The New Ventures Program provides support to startup companies through:
Access to a network of c-suite, sector specific executives and consultants
Entrepreneurial development training, coaching, mentorship and workshops
Referrals to potential investor groups, granting agencies and professional service providers
Business Development
Services that focus on developing your business including strategic planning, financial modelling, valuation, market assessment, customer discovery, pitch coaching and more.
UCeed, a pre-seed and seed funding program to help commercialize new technologies and accelerate UCalgary startup companies.
Entrepreneur Development
Programs and workshops that focus on developing your entrepreneurial skills as a business owner.
Life Sciences Innovation Hub
Access to Expert Advisors and experienced business analysts for LSI Hub members and tenants.
Portfolio Management
Management of Innovate Calgary/University of Calgary's equity and royalty portfolio; shareholder liasion with University of Calgary-based startup companies.
Expert Advisors
Ali Ardakani
Founder & Managing Director, Novateur Ventures Inc. Vancouver, BC
Areas of Expertise: Therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, executive leadership, corporate partnerships, regulatory, board governance.
Ali Ardakani
Founder & Managing Director, Novateur Ventures Inc. Vancouver, BC
Alessandro Biglioli
Founder and CEO, Elsius Biomedical. Calgary, Alberta
Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategy, Financing, Medical Devices, Business Development
Alessandro Biglioli
MSc, PEng, MBA
Founder and CEO, Elsius Biomedical. Calgary, Alberta
Andreas Wissmann
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical
Areas of Expertise: Startup team development, financial modelling, sales & revenue forecasting, business planning, fund raising, investor relations and presentations, negotiating partnerships and agreements with external partners, market research, competition & threat analysis, business development, grants and funding.
Andreas Wissmann
PhD
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical
Andrew Murdin
President, Murdin Biotechnology Inc. Toronto, ON
Areas of Expertise: Corporate partnering, strategic planning, therapeutics, vaccines, M&A, licensing, and R&D
Andrew Murdin
President, Murdin Biotechnology Inc. Toronto, ON
Brad Thompson
CEO & Founder, Wyvern Pharmaceuticals and Kickshaw Ventures Ltd. Calgary, AB
Areas of Expertise: Immunotherapy, oncology, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, corporate partnering, strategic planning, M&A, capital raising
Brad Thompson
CEO & Founder, Wyvern Pharmaceuticals and Kickshaw Ventures Ltd. Calgary, AB
Dr. David Chalack
International Sales Manager, Alta Genetics Inc., Owner/Partner & President, Rocky Mountain Holsteins Ltd.
Areas of Expertise: Agri-tech, Agri-food, Animal Health, Corporate Strategy, Fundraising, Business Development, Pitch Coaching, Board Governance
Dr. David Chalack
International Sales Manager, Alta Genetics Inc., Owner/Partner & President, Rocky Mountain Holsteins Ltd.
Deborah Livneh
Entrepreneur-in-Residence, WEtech Alliance, Windsor, ON
Areas of Expertise: Startups, Finance, Angel Investors, Med-tech, Regulatory, Board Governance
Deborah Livneh
Entrepreneur-in-Residence, WEtech Alliance, Windsor, ON
Dennis Niebergal
Professional board director and consultant
Areas of Expertise: Digital health, eHealth, corporate strategy, board governance, coaching, business development, capital raising
Dennis Niebergal
Professional board director and consultant
Elliot Gatt
Advisor, PhonicsVR and Startup Strategist
Areas of Expertise: Traction, Branding, Marketing and Commercialization, Customer Acquisition, Partnerships, Product Development, Strategy, Medical Devices, SaaS, eCommerce, US Market Entry
Elliot Gatt
Advisor, PhonicsVR and Startup Strategist
Gary Bantle
Advisor
Areas of Expertise: Corporate finance, venture capital, fundraising, board governance, corporate strategy, life sciences, AgTech
Gary Bantle
Advisor
Gerard Ruth
Food Safety Diagnostic Consultant
Areas of Expertise: Food testing diagnostics for quality and safety. Business development, product design, and strategic planning in the food testing field.
Gerard Ruth
Food Safety Diagnostic Consultant
Jaspreet Grewal
Founder & CEO, Venn Consulting. Calgary, Alberta
Areas of Expertise: Regulatory, clinical research, business development, capital referrals, ophthalmic science, medical cannabis, drug discovery, medical devices
Jaspreet Grewal
Founder & CEO, Venn Consulting. Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Jehangir Appoo
Research Associate Professor, Healthcare Consulting, Angel Investor
Areas of Expertise: Clinical & Academic Medicine, Health Care Innovation, Education, Cardiovascular Science, Surgery, Imaging, Exponential Technology in Healthcare (AI, IoT, Digital Medicine, VR/AR), Connecting spaces/people
Dr. Jehangir Appoo
Research Associate Professor, Healthcare Consulting, Angel Investor
Joe Elliot
Principal, Biopharm Management Inc. (BMI), provider of short and long-term management services to the biopharmaceutical industry
Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategic, Financing, Therapeutics, Oncology, Pitch Coaching
Joe Elliot
Principal, Biopharm Management Inc. (BMI), provider of short and long-term management services to the biopharmaceutical industry
John Person
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical and Founder, Principal Engineer, Box 13 Engineering
Areas of Expertise: Mechanical design engineering, mechanical system simulations, new product development (especially biomedical devices), patent filing, technology commercialization, project planning and execution, regulatory clearance, lecturing and public speaking, and securing grant funding.
John Person
MASc, PEng
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical and Founder, Principal Engineer, Box 13 Engineering
John Simon
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical
Areas of Expertise: Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, FDA and Health Canada Submissions, Medical Device and Drug Manufacturing Audits, Cannabis Cultivation and Processing
John Simon
BSc., RAC, CQA, RQAP-GLP
Co-founder & Partner, FUEL Biomedical
Dr. Lauren Killip
Director, Business Development, Harmonic Medical Inc.
Areas of Expertise: Startups, Strategic Planning, Operations, Business Development, Fundraising, Medical Devices, Medical Imaging
Dr. Lauren Killip
Director, Business Development, Harmonic Medical Inc.
Marvin Cervantes
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Areas of Expertise: Design & Development, Production, Clinical Studies, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Marketing & Commercialization, Post-market Remediation
Marvin Cervantes
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Michael S. McGee
Partner, Avrio Capital Inc.
Areas of Expertise: Ag-tech, Corporate Finance, Venture Capital, Fundraising, Board Governance, Corporate Strategy
Michael S. McGee
Partner, Avrio Capital Inc.
Meg Bregazzi
President, Tredea Capital Corp
Areas of Expertise: Business consulting with expertise in financial reporting, tax, accounting, and corporate governance.
Meg Bregazzi
BSc, CPA, CA
President, Tredea Capital Corp
Mike Spear
Director of Corporate Communications, Genome Alberta. Calgary, Alberta
Areas of Expertise: Marketing, communications, public relations, branding, media relations, social media
Mike Spear
Director of Corporate Communications, Genome Alberta. Calgary, Alberta
Peter Zyla
Founder and Chief Strategist, Ventrek
Areas of Expertise: Corporate Strategy, Business Planning, Coaching, Mentoring, Executive Development
Peter Zyla
Founder and Chief Strategist, Ventrek
Peter Fenwick
Managing Director, Fenwick & Associates
Areas of Expertise: Startups, Business Strategy and Execution, Pivots, Revenue Model, Public Policy, Health Reform and Economics
Peter Fenwick
MBA, BMSE, CHE
Managing Director, Fenwick & Associates
Robert Verhagen
CEO, Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB)
Areas of Expertise: Corporate leadership, Fundraising, Board Governance, Strategic Planning, Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Regulatory, Clinical, Business Development
Robert Verhagen
CEO, Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB)
Robin Boschman
Communications Consultant, Instructor & Facilitator
Areas of Expertise: Corporate communications, strategies and tactics.
Robin Boschman
MBA, CMP
Communications Consultant, Instructor & Facilitator
Stephen Urquhart
Executive in Residence, Canadian Academic Accelerators and Incubators
Areas of Expertise: Diagnostics, medical devices, not-for-profit organizations, foundations.
Stephen Urquhart
Executive in Residence, Canadian Academic Accelerators and Incubators
Vivian Hindbo
Contract Grant Writer, Editor
Areas of Expertise: Writing and editing a wide range of documentation, specializing in grant applications for non-profits and corporations.
Vivian Hindbo
BA
Contract Grant Writer, Editor
Yvon Bastien
Independent Director and Chair of the Governance and Compensation Committee, HLS Therapeutics Inc.
Areas of Expertise: Pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, executive leadership, board governance.
Yvon Bastien
Independent Director and Chair of the Governance and Compensation Committee, HLS Therapeutics Inc.
POPULAR QUESTIONS
- Who can access the Expert Advisor Program?
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Any Life Sciences Innovation Hub (LSI Hub) member can access the program.
- I have not yet incorporated my company. Am I eligible to use the Expert Advisor program?
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Yes, if you are planning to incorporate your company at some point. You must be an LSI Hub member.
- Do I have to be a tenant at the LSI Hub to use the Expert Advisor program?
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Non-LSI Hub tenants can access the program, providing they are Non-resident Members of the LSI Hub.
- How many hours does a member company receive?
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100-hours per year.
- Am I allowed to use Expert Advisor hours towards multiple experts?
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Yes. You may engage as many experts as you like, providing that the cumulative expert hours do not exceed 100-hours.
- Are there any extra costs associated with the Expert Advisor program beyond the cost of the LSI Hub Membership?
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No. Your LSI Hub Membership covers 100-hours of Expert Advisor engagement.
- What if I cannot find a specific type of expert in your roster?
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We will help you create a position description for the advisory role that meets your company's needs. We will circulate that position description throughout our networks until a suitable candidate is found.
- Are your Expert Advisors only from the Calgary area?
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No. Our Expert Advisors are located throughout Canada and the U.S.
- My company is not in the life sciences field. Am I able to access the Expert Advisor program?
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We are exploring opening up the program to include other fields, but currently this is our focus. Check back often as we update the program.
- My company is not affiliated with the University of Calgary. Am I eligible to use the Expert Advisor program?
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Yes. Your company must be located within Southern Alberta and be an LSI Hub member.
- Does my company need to be located in Calgary to access the Expert Advisor program?
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Yes. Your company must be located in Southern Alberta (Red Deer south to the Alberta/Montana border).
- Do the Expert Advisor hours expire?
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Companies have one year (from their date of their LSI Hub Membership signing) to expend their 100-hour allotment.
- Can I purchase extra Expert Advisor hours?
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Possibly. We will review on a case-by-case basis.
- Am I able to meet the experts prior to working with them?
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Absolutely. You choose which expert you wish to engage.
- Can I use Expert Advisor hours for a consultant who we are currently working with that is not involved in your program?
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Yes. We love expanding our network and meeting new experts. Please note that Innovate Calgary is required to meet with the consultant prior to the work commencing, and engagements are subject to our final approval. All consultants within the Expert Advisor program are subject to a Master Services Agreement (MSA).