Job Description

Salary:

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (@MaRSDD) in Toronto is one of the worlds largest urban innovation hubs.

MaRS supports promising high-growth companies to scale their businesses globally, while tackling key societal challenges in areas such as Health, Cleantech, Finance, Transportation, AI, and others. In addition to helping start-ups launch, grow and scale, the MaRS community is dedicated to cross-disciplinary collaboration, commercialization of discoveries, and driving ideas to impact.

MaRS is the place where you can play a meaningful role in our innovation economy.

We understand qualifications on a posting can be daunting. If you're passionate about the opportunity and believe you can make a meaningful impact, we want to hear from you, even if you don't meet every listed qualification. Were always looking for great talent to join our team on planet MaRS.

We actively encourage all applicants, including equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as BIPOC, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

We want you to be comfortable being your most authentic self throughout our search process. Please reach out to careers@marsdd.com if theres anything we can do to make your experience more accessible and inclusive, including accommodations. Include 'Accessibility Request' in your subject line.

About the opportunity

MaRS is seeking a part-time Advisor, Biotech/ Lifesciences Capital (Independent Contractor) with first-hand experience building and financing biotech and lifesciences companies. The ideal candidate is someone who has helped bring complex, science-based technologies to market and understands the capital pathways required to scale them.

The Advisor will deliver advisory support to MaRSs portfolio companies by providing strategic capital guidance, applying real-world technical and financial expertise, and supporting the sourcing, structuring, and closing of financing transactions. The role also contributes to the development of MaRSs capital-focused programs and partnerships for our biotech sector.

Advisors do not operate as employees of MaRS.

Scope of Work

You will work with the MaRS team to support the Advisory efforts to founders and management teams on:
- Capital Optimization - design blended financing strategies for the success of biotech companies; integrate grants and project finance with VC equity to minimize dilution for founders (pre-seed to Series A, bankability including equity, non-dilutive, project finance, private equity, and alternative sources of capital tailored to the biotech/lifesciences sector)
- Transaction readiness with founders: conduct mock due-diligence with founders so they can lead with confidence during investor scrutiny. Help to structure and provide advice on negotiating terms sheets for early-stage financings (SAFE/ convertible notes, priced rounds, venture grants, and public innovation programs); Pitch preparation, financial model development, optimizing capitalization tables, setting up data rooms, investor updates, milestone planning, and early board management
- Building and leading an executive team
- Product development and commercialization roadmap of capital-intensive biotech projects
- Negotiating strategic partnerships
- Preparing for entry into global markets
Work with the MaRS team to support the delivery of best in-class programs:
- Assess client needs and plan service delivery in collaboration with the MaRS team to maintain a high-quality bar for venture programs
- Provide input into company assessments and program strategy
- Where complementary to existing MaRS services and networks, make connections to your network to talent, customers, experts, and funding. The priority is making connections to VCs/ angels and other capital providers in your own network in collaboration with the MaRS Health Sciences team.
Share up-to-date intelligence on current Seed and Series A financing trends, deal benchmarks, and sector-specific funding opportunities
Lead or contribute to sessions on capital readiness, investor Q&A, and mock pitch panels for early-stage biotech founders
Document your venture activities in the MaRS CRM and follow program processes to enable effective client and program management
Provide strategic and operational input on program elements to ensure the program maintains high value for ventures

Engagement Structure

You will be assigned through a Monthly Work Plan that outlines specific deliverables to be completed that month.
Monthly deliverables will vary and are based on current needs; no minimum or guaranteed number of hours is offered.
Advisors are engaged as independent contractors, not as employees of MaRS.
Advisors are expected to work autonomously.

Areas of Engagement

Beyond what is outlined in the Scope of Work, Advisors may be engaged to contribute in one or more of the following ways, depending on the needs outlined in the monthly work plan:

Provideindividual advisoryto ventures outside the biotech sector, as appropriate, and make connections to your network for MaRS clients
Support the creation and delivery of programming and content. This might include:
- Small group advisory sessions and other 1:many experiential learning programs
- Peer groups and other networking activities
- Provide insights to content for MaRS platforms like the Startup Toolkit, and contributing thought leadership through articles, speaking engagements and other forums
Provide insights and knowledge to MaRS corporate projects including sessions for corporate partners, special venture cohorts, and more
Support MaRS operational excellence and administration including by:
- Providing input to shape decisions on programs, venture portfolio, and strategy decisions
- Logging all interactions with MaRS ventures in Salesforce (or any other mechanism directed by MaRS) and providing a detailed monthly summary of work performed.
Any additional work or activities will be mutually agreed upon in advance

What you bring

You are/were a seasoned executive or institutional investor (led multiple Seed// Series A biotech/lifescience deals) who helped scale a biotech company to commercialization. You bring deep experience in having secured or invested at least $20M in capital ($50M+ cumulative across equity and non-dilutive). We will give priority to executives who:

have recent (within the past 2-5 years) experience raising or investing capital. Ideally 5+ years in active executive or investor roles. (e.g., seed venture capital, early-stage accelerator, angel investing, or operational executive experience (biotech founder, CFO, CBO, etc.))
Deep familiarity with SAFEs, convertible notes, and complex Series A priced rounds with liquidation preference
possess active relationships and network of early-stage investors (angels, seed/Series A funds, accelerators, family offices) active in biotech

We are open to a variety of lifescience sub-sector specialties, as long as the core criteria on venture financing above are met:

We prefer candidates who have experience as a mentor, coach or consultant. Relevant experience as an advisor, mentor, or coach for life science based companies at Seed to Series A stages is ideal.
Highly developed analytical and interpretive skills, conceptual thinker, able to solve complex problems
Demonstrated passion for building businesses
Personal accountability and commitment to achieving and exceeding goals and objectives
Detailed knowledge of commercial practices for high growth businesses.
Familiar with the language and terminology of industry, finance, government, and the academic community.
Advanced business or finance qualifications preferred (MBA, CFA, CPA, or equivalent experience); additional scientific background (PhD/MD) is a strong asset
Direct mentorship or advisory experience with first-time founders or early-stage management teams
Practical approach with passion for biomedical entrepreneurship and early technology commercialization

Advisors are not considered employees of MaRS, and no employee benefits, vacation, or statutory entitlements apply.

Advisors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses.

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MaRS Discovery District

Open Positions

Advisor, Biotech/Lifesciences Capital