ParaNano’s Journey from Student Startup to Medtech Innovator Showcases Oklahoma’s Growing Life Sciences Ecosystem
OKLAHOMA CITY — August 2026 — What began with a student-led startup at the University of Central Oklahoma has grown through years of iteration, collaboration and support from Oklahoma’s innovation ecosystem into a medtech company preparing for its next stage.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Chelsea Luxen and CTO Maurice Haff, ParaNano is an Oklahoma-based company focused on commercializing its patented Bio-Z™ nanofiber technology. As Oklahoma Bio Week returns August 17–21, the company’s journey offers an example of how universities, entrepreneurs, industry partners and support organizations can work together to move an idea from the classroom toward real-world impact.
“We have had amazing life sciences companies here for decades,” Luxen said. “It’s so exciting to see more of an ecosystem being built where we can all come together and share resources, pick everyone’s brain and build something that will not only help what we’re building today, but future generations.”
From Student Startup to Growing Company
ParaNano’s story traces back to UCO and the 2015 Governor’s Cup, where Luxen, with Haff as faculty Advisor, led a student team to a second-place finish and earned early funding that helped spark their path toward commercialization. ParaNano would go on to become the first startup spun out of UCO.
Getting from that early concept to where ParaNano stands today required the company to continually adapt its technology, identify new applications and find partners capable of helping solve challenges along the way.
“What we’ve demonstrated is you can take something from a concept and take it all the way through to where we’re actually producing a very complex product that’s simple for people to use,” Haff said. “I think that provides a guiding light to a lot of budding entrepreneurs that are out there.”
Built Through Collaboration
That progress has been built through collaboration. ParaNano has worked with large corporations, federal organizations, academic institutions and entrepreneurial programs as the company has refined its technology, developed manufacturing capabilities and moved closer to commercialization.
Many of those relationships have been built in Oklahoma. Throughout different stages of the company’s growth, ParaNano has utilized resources including OK Catalyst, the New Product Development Center, and Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance.
“We have really taken advantage, for the appropriate stage that we have been in, of every aspect of help that this state has to offer,” Luxen said. “Because of those programs and the support that we have continually received from the universities, we were able to make progress. We would not be here today without Oklahoma.”
ParaNano’s connection to UCO has also come full circle. The company continues to work in UCO’s LX Studio, while Haff has continued working with student entrepreneurs at the university. Students from later UCO competition teams have since been hired by ParaNano and now work alongside its founders. The company has also partnered with OSU-OKC to create internship and employment opportunities for students.
Putting Oklahoma Life Sciences on the Map
That cycle of receiving support, growing a company and creating opportunities for the next generation reflects what Oklahoma Bio Week aims to strengthen across the state.
For Luxen, Bio Week is also an opportunity to broaden what people associate with Oklahoma.
“You think of Oklahoma, you think oil and gas, you think real estate, now you think the Thunder and football,” Luxen said. “But the truth of the matter is, we have had amazing life sciences companies here for decades.”
Oklahoma Bio Week takes place August 17–21, 2026, bringing together companies, researchers, entrepreneurs, students and community partners to showcase the people, ideas and collaborations growing Oklahoma’s life sciences industry.
About ParaNano
Founded in 2018, ParaNano is an Oklahoma-based medtech company focused on commercializing its patented Bio-Z™ suite of innovations. Led by CEO Chelsea Luxen and CTO Maurice Haff, the company has grown from a student-led startup into an emerging life sciences company working with academic, corporate and federal partners.