As Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS), Melinda Richter fosters the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies external R&D engine and supports the innovation community by creating capital-efficient commercialization models that give early stage companies a big company advantage.
By providing infrastructure, services, educational programs and networks in global hotspots, JLABS is the best place to start a company working in healthcare, with a specific emphasis on Johnson & Johnson’s sectors: consumer, medical device and pharmaceuticals.
While a lot is unknown right now with COVID-19, the effects of the disease are being seen globally, especially in the economy and the state of the markets. How is venture capital handling the pandemic, and what impact could the crisis have on startup investment activity?
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In this program, biotech VC’s from across Canada will comment on the investment landscape and discuss:
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·       How they’re reacting to the outbreak
·       How they feel the investment landscape changed?
·       What they think this mean for investments and startups?
·       What investors are doing according to them – assessing opportunities, closing funds, etc.
·       Their current expectations for investments
·       Words of wisdom for startups during this time
Allyson Tighe is a Co-Founder and Associate at Amplitude Ventures, a capital catalyst for highly innovative companies at the point of value acceleration. Amplitude works with promising Canadian healthcare companies that share their vision of bringing groundbreaking technologies to patients with a focus on building world-class Canadian companies in precision medicine and next-generation medical devices.
Allyson is also a former medical device entrepreneur and health technology commercialization advisor committed to advancing great science and passionate about creating, building, and growing world class healthcare companies in Canada.
Mr. Lamb is co-Founder and Managing Director of Genesys Capital. With over 20 years experience in life sciences venture capital, he is one of Canada’s most experienced investors and company builders. Since co-founding Genesys Capital in 2000, Mr. Lamb has been instrumental in raising over $300 million in venture capital funds, and has been involved in deploying over $200 million across 36 investments. Mr. Lamb works closely with Genesys investee companies to strategically position the companies to build value for shareholders.Â
Prior to co-founding Genesys Capital, Mr. Lamb was an Investment Manager with MDS Capital Corp. He is a frequently invited speaker at biotechnology industry conferences. Mr. Lamb graduated from McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences, with a Master of Science in Molecular Neurobiology and also holds an MBA from Queen’s University.
Since joining CTI Life Sciences Fund (CTI LSF) at its inception in 2006, Shermaine has played a critical role in each of the investments made by the Fund, but particularly by leading investments in Medicago - acquired by Mitsubishi Tanabe for $357 M in 2013 - as well as those in IMV (IMV: Nasdaq & TSX) and Zymeworks (ZYME: NYSE & TSX). She was also a board observer in Enobia that was acquired by Alexion in 2012 for $1.1B, assuming all milestones are received.
Prior to joining CTI LSF, Dr. Tilley was Senior VP at DRI Capital Inc. (formerly Drug Royalty Corporation), the world’s first private equity firm doing royalty transactions in the biotech/pharma space. Dr. Tilley holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and is a member of the CFA Society of Toronto.Â
As Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS in Canada, Allan is responsible for external engagement, innovation sourcing, company onboarding, portfolio management, operational excellence, educational programming and P&L. He catalyzes and supports the translation of science and technology into valuable solutions for patients and consumers across the pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer and healthtech sectors.
Allan received his Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario and his MBA from McGill University in Finance and Strategy.
