Pivotal business development skills for health sciences companies
The Discovery Foundation Health Sciences Business Development 101 program will equip company leaders to strategize and execute long-term growth through interactive workshops and mentoring sessions.
Our program facilitators include senior executives from the US and Canada boasting decades of experience scaling R&D companies. You don't want to miss the opportunity to learn from the experts! Read their bios below.
Participants will leave with a roadmap to translate scientific discoveries into growing commercial successes. Business development skills are important for:
- Partnerships and collaboration deals
- Licensing and technology transfer
- Funding and investment
This program is open to BC- and Yukon-based companies in health sciences while prioritizing leaders from underrepresented communities.
Program times: Wednesday, October 23, 1-5PM PT and Thursday, October 24, 8:30AM-1PM PT
Format and location: In person at VentureLabs (1200 - 555 W Hastings St.)
The deadline to apply is Friday, October 18, 11:59PM PT.
VentureLabs delivers this program as an agent of the Discovery Foundation TEP program.
This course includes four modules covering the foundations in business development that are critical for the success of health sciences companies.
Module 4: Best Practises in Business Development - Developing, Negotiating, and Executing Transactions
Attendees will attend two half-day workshops in person with the opportunity for follow-up 1:1 mentoring sessions. The two workshop dates are October 23 (afternoon) and October 24 (late morning to afternoon) at the VentureLabs office. Exact times will be communicated to participants as soon as possible.
This program will be held in person at the VentureLabs office (1200 - 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver).
- BC- or Yukon-based, health science company
- Companies are likely raising Seed to Series A stage investment
- Have a business development plan that you would like advisory on
- A clear understanding of your value proposition and target market
- Can commit to attending the workshops and mentoring sessions (we strongly encourage the CEO/founder/business development lead to participate; other members of the company can also attend)
Each company can send up to two participants maximum.
The program costs CAD 750 per company which will cover the fees for up to two representatives to attend. Companies that are located outside of the Lower Mainland are eligible to use the value of their fee towards travel to Vancouver. If you have any questions about the fee, please contact Carolina Almeida at carolina@venturelabs.ca.
The fee for VentureLabs member companies to attend is covered by VentureLabs. Email carolina@venturelabs.ca for the code before applying.
i2I companies receive a discounted rate. Email carolina@venturelabs.ca for the code before applying.
Facilitators
Modestus (Modi) Obochi is an accomplished, versatile senior executive with over 25 years of broad-based experiences growing revenues and shareholder values in biotech and pharma companies.
He is a hands-on and execution-driven leader with solid methodology for building businesses to unprecedented levels of growth through collaborative leadership style, business development acumen, life-cycle management, and operational expertise.
Modi has led the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of multiple successful products in his career. Most importantly, he has demonstrated exceptional ability to seamlessly interface with R&D and key opinion leaders to translate scientific concepts into innovative products that address unmet medical needs. Modi has an instinctive aptitude to understand and/or forecast clinical trends and to quickly translate knowledge into “winnable bets” by incorporating demonstrated scientific knowledge, extensive R&D and commercial experiences, into portfolio decisions.
Learn more on LinkedIn
Geoffrey Hansen is a seasoned executive with management experience in software development, product management, product marketing, and venture capital. He is a partner at Garibaldi Capital Advisors, a boutique investment bank than helps Canadian technology companies with key financial milestones, such as raising capital or selling their company.
Read more on LinkedIn
Janet Grove is a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP and has also worked eight years in the biotech industry in both legal and corporate development positions. She is sought after for her expertise and business approach to structuring and negotiating both merger and acquisition transactions and complex commercial relationships to develop, commercialize and acquire technology. Ms. Grove is currently the Canadian head of Norton Rose’s life sciences and healthcare industry practice.
See more on LinkedIn
Chuck is passionate about helping businesses to grow and succeed. One part, future technology geek, one part coach and three parts innovator, Chuck has a long work history at the intersection of people and technology. His work includes Open Innovation, Crowdsourcing, CleanTech, EDTech, TalentTech, Smarter Cities and Digital Strategy.
Chuck is the Chief Learning Officer at MeetAMi and a former IBM Executive and Chief Operating Officer of HeroX. He is an Executive Advisor to Riipen, FAME and a Venture Labs EiR for Ibbaka and Hypatia Math. Chuck is also a TED Talker, designer, and community volunteer living in Tsawwassen BC.
Read more on LinkedIn
The Health Sciences Business Development 101 program will help you:
Apply now
Signing up is easy and takes less than ten minutes. This program will be delivered in person at the VentureLabs office (1200 - 555 W Hastings St). There are a limited number of spots, so sign up now!
Application deadline: Friday, October 18, 11:59PM PT
The program dates are October 23-24, 2024.
If you have any questions, email Carolina Almeida at carolina@venturelabs.ca.