Topeka, KS —One winning startup will receive a full year of free lab space at LINK Innovation Lab in Topeka, KS.
AdAstra BIO, in partnership with Bimini Pet Health and DL Smith Electric, is thrilled to announce the creation of a “Golden Ticket” prize for one outstanding Plug and Play startup company participating in the upcoming Pitch & Putt startup competition, on May 27th, 2026. Plug and Play, founded in 2006, is a global technology accelerator and open innovation platform that nurtures and promotes innovative startups and fosters connections with world-leading companies.
This Golden Ticket award gives the winning startup one full year of complimentary occupancy in the shared laboratory facility at LINK Innovation Lab in Topeka, KS. LINK is the newly launched, state-of-the-art startup incubator facility, established in partnership with GO Topeka, to attract and support high-tech startup companies and entrepreneurs in Topeka, KS.
The Golden Ticket is valued at $15,000 and is designed to give an early-stage company the space and resources it needs to grow. A year of residency at LINK is a valuable boost for recently formed companies seeking to test and develop their technology, activate their business plan, and forge connections with other entrepreneurs in a vibrant startup environment.
“AdAstra BIO is proud to support bioscience entrepreneurs who are building the future. We are thrilled to see the innovation ecosystem in Topeka growing” said Dr. Kevin Mills, President & CEO of AdAstra BIO. “This prize is about so much more than just lab space. It’s about giving high-potential startups a real runway to accelerate their work in a cutting-edge facility, surrounded by other innovators and entrepreneurs.”
Bimini Pet Health and DL Smith Company, co-sponsors of the Golden Ticket prize, share AdAstra BIO’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the Topeka startup community.
The Golden Ticket will be awarded to one Plug and Play startup pitching at the Pitch & Putt competition and participating in the Plug and Play Expo on May 28th, 2026. Startups will be evaluated on the strength of their concept, team, business plan and growth potential.
For more information about the Pitch & Putt competition or the Golden Ticket prize, please contact Kevin Mills at kevin@adastrabio or visit the AdAstra BIO website at https://adastrabio.org
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AdAstra BIO is the official Kansas state bioscience industry association and affiliate of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the world’s leading biotech industry organization. AdAstra BIO is supported by its member companies and promotes the Kansas biosciences by advocacy, convening and collaboration, and cultivation of the regional bio-industrial workforce.
Bimini Pet Health, based in Topeka (KS), is a leading contract manufacturer and private-label supplier of pet health supplements and treats. Bimini Pet Health is committed to producing the highest quality pet health products, all manufactured in the U.S.A. Bimini Pet Health is a long-time member of AdAstra BIO and is a passionate champion for innovation and business growth in Topeka and in Kansas.
DL Smith Electric is a Topeka based, full service electrical construction company, founded in 1972. DL Smith boasts highly skilled field crews, innovative technologies and methods, and a passionate commitment to a cutting-edge workforce that unflinchingly meets, and exceeds, client needs.
About GO Topeka
GO Topeka creates county-wide economic success for all companies and citizens through implementation of an aggressive economic-development strategy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of the community. GO Topeka operates under the Greater Topeka Partnership and is the leading economic development agency in the area. For more, visit GoTopeka.com.
About Link Innovation Labs
Link Innovation Labs advances innovation and entrepreneurship in Topeka and Shawnee County by providing flexible lab and office space, coworking, and collaboration areas that support startups, researchers, and growing businesses. Operated by GO Topeka under the Greater Topeka Partnership, Link serves as a catalyst for commercialization, business growth, and industry collaboration in the heart of Topeka’s Innovation District. For more, visit LinkTopeka.com.
Link. Build. Launch.