Home Technology Company News

News

Our progress: Avant news, events and milestones

Get to know more about our people and our progress as we work toward launch.

  • Jonathan Craft

    Avant welcomes Jonathan Craft as Associate Director, Translational Science

    Jonathan Craft has joined the Avant team to support product development as Associate Director of Translational Science. Jon is a product lifecycle leader and translational scientist with more than 14 years of experience in molecular oncology and clinical diagnostics. Jon previously served as a Quality Specialist at GeneDx as well as in translational science and product management leadership roles at Sysmex Inostics. At Avant, Jon will help support our programs through assay development, validation, and launch.

  • Jen Choiniere

    Jen Choiniere joins Avant to lead Partnering and Strategic Alliances

    Jen joins Avant this month with deep expertise in strategic partnering and a track record of advancing liquid biopsy, MRD, and precision oncology platforms from inception through commercialization. She was an early contributor to first-to-market technologies at Inostics and Natera, and a founding member of the leadership team at Haystack Oncology, helping guide the company through its acquisition by Quest Diagnostics.

  • Elizabeth McGlaughlin

    Avant welcomes Elizabeth McGlaughlin as Laboratory Analyst II

    Elizabeth brings her expertise in analytical chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry. She has previously served in research roles at DuPont and AdvanSix, along with tenures at academic research labs at Mary Baldwin University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (NSF REU). She will play a key role in advancing cartridge optimization and supporting laboratory operations, drawing on her background in manufacturing environments, quality systems, and R&D.

  • Avant summer interns

    Avant welcomes summer interns

    Avant welcomes Alyssa Zeniak and Kathleen Wyatt to the team as summer interns! Alyssa is a student at James Madison University pursuing a BS in biotechnology. Kathleen is a high school senior interested in learning the field and better understanding the lab experience.

  • Virginia Business feature

    Avant featured in Virginia Business

    Virginia Business's June 2026 issue highlights innovative start-ups, including Avant — the company's strategy, compelling data, and path forward.

    Read the story
  • Avant funding announcement

    Avant secures $3M+ in funding to accelerate Avant Source

    Avant announced the successful raise of more than $3 million to advance development of its automated platform for liquid biopsy sample preparation. TitletownTech, Halyard Ventures, Virginia Venture Partners, CAV Angels, Global Impact Fund, and additional angel investors and family offices participated in the round.

    Read the release
  • Jay Foust

    Avant welcomes Jay Foust as Head of Business Development

    Jay brings deep experience in the category and a long track record of successful partnering from tenures at Roche, PGDx, and Bristol Myers Squibb. Jay will be instrumental in driving commercial collaborations as we work toward launch.

  • NSF I-Corps program

    NSF I-Corps program strengthens Avant strategy

    Avant recently completed the NSF I-Corps program, during which we completed more than 100 interviews with potential customers across all target segments — critical insights that inform our development strategy and market plan.

  • Nadia Martin

    Avant welcomes Nadia Martin as Laboratory Analyst

    Nadia joins the Avant team from the Weaver Lab at the University of Virginia, supporting critical development activities as we refine and optimize our platform.

  • ClockWork Innovator Spotlight

    Avant featured in ClockWork Innovator Spotlight

    Avant has been highlighted in ClockWork's Innovator Spotlight series, articulating our ambition to deliver reliable, automated preparation of blood samples for liquid biopsy.

    Read the article
  • Walter Colsman

    Avant welcomes Walter Colsman as a Business Development Advisor

    Walter brings decades of experience as both an investor and executive in innovative life science tools as the former CEO of BrightSpec and a Senior Equity Analyst at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.

  • BioSpark pitch event

    Avant selected as a finalist for Cville BioHub's BioSpark pitch event

    Avant was honored to share the stage with 8 other innovative life sciences companies in the region at this year's BioSpark event at the Irving Theater at CODE.

  • North Fork Commonwealth BioAccelerator

    The Avant team moves into North Fork Commonwealth BioAccelerator

    Avant's R&D team is one of the first six resident companies at the new Accelerator, led by Cville BioHub.

  • Kellie Hotz

    Avant welcomes Kellie Hotz as Head of Marketing

    Kellie is a communications strategist with 20+ years of experience shaping brand, market development, and investor messaging for global healthcare and life science companies.

  • Ben Paysour

    Avant welcomes Ben Paysour as Director of Engineering

    Ben is a seasoned engineering leader with a track record of driving innovation and excellence in technology development.

  • Innovator of the Year award

    Avant awarded Innovator of the Year by Charlottesville Business Innovation Council

    The award celebrates creativity and resourcefulness — thank you to Tracey Green and the entire CBIC team for the recognition of our hard work.

  • UVA Today interview

    Avant in the press: UVA Today interview with founders Rachelle & Renna

    Whitelaw Reid shares an interview with Avant co-founders Rachelle and Renna about the founding of the biotech company at UVA.

  • Southeast Ventures Showcase

    Avant represents UVA at the inaugural Southeast Ventures Showcase

    Avant was selected as one of only 8 university-affiliated companies to pitch at this first-of-its-kind showcase in Nashville, TN.

  • NSF SBIR award

    Avant receives a Phase I NSF SBIR for automated liquid biopsy sample preparation

    This award accelerates development of our platform designed to reduce DNA loss, improve reproducibility, and lower costs to labs.

  • Startup World Cup

    Avant selected as 1 of 10 finalists in Virginia's Startup World Cup

    Avant was honored to participate alongside 10 incredible VA-based companies, with CEO Rachelle pitching live to the judging panel.

  • TitletownTech Startup Combine

    Avant selected as a TitletownTech Startup Combine finalist

    Selected to participate as 1 of only 7 startups in the U.S. out of over 1,000 entries.

    Read more