TIAP Voices:
Providing Critical Resources to Realize the Opportunity Before Us
By: Prakash Gowd, TIAP Vice President
Having recently joined TIAP as Vice President, I wanted to connect with our stakeholder community and highlight the important resources and programs TIAP offers to catalyze life science innovation in Ontario.
With over 25 years’ experience working in the pharmaceutical industry, in capital markets focused on healthcare and biopharma, as well as on the ground directly building life science companies, I am deeply committed to growing our sector. I also understand the challenges and recognize the value of early-stage infrastructure and support. That is why I am excited to be part of TIAP, an organization that identifies, funds, and develops transformative, member-sourced, medical research into successful Canadian companies, advancing the most promising innovations with the greatest potential to positively impact patients.
At TIAP, we build relationships with innovators and entrepreneurs at Toronto’s top universities, hospitals, and research institutes to identify the most exciting therapeutic, medical device and digital health/AI innovation. The TIAP team accelerates innovation by providing access to the tools, resources, and know-how needed to create and accelerate successful Canadian ventures.
TIAP’s four main pillars, LAB150, UTEST, Venture Builder and Portfolio Management, along with our Critical Technologies Program, give researchers and early-stage companies access to:
- Our team of highly-experienced scientific and business professionals and a deep network of seasoned advisors with the acumen and resources to support:
- Company formation, business planning, legal and financial management
- Technology in-licensing / IP strategy
- R&D / technology advancement
- Building of leadership teams – C-suite management, Boards, subject-matter experts, and key opinion leaders
- Securing of valuable strategic partnerships
- Direct seed investment to bridge early funding gaps; along with matched and/or strategic follow-on financing from top-tier life science investors.
With a 15-year track record that includes over 70 new companies launched, over $1B in private investment raised, and more than 1,000 jobs created, TIAP has generated significant commercial and social return on our Member Institutions’ research; making a measurable impact on the growth of the Ontario life sciences sector and a significant contribution to Canada’s economic prosperity — while firmly establishing itself as Ontario’s go-to life science venture builder.
I want to recognize the valuable contributions from those in our community and look forward to working together to bring our respective resources together to build on this success and fully realize the collective opportunity before us.