In an era marked by rapid technological advances and global uncertainties, Biotech and MedTech startups need real-world playbooks. On May 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Connector Sessions returned to the Convergence Centre at Western Research Parks with Evolving a Biotech/MedTech Startup in Uncertain Times - a focused, no-fluff conversation on what it takes to survive and scale in times that are anything but predictable.
Co-hosted by Western Research Parks (WRP) and the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), with support from BioNext, Western’s MedTech incubator, the session brings together founders, academics and commercialization experts to share real-world insights on regulatory navigation, keeping funding alive, and pivoting effectively when circumstances change.
“Our work with LEDC is about creating the conditions for success,” says WRP executive director Gailene Tobin Vandenheuvel. “Together, we’re building an innovation district where companies can scale globally while staying connected to the support and community they need right here in London.”
Leading the session is Dr. Philip Toleikis, a biotech veteran with over 25 years of experience in commercializing life science innovation. As former President, CEO, and CTO of Sernova Corp., Dr. Toleikis raised over $100 million in capital, guided the company from early-stage R&D to global leadership in regenerative medicine, and drove its market cap from $3 million to over $300 million. His keynote will take attendees behind the curtain of building a biotech company — exploring licensing, corporate governance, clinical validation, and the pivots that separate successful ventures from stalled ones.
“This session with Dr. Toleikis is a rare chance to hear the real story of taking a biotech company from early-stage research to public markets,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel. “For anyone building or supporting innovation through Western Research Parks or the broader life sciences space in London, there’s a lot to take away from someone who’s actually done it."
Following his keynote, guests had the opportunity to connect over lunch — catered by Black Walnut Bakery Cafe — and network with peers, founders, and sector leaders working at the intersection of science and commercialization.
Events like this are core to LEDC’s economic growth strategy – building a resilient tech and health sciences cluster, strengthening commercialization pathways and giving startups direct access to the resources that move ventures forward. The Connector Sessions turns London’s innovation ecosystem into a launchpad and act as a WTF (where to focus) event for the health sciences and tech industries.
“We’ll keep bringing in founders and leaders who can speak candidly about what the journey actually looks like,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel. “It’s not just about launching companies but helping them grow into something that lasts.”
Attendees heard candid insights from founders who have navigated clinical trials, product-market fit and regulatory review. Expect case studies, not keynotes, lessons, not lectures. Legal and funding partners will be in the room, helping early-stage companies' de-risk their growth strategy and prepare for scale. Western University faculty, grad students and research teams were also in attendance, connecting breakthrough ideas with industry-led validation and real-world applications.
“These events make space for open conversations about what it really takes to grow a business in uncertain times,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel. “That kind of perspective is especially important as London continues building momentum as a place where innovation can thrive."
WRP, home to over 66 in-house businesses contributing more than $56 million annually to the local economy, offers more than just space – it’s a hub that connects research and industry through flexible lab, office, and industrial facilities, all within a collaborative innovation community connected to Western University. BioNext bolsters this with targeted support for early stage medtech ventures, ensuring they can move from discovery to deployment.
“The Connector Sessions are meant to spark real conversations. It’s not just about sharing success stories, but also about the challenges, pivots, and persistence it takes to build something in today’s complex innovation landscape,” says Tobin Vandenheuvel. “These realistic insights matter as we continue to grow London’s innovation district.”
For LEDC, this is how economic development works in 2025: not just attraction and retention, but direct, founder-focused support for the companies solving real problems. The Connector Sessions doesn’t just foster collaboration – it accelerates it. And it ensures London’s medtech economy is equipped to lead.
