital Manufacturing [NYSE:FATH], serving on the Audit and Compensation Committees. She is also a long-time Director and former Chair of Imerman Angels (one-on-one cancer support), Trustee of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, and governor-appointed Trustee of the Lincoln Academy. Caring deeply about economic competitiveness and civic engagement, Caralynn is active in the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Chicago Network. She is also a member of the Chicago Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). She lives in Chicago with her husband Steven and their son Asher. While they love their city, Caralynn and her family spend as much time as possible in the mountains.