Life Sciences BC (LSBC) has announced the companies selected for its 2027 Investor Readiness Program (IRP). The IRP is a six-month programme designed to prepare emerging British Columbia life sciences ventures for capital attraction and is aimed to accelerate company growth.
The IRP connects promising small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) with established entrepreneurs‑in‑residence (EIRs). Together, they work to advance each company’s investment strategies, refine business models, and strengthen access to capital.
The companies selected for the 2027 IRP cohort are: Chondros Bio, Core Motion Inc., ImmunoWell Labs, Miha Biotech, NellaDerm Therapeutics, Novapars Discovery Inc., NTP R&D Services Ltd., Resilience Biosciences Inc., and Total Life. A stealth biotech company was also selected.
The mentorship partners were also announced. Chondros Bio will work with Malcolm Kendall, founding partner of CDG Ventures, Core Motion Inc. is partnered with Geof Auchinleck, CEO of Claris Healthcare, ImmunoWell Labs and Jason Roberston, co-founder and CEO of Nimbus Synergies Inc. will work together, as will Miha Biotech and consultant Norma Sebestyen. The stealth biotech company joins with Nancy Harrison, venture partner at Amplitude Ventures, NellaDerm Therapeutics will work with Paul Brennan, chief corporate development Officer at Eupraxia, and Novapars Discovery Inc. will be mentored by Allison Gaw, partner at Amplitude Ventures.
NTP R&D Services Ltd. are partnered with Lu Han, partner at Lumira Ventures, while Resilience Biosciences Inc. will be working with life sciences executive Anne Stevens. Total Life has been connected with Brenda Irwin, managing partner at the Relentless Venture Fund.
Throughout the programme, which runs from October to March, participants receive personalised coaching, strategic goal‑setting guidance, and tailored education sessions. The experience culminates in a final pitch event where each company presents to investors and key stakeholders from BC’s life sciences community.
The Investor Readiness Program is supported in part by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
“I’m excited to be part of Life Sciences BC’s Investor Readiness Program because it provides exactly the kind of bridge early-stage life science companies need: focused mentorship, investor perspective, and a clearer path from strong science to real-world impact. For Resilience Biosciences, this is an important opportunity to sharpen our strategy as we advance non-opioid therapeutics for the biological barriers to recovery from opioid use disorder,” said Lily Aleksandrova, product development and compliance director at Resilience Biosciences Inc.
“We are delighted to have the support of Life Sciences BC to help us accelerate our mission of to provide timely mental health support and longevity care to older adults globally,” said Neelam Brar, CEO of Total Life.
“We’re excited to join Life Sciences BC’s Investor Readiness Program as we work to move treatment for inflammatory skin diseases beyond trial and error. The program’s mentorship and industry connections will help us strengthen our fundraising approach and advance NellaDerm’s vision,” said Sajjad Janfaza, CEO of NellaDerm Therapeutics.
“Chondros Bio is at an exciting inflection point as we move OsteoChon from the lab toward the clinic. The Investor Readiness Program gives us the coaching, investor access and B.C. community support to raise the capital we need to get there,” said Bob Mighell, founder and CEO of Chondros Bio.