Made, Not Found: How Scientists Become Biotech Founders
Made, Not Found: How Scientists Become Biotech Founders
Most trainees in Calgary are shown two paths: academia, or industry. The space between them — where research becomes a company — stays invisible.
This evening is about making it visible.
Four people who have each lived a different part of venture creation sit down together: the investor who funds it, the coach who runs it, the fellows who went through the program.
Expect a candid conversation about how biotech companies actually get built by scientists, and what it takes to decide that founding one is a normal career move rather than an exceptional one.
The evening opens with a short introduction to Nucleate Canada's Activator and Amplitude's Pre-Amp venture creation engine, followed by a moderated panel and networking.
On the panel
Logan Germain — Moderator. Nucleate leader, from the Activator team supporting early-stage teams in Toronto, and a PreAmp fellow.
JF Pariseau — Managing Partner, Amplitude Ventures. The investor's view on what makes a scientific founder fundable, and what Amplitude is building in Alberta.
Eric Desjardins — Venture Associate, PreAmp. Three and a half years coaching biotech venture creation, plus co-founder Stereo BioTherapeutics.
Katelyn Shewchuk — PreAmp Fellow, Calgary. What the programme looks like from the inside, and how she got there.
Who this is for
Graduate students, postdocs, and early-career researchers wondering whether there's a path from the bench to a company. Founders already in motion. Investors and ecosystem builders who want to see where the next Alberta biotech companies come from.
This event is powered by our Nucleate Canada Supporters:
Platinum: MNP, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute
Gold: Genome Alberta
Silver: Genome BC, Innovate Calgary, UCeed Startup Investment Funds, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
About the Host:
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We want to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs!
Platinum: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, MilliporeSigma
Philanthropic Support: Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Preferred Partners: Pillar VC, Amino Collective, Fenwick, Mercury, Fedsprout, Citrin Cooperman
In-Kind Support: AcademicLabs, Lens.org