OBIO’s Annual Public Meeting & Reception 2024

Get ready to celebrate with OBIO®!  

Join us for our Annual Public Meeting and Reception for an evening of innovation, inspiration and fun on Thursday, December 5, from 5 to 8pm at the Royal Canadian Military Institute. 

We’ll be celebrating our accomplishments in 2024 and taking the opportunity to thank our board of directors, members and ecosystem partners, embracing the spirit of collaboration.

This year’s event will be especially memorable, as we proudly celebrate OBIO's 15th anniversary.

✨ Special Highlights ✨ 

Improv Pitching Competition: Watch founders we've supported along their journey go off-script as they present “surprise” slide decks, challenging them to be spontaneous and inventive! Your vote will decide who your favourite presenter is! 

Networking Reception: Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres, catch up with friends and partners from other start-ups, ventures and the wider ecosystem—all while celebrating the spirit of innovation that makes us strong. 

Registration spots are limited so please purchase your tickets early! 

We look forward to seeing you there!  

OBIO® WiHI Breakfast: Navigating Employment and Employee Incentives for Life Science Start-ups

The OBIO® Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) is excited to announce its upcoming breakfast session on November 27, focusing on essential employment law and employee incentive strategies for start-ups. This session is ideally suited for start-up founders, executives and leaders in life sciences seeking practical guidance on the following topics:

• Employee stock options and taxation - covering option grants, tax treatment, and market terms

• Employee benefits and hiring & termination management

Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with fellow women leaders and pioneers in the field over breakfast, followed by engaging insights and a lively panel discussion. We look forward to seeing you there!

*This is an invitation-only event. Are you (or any women in your network) interested in attending? Click here and we will connect with you (or them).  

Meet our guest speakers

Healthy IP Strategies in Life Sciences & Health Tech

Join us for an informative event where top IP experts, visionary founders, and industry leaders come together to share valuable insights on protecting your intellectual property and staying ahead in the fast-paced landscape of the life sciences and health tech industries!

Attendees will: 

• Learn how to protect their IP as healthcare innovators

• Gain an understanding of IP strategies for different types of innovations 

• Understand how to prepare for due diligence and licensing 

• Uncover various IP support programs 

• Network with peers and industry leaders 

Women Pioneers in Life Sciences: Leadership, Innovation, and Impact in Canada

Join us for the OBIO® Women Leaders in Life Sciences Breakfast Series featuring an inspiring panel discussion, Women Pioneers in Life Sciences: Leadership, Innovation, and Impact in Canada. This exclusive networking breakfast will bring together influential women leaders to share their journeys, insights, and challenges in shaping the future of life sciences in Canada. 

Are you a biotech and pharma start-up going through drug discovery and development?

Equip yourself with the tools and practical knowledge to effectively collaborate with a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) partner. This webinar taking place on October 16, from 12-1pm EDT will feature guest speaker Geoff Evans, President of Eurofins CDMO Alphora.

Join us and learn about:

• The importance and role of a CDMO

• The Request for Proposal (RFP) process

• Key factors in selecting the right CDMO partner for your program

• And more... 

In partnership with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and OBIO®, the Ontario Securities Commission is hosting an information session on the Ontario capital markets and recent regulatory changes that support early-stage capital raising for Ontario businesses.

Learn about sources of capital for early-stage life sciences and health tech companies and how to identify new investors. This event will focus on recent regulatory changes that have broadened the pool of investors in Ontario. The event will include an overview of the current investing climate and the implications for your business.

Are you involved with the manufacturing, designing, or regulatory compliance of medical devices?

In partnership with CSA Group, OBIO® is excited to invite you to attend a half-day seminar on Electrical Safety Testing & Certification, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Testing & Certification, and Global Market Access. This event, led by industry experts, will take place in Toronto (178 Rexdale Blvd) on October 2, 8 am - 1:30 pm.

Topics covered will include:

• Choosing a test plan, understanding the process to complete testing and obtaining certification

• Standards and regulations, testing procedures, and design & troubleshooting

• Certification requirements for key markets and solutions for emerging & established global markets

• Global Market Access regulatory compliance, standards and testing, and documentation & submissions.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn and expand your current knowledge of medical device testing and certification, ask industry experts questions, and network with fellow professionals.

Meet our guest speakers

AbbVie Partnering Day in Toronto

Toronto | September 26, 2024

AbbVie, in collaboration with OBIO®, will host a Partnering Day in Toronto, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and biotech companies from Canada on September 26, 2024.

Note: This is a private event. All attendees will need to be pre-approved by the AbbVie team.

Agenda:

Morning: One-on-one partnering meetings with pre-selected companies
See instructions for meeting requests below.

Afternoon: AbbVie Showcase

• Overview of AbbVie’s strategies and external innovation priorities

• AbbVie’s approach to partnering

• Networking reception

Participants must register in advance and be approved to attend the AbbVie Showcase.

One-on-one Partnering Meeting

Companies must apply in advance and be approved for a one-on-one partnering meeting. Please send a meeting request to partneringday@abbvie.com.

Selection Criteria
One-on-one meeting proposals will be evaluated by a panel of AbbVie reviewers by the following criteria:

• Projects in all stages from discovery to clinical stage in our Areas of Interest

• Strategic fit and differentiation from existing solutions

Deadline to submit applications: September 6, 2024

Limited seats for one-on-one meetings available.

AbbVie Delegates:

• Niels Emmerich, VP, Global Head S&E and Alliances

• Arpita Maiti, Head of S&E Immunology

• Jenny Wang, Director, S&E Oncology

• Murali Gopalakrishnan, Senior Director, S&E Neuroscience

• Doug Faunce, Executive Director, Head of S&E Eye Care

• Chinmay Kanuga, Senior Director, S&E Medical Aesthetics

• Jay Stamatis, VP, BD&A

• Christian Schubert, VP, AbbVie Ventures

FAQs

OBIO®  is excited to partner with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) on the Pitch Competition for Women Innovators, taking place in Toronto on September 25! Promising start-ups in the healthcare or life sciences sector with at least 51% female ownership will be participating in the Pitch Competition (read the press release) and:

• Compete for prize money and present their innovation to judges from venture capital, private equity, and global healthcare sectors. 

• Connect with key industry players, potential investors, and fellow innovators. 

• Gain invaluable exposure and recognition for their start-up on an international stage. 

For more information, please visit: HBA Pitch Competition. 

About HBA 

The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) is a global organization spanning 75+ countries and with nearly 50 years of experience empowering women. HBA’s 175+ corporate partners represent a global workforce of nearly 6 million people. We believe by joining forces in the relentless pursuit of gender equity, we are doing more than uniting our 17,000+ passionate healthcare and life sciences professionals—we are strengthening the business of the healthcare ecosystem.  

The OBIO® Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) received the 2023 HBA Advancement. Commitment. Engagement. (ACE) Honourable Mention, which is recognizing organizations committed to ensuring that gender diversity and leadership opportunities for women are part of their organizational DNA. 

OBIO® Webinar

Risk Management in Life Sciences:
The Role of Specialized Insurance 

Are you planning your product launch or thinking about your next clinical trial? Are you considering entering your first service contract with a strategic partner, or collaborating with a research partner requiring insurance coverage?  

Get a crash course on life sciences insurance coverage and as a founder, understand your needs as you progress along your commercialization journey. The session will feature guest speakers from Jones DesLauriers Insurance Management, who will highlight and discuss case studies covering: Clinical Trial Risks, Cybersecurity insurance and data breach, and IP and R&D insurance coverage. 

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) hosts a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Upcoming Breakfast session:
September 19 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

Are you a start-up looking to navigate privacy considerations in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology innovation? 

OBIO®, in partnership with Privacy Horizons Inc., is hosting a webinar to demonstrate that privacy and technological innovation can coexist. 

This session will be led by guest speaker, Patrick Lo (CISSP, CIPP/C), CEO of Privacy Horizons, and will emphasize the importance of prioritizing privacy to enhance customer trust and ensure ethical data handling practices. 

Learn about the value of:  

• Understanding privacy laws applicable to start-ups 

• Conducting comprehensive privacy impact assessments 

• Integrating privacy and security features into products and services 

• Establishing robust privacy management programs 

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) hosts a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Upcoming Breakfast session:
June 27 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

Branding for Success

Join us in Toronto on June 26, from 5:30 - 8 pm, for an insightful evening of networking with professionals in the medtech industry at our Women in MedTech Networking Event!

Join us before the summer break kicks off! On June 26, the OBIO® Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) is hosting a networking event in Toronto in partnership with Cortex Design. This event will showcase women-led, early-stage companies at the forefront of the medtech industry.

This is a valuable opportunity to:

• Hear from inspiring women leaders as they share their entrepreneurial journey and dive into the reason behind their passion for innovation

• Gain valuable insights into their innovative work and key healthcare challenges they are solving

• Network with medtech companies, investors, ecosystem partners and service providers in the industry

This is an invitation-only event. Are you (or any women in your network) interested in attending? Connect with us and we will get back to you (or them).

Meet our guest speakers

Rachel Bartholomew | Founder & CEO | Hyivy Health

Lianna Genovese | CEO & Founder | ImaginAble Solutions

Zaya MacDonald | Co-Founder & CEO | Hada MedTech

Kate Riley | CEO | Eye3Concepts

Monika Yazdanian | CEO | ToeFX Inc

Thank you to our sponsors

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) hosts a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Upcoming Breakfast session:
May 30 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

A Conversation with Asha Parekh on Pioneering in MedTech

In collaboration with Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), OBIO® invites all entrepreneurs, founders and individuals working in health and life sciences to join us for a half day Intellectual Property (IP) workshop on May 29.

With guidance from seasoned IP professionals, fellow founders and industry leaders, entrepreneurs will:

• Learn how to protect AI in your healthcare innovations

• Gain an understanding of the scenarios in which a trade secret is more beneficial than a patent, and vice versa, particularly in the life sciences and digital health sectors

• Discover how to effectively use patent landscapes and freedom-to-operate analyses

• Explore various IP funding options

• Network with peers and industry leaders

Meet the speakers

This workshop is available at no cost to participants.

Limited capacity - register by May 28!

Supported by Biomedical Zone and Mintz.

In partnership with PolyUnity, OBIO® invites you to register for a webinar on April 30, from 12-1 pm (EDT) to explore the cutting-edge world of 3D printing and learn how the technology is advancing healthcare innovation, medical research, device prototyping and patient care.

Join us to learn from the expert team at PolyUnity Tech Inc, a leading provider of additive manufacturing and digital design services for healthcare.

What you'll learn :

• Applications of 3D printing in healthcare

• Success stories of 3D printing innovation in Ontario Hospitals

• Guidance on how to access and leverage 3D printing services

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) hosts a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Upcoming Breakfast session:
April 24 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

TELUS Pollinator Fund: Supporting innovative companies in healthcare

Are you ready to gain valuable insights on building meaningful connections and unlocking a world of opportunities? On April 11, OBIO is hosting a virtual workshop on “Empowering Connections: Unleash your Networking Potential”. The workshop, facilitated by Misha Miranda, a seasoned Talent Acquisition expert and leader, will explore different aspects of networking and equip you with the knowledge and tools to foster connections in today’s dynamic professional landscape.  

What you’ll learn:  

• Cutting-edge strategies to build and nurture a powerful professional network  

• Practical tips to transform your networking skills and create lasting, impactful connections  

• The significance of networking to unlock collaboration and career opportunities 

This workshop is suitable for all professionals. 

On April 11, OBIO® and MentorWorks are hosting a webinar exploring the basics of scientific research & experimental development (SR&ED) and overcoming technological uncertainty. Learn about SR&ED eligibility using case studies highlighting work from early-stage research to scale up and commercialization.

The webinar will cover:

• Overview of the SR&ED program and funding rates

• SR&ED within the product development lifecycle and case study to identify SR&ED from fundamental research to full scale manufacturing and regulatory approvals

• A case study to highlight SR&ED activities from early pre-clinical research to Pilot studies and late-stage clinical trials

This information-packed webinar will help Canadian businesses gain valuable knowledge and insights into R&D tax credits they're eligible to receive.

Are you ready to take your career journey to the next level? This workshop, designed for professionals who are interested in digital health, is an opportunity to explore the strategies to navigate the job market and create a compelling LinkedIn profile to enhance your online presence. Learn how to showcase your skills, achievements and professional narrative!  

What to Expect: 

• 90 minutes of interactive, insightful conversations and exercises 

• Expert guidance on crafting an effective resume and cover letter 

• A comprehensive walkthrough on maximizing your LinkedIn profile 

• Discover the art of internal skill and job assessment 

• Elevate your personal brand with impactful tools 

• Active engagement with opportunities to ask questions and interact 

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) hosts a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Breakfast sessions take place every third Thursday of the month. 

Upcoming Breakfast session:
March 21 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

*This event is full. Thank you for your interest!*

Join us this International Women's Day for a transformative networking experience celebrating the journey of the OBIO® Women in Health Initiative (WiHI). This is an opportunity to be part of an inspiring day featuring a fireside chat with Sophie Park, Managing Director of Bayer G4A Investments & Partnerships, and a key thought leader in digital health economics, investments, scalability and innovation programs. In addition to an enriching discussion, join us for a pitch competition for equity investment featuring the women-led companies from the OBIO® WiHI Seed Program.

Whether you are an investor looking for your next venture, a professional keen on the latest industry trends, or a student aspiring to make a mark, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect and be inspired:

 Be part of a movement that is setting new benchmarks for women in health and life sciences!

Meet our speakers

Meet our pitching companies

Thank you to our sponsors

*This event is full. Thank you for your interest!*

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) is hosting a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Breakfast sessions take place every third Thursday of the month. 

Upcoming Breakfast session:
February 22 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto

Once a month, the OBIO® WiHI Professional Network (WiHI) is hosting a breakfast with successful and inspiring women, inviting them to share their experiences, challenges and successes as they build and grow their companies in Canada.

Breakfast sessions take place every third Thursday of the month. 

Upcoming Breakfast session:
January 18 | 9 – 10:30 am | Toronto