Dates
Summer Series: Smarter Strategies for Startup Growth
Presented by Western Research Parks
Building a startup in biotech, health-tech, or innovation-driven fields takes more than just a great product — it takes smart strategies, the right people, and the tools to scale. This summer, Western Research Parks is proud to present a curated series of free, 30-minute sessions designed to give founders, leaders, and early-stage teams the knowledge and resources to grow with confidence.
From making sense of AI and working with Big Tech, to attracting top talent and building your hiring infrastructure — our Summer Series brings together expert voices who understand the startup journey and want to help you succeed.
☕Free to attend — includes coffee and treats from Black Walnut Bakery Cafe
📍Location: Connector Suites, Convergence Centre (999 Collip Circle), Western Research Parks
🗓 When: Wednesdays, July 9 – September 10, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 – 10:30 AM
Why We’re Hosting This Series
Western Research Parks is committed to supporting founders, researchers, and innovators by providing not only flexible space and infrastructure but also access to strategic knowledge and community. These sessions are designed to reduce barriers, spark collaboration, and help you make confident, informed decisions as you grow.
Who Should Attend
- Biotech, medtech, and health-tech entrepreneurs
- Startup founders and leadership teams
- Early-stage professionals in innovation and research
- Anyone exploring team-building, scaling, or startup strategy
How It Works
Each session is free to attend, runs for 30 minutes, and covers a key area of startup growth — from technology decisions to hiring, brand building, and funding strategies. Sessions are led by experienced entrepreneurs, strategists, and tech leaders.
📌 Register for each session individually — choose the ones that align with your goals, or join us for the full summer journey.
👉 Session topics and speaker info are listed below. Click each link to register for individual sessions.
Session 1 – AI 101: How Can You Use It, and What Kind Do You Need?
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Not all AI is created equal — and not every application needs generative tools. This session will break down different types of AI (predictive, generative, diagnostic, etc.) and where they can be used in biotech and health-tech. We'll explore how to assess what your business actually needs and how to avoid overbuilding or underinvesting.
Session 2 – Working with Big Tech: Getting Resources Without Losing Control
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Collaborating with large tech companies can open doors — or bring red tape. In this session, we'll talk about how to partner strategically with Big Tech players, access tools and funding, and protect your IP and independence along the way.
Session 3 – Open Source vs. Proprietary: Choosing the Right Model
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, July 23, 2025
When building your product, should you go open source, license proprietary software, or develop in-house? This session explores the pros and cons of each path — especially in regulated environments like health and life sciences — and how to make a choice that supports your product and your business model.
Session 4 – Product Go-to-Market 101: Lessons from Big Tech
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Learn how Big Tech companies think about launching, positioning, and selling new products — and how you can adapt those strategies to a startup context. We'll cover product-market fit, early customer feedback loops, and creating a GTM motion that scales with your company.
Session 5 – Ready to Scale: Building a Pricing Strategy for Profitability
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, August 6, 2025
You've got traction — now how do you grow revenue sustainably? This session digs into pricing models that work in health-tech, how to align price with value, and what to consider as you move from pilot to scale.
Session 6 – Hiring Right: Five Questions to Guide Early Team-Building
With Chris Wynder – Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Your first hires set the tone for your culture and your growth. This session offers a framework to make confident hiring decisions — including five critical questions to ask before bringing someone on board, and tips for balancing skills, fit, and timing.
Smarter Recruitment & Leadership Strategy (Session 7-10)
Session 7 – Recruitment Readiness: Why Startups Should Always Be Recruiting
With EA Clarke and Rebecca Hawman – Wednesday, August 20, 2025
For startups, great hiring doesn’t start with a job post — it starts with preparation. In this session, we’ll explore how early-stage companies can build an always-on recruitment mindset and the scalable infrastructure needed to support it. You’ll learn how to consistently attract top talent before you need it, create processes that grow with you, and avoid the all-too-common chaos of reactive hiring.
Takeaways:
- Why startups should always be recruiting — even when they’re not hiring
- Simple, low-effort ways to market your company to future candidates
- Tools and systems that support scalable, stress-free hiring
- How to create a consistent, inclusive candidate experience
Session 8 – What Is a Fractional Executive — and When Should You Hire One?
With Stefanie Curtis – Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Startups scaling toward a liquidity event often hit a leadership gap—big goals, limited executive bandwidth, and no room for hiring mistakes. Enter the fractional executive. In this session, we’ll unpack what fractional leaders really do, how they drive measurable value, and when to bring them in as strategic partners to accelerate scale and prepare for acquisition or IPO. Whether in marketing, operations, or talent strategy, the right fractional leader can bridge capability gaps and boost your company’s exit-readiness.
Takeaways:
- What defines a fractional executive — and how they differ from consultants or interim hires
- Key inflection points when fractional leadership drives the most ROI
- How to structure fractional roles with clear KPIs, outcomes, and transition plans
- Case studies on how fractional executives have helped startups increase valuation and smooth due diligence
- What investors look for in leadership as part of exit-readiness
Session 9 – Your Employer Brand Is a Funding Asset — Here’s Why
With EA Clarke and Rebecca Hawman – Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Investors don’t just look at your product and financials — they look at your team, your ability to attract talent, and your company’s reputation. A strong employer brand signals stability, clarity of vision, and growth potential. In this session, we’ll explore how employer branding can directly impact investor confidence and funding outcomes and position yourself as a top employer to candidates when you’re ready to scale.
Takeaways:
- How to craft your employer brand to speak to the right audience
- What your hiring strategy says to investors
- How to showcase your talent story
Session 10 – Three Mistakes That Keep the Grants Away
With Jane Ramachandran – Wednesday, September 10, 2025
With real-life examples and tips you can implement right now, this session will cover some very common mistakes relating to grants and the health of your operations that can bottleneck your company and delay your mission.
