How to Build a Portfolio Career in Research, Consulting, and VC

Message from Sachi

Hi friends! I am back on Invite Health. I unplugged from Invite Health and social media for a bit in April (strongly recommend), and now I’m excited to be publishing again.

To commemorate the start of May, I participated in Oxford’s May Day celebrations. It involved hearing a Latin hymn at 6am, street performances, and a lovely May Day breakfast with friends!

If you’re new here, from Subaita’s post or from a friend, welcome! I’m glad you’re here with us at Invite Health 😊 

I hope you enjoy the mini newsletter makeover, and are looking forward to our newsletters in May!

This week, I invited Kyle Jackson to share his story, with an impressive portfolio career as a PhD Candidate, Investor, Consultant, and Venture Capitalist. If you’re a student interested in building a career in life science innovation and business, you’ll learn:

• How Kyle landed his first roles in start-up consulting for life science companies- and how you can too

• Kyle’s current PhD research in Chemical Engineering at McMaster University, as one of Canada’s Vanier Scholars

• How Kyle accidentally came across Front Row Ventures, and how he became the current Director of Investments

Enjoy today’s read,

Sachi 💌 

P.S. Want to read this on a browser instead of email? Press “read online” in the top right.

How to Build a Portfolio Career in Research, Consulting, and VC: Interview with Kyle Jackson

First off, tell us about your journey so far. Where do you study, what inspired you to pursue this, and what’s next? What else do you like to do outside of studying?

My name is Kyle Jackson (He/Him). I am a senior PhD Candidate and CHIR Vanier Scholar studying Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada's ability to attract and retain doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. 166 doctoral students are awarded the scholarship per year across the three funding agencies: Canadian Institute for Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

I completed my undergraduate studies at McMaster as well in the Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization (BDC) program - think of it like a dual health sciences and commerce degree that focuses on building pre-clinical drug assets. My current research explores the use of bacteriophages, bacterial viruses, as a therapeutic strategy to target bacteria in the gut that are driving the dysregulated inflammation we see in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 

When I first entered undergraduate studies, I was pretty set on going to medical school. Throughout my undergrad, I studied hard and was fixated on my GPA. When applying to medical school, the typical direction applicants take is to volunteer in clinics/hospitals and in research labs that are directly related to existing healthcare needs (e.g. oncology, cardiology, pediatrics, etc.). I had the full intention of pursuing these types of activities because that’s what I thought was needed to go to medical school. Instead, I found myself being drawn down rabbit holes pertaining to other interests of mine. Chief among them being research. Ultimately, after weighing my options, I decided to pursue graduate studies to obtain a PhD. I accepted my graduate school offer contingent on me being able to work in a multidisciplinary role alongside clinicians, medical researchers, and engineers. And that is where I find myself today!

Graduate school is tough, especially a PhD. You will experience the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. You will fail. Science is difficult. But there is an enthralling feeling that all PhD students share in being able to contribute to something far larger than one individual. Most work completed in a PhD is a small part of a larger project. My work specifically has been “exploratory” in nature. This means that when we began the project, neither myself nor my supervisors (Dr. Elena Verdu and Dr. Zeinab Hosseinidoust) had an idea of where the work would go. In other words, we were shooting in the dark for 3+ years. It hasn’t been until the past year where things have finally begun to come together. If you ask any PhD student, they will likely share a similar experience. For great context, a typical PhD is between 4-5 years. So shooting blindly for 3+ years was quite an undertaking!

Throughout my PhD, I have maintained my interest in work outside of academia. My undergraduate BDC program allowed me to explore the industries of finance and consulting, as they relate to the Life Sciences. I have consulted (compensated) for several emerging life sciences companies, including Tenomix and Mesosil. In these roles, I supported the development of go-to-market strategies and helped raise capital. To-date, I have helped companies raise over $2.5M CAD in dilutive capital from angel investors and early-stage VCs (this means we traded a % ownership in the company in exchange for a cash investment; think Shark Tank or Dragon’s Den). Overall, these experiences really opened my eyes to industries outside of academia and traditional medicine. 

As you can tell, my journey started semi-linear, but quickly pivoted down exciting rabbit holes. The takeaway is that it’s ok to think you know what you want to do, but you also need to allow yourself the flexibility to experience opportunities without worrying that it will prevent you from achieving your ultimate goal (whatever that may be).

You’re currently the Director of Investments at Front Row Ventures (FRV). Can you tell us what Front Row Ventures is, and how Invite Health readers can get involved? How did you yourself get involved with FRV, especially coming from a Science background? 

Front Row Ventures (FRV) is a venture capital firm focused on supporting student entrepreneurs in Canada's technology sector. Founded in 2017, we provide early-stage funding, mentorship, and resources to student-led startups, aiming to bridge the gap between academic innovation and commercial success. We are currently investing out of a $5.5M fund. Our staff is predominantly composed of students volunteering 10-15 hours per week to the firm. This provides us with the ability to expose students to all aspects of VC early in their career. Not only do the students perform due diligence (research) on the companies we evaluate, they ultimately vote on which companies we invest in as a firm. No other VC in Canada provides students with this ability to be at the centre of investment decision making. 

FRV specializes in pre-seed investments. This type of investment is very, VERY, early-stage. Oftentimes we are investing in a company when it’s only an idea; there is no product. To this end, we prioritizes start-ups with strong potential for market disruption and a core founding team that can execute on that vision. Beyond financial support, we provide access to industry experts and strategic partnerships to maximize the growth of our portfolio companies. We are actively involved in fostering entrepreneurship programs across Canadian campuses. FRV organizes events, workshops, and educational initiatives to inspire the next generation of tech leaders and drive positive societal impact through entrepreneurship.

I came across FRV by accident. Shortly after starting my PhD, I had a close friend of mine on the team and reached out to learn more. One thing led to another, and I was recruited to be on the subsequent year’s investment team and now serve as the Director of Investments for Ontario (compensated). It was really a matter of the right place, right time. 

I can say unequivocally that my time with FRV has been one of the best decisions I have made  as a student. Not only have I expanded my skill sets by working on diverse deals ranging from financial services companies, to enterprise software, to biotech, but I have also met life-long friends and mentors. If there’s a key piece of advice I would give to the readers of Invite Health: do not undervalue being part of a strong community of like-minded individuals. Learn from them; it will do wonders for your career. FRV holds many events across Canada, follow us on Linkedin to stay in the loop!

What types of experiential learning opportunities did you have in undergrad that you think were the most pivotal in getting you to where you are today?

One of my first extracurriculars in undergrad was working on the McMaster NEUDOSE mission. The mission was to develop a satellite to study the effects on radiation on human tissue in low earth orbit. This satellite was launched into space in March 2023. NEUDOSE was my first foray into diverse experiences in my undergrad. Although it was volunteer, I stuck with it for all four years of undergrad because I truly believed in what we were building. The whole mission really underpinned my ethos for the type of experiences I wanted to have going forward. It also taught me the importance of working in a team environment and to leverage everyone’s diverse skill sets to accomplish a goal. From there, I explored co-founding various companies (none of them succeeded), healthcare consulting, and now venture capital. Irrespective of how each individual experience turned out, the knowledge I gained was always carried over to the next endeavour. I see this as the key metric of success as opposed to any one line on my resume. 

Can you talk about some of your experiences as a start up advisor and consultant? What do start-up advisors and consultants do? How did you get involved in these opportunities?

Start-up advisors and consultants provide strategic guidance and expertise to early-stage companies, assisting them in areas such as strategic planning, mentorship, networking, specialized knowledge, problem-solving, and other niche areas. They help start-ups refine their business strategies, connect with key stakeholders, and navigate challenges across various aspects of the business. Typically advisors and consultants are individuals that have previously worked on similar projects and wish to leverage said knowledge to support another company. 

My experience as a consultant has been enlightening. Working with companies at different stages is an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only do you work with capable founders, but you’re able to work on projects that will make tangible differences to the operations of that company. Much of the work I have done as a consultant is working with early-stage healthcare companies in their desire to raise capital from investors. This work entails me understanding their core value proposition and translating that into a pitch to give to investors. Something that most entrepreneurs don’t know when starting is that you cannot give the same pitch to different investors. Each investor, whether that be an angel investor or VC fund, is different. You need to do your research when preparing for a pitch and cater it to your audience. For the graduate students reading this newsletter, it’s much like preparing a conference presentation!

For those looking to get involved in these positions, it’s really a matter of the right place, at the right time. Developing a strong network is key here. To be clear, that doesn’t mean you need to have 2k followers on LinkedIn and that makes you have a strong network. Some of the most well connected people I know don’t even have LinkedIn! What is important is putting yourself out there and surrounding yourself with like minded individuals. I got my first consulting position by attending an information session on the Synapse Life Sciences Pitch Competition. I know some people who have cold emailed a bunch of companies, some have even cold called; there are many ways! The most important thing is taking that first step. Once you take that first step, you’ll never look back. 

You’ve built yourself quite a portfolio as a PhD Candidate, Entrepreneur, Investor, and VC. Did you always know from undergrad that this was the type of career you wanted to build for yourself?

Absolutely not, and at first that terrified me. Over time I learned to accept that it is OK not knowing what kind of career I want to build. I know I want to be at the intersection of life sciences innovation and business, but the job description pertaining to that role is unclear. In building my “portfolio” of experiences, I have been conscious in exploring different roles that interest me. A key reason as to why I enjoy my work in VC so much is because it provides me with the freedom to explore so many interesting facets within the broader economy. One day I could be advising a portfolio company, the next I could be performing due diligence on a new investment opportunity. This unpredictability is exciting and I appreciate the opportunity to dive deep into segments of the technology industry I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. 

In terms of immediate next steps: I first need to defend my PhD (aiming for Spring 2025)! After that, I really don’t know what I want to do. I know I want to support emerging science and its translation to market, but like I said, I don’t know what that job description is. It could be working in venture capital, private equity, consulting, investment banking, or within technology transfer. One thing that is certain is that I know I do not want to become a full-time professor. While that may be the aspirations of many PhD students, it is not mine. Who knows though, some of the best professors I have had in undergraduate and graduate school were professors who worked in industry but chose to return. Maybe that will be me.

Where can students go if they want to learn more about your experiences? 

Linkedin is the best way to connect with me. I’m always happy to meet individuals who wish to expand their networks. 

Is there anything else that you would like to add for Invite Health readers? 

I have spoken about this a few times, but I really wish to underscore that it is OK not knowing what you want to do - I still don’t. Follow your passion, whatever that may be. You never know who you’ll meet along the way. Some of the best companies were created because two co-founders met randomly one night at an event. Be bold and push yourselves. The dividends will follow, trust me. 

Next Up ⏭️ 

I interview David Zhu, a first-year MD/PhD student at Virginia Commonwealth University (🇺🇸) from Ottawa, Canada. We discuss how David studies at VCU with FREE tuition, his experience as a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) student at Yale, and his extensive research experiences in social medicine (including paid positions).

David’s interview will be available next week!

Jobs, Opportunities & Resources 💻️ 

Most of these resources are reposted on Invite Health’s LinkedIn page

• 🇨🇦 NRC Student Employment Program (paid)  

• 🇨🇦 Research Assistant I - Women's Age Lab (paid)

• 🇨🇦 Intern, Policy and Advocacy (paid)

• 🇨🇦 Clinical Research Co-op (pay not disclosed)

• 🇨🇦 CIBC Capital Markets Inclusion Scholarship (paid)

• 🇨🇦 Job Opportunities at Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (paid)

• 🇿🇦 Fully-funded Youth Summit 

• 🇬🇧 Scholarship Opportunities for Oxford & UK Studies

• Breaking into Biotech VC, by Subaita Rahman 

About Invite Health 💌 

I started Invite Health for my younger self who was trying to figure out what to do with my health sci degree that wasn’t a career in medicine.

Today, I’d say this quote is the primary reason I continue to build Invite Health:

The mission of Invite Health is to close this talent-opportunity gap for students in the life and health sciences.

Since 2022, we’re the leading resource for students figuring out what to do with a life sci / health sci degree. I interview students pursuing diverse careers in healthcare, and how they got there - no gatekeeping here. Every newsletter is rich with resources and insights.

Our main channel is this newsletter, and I occasionally share resources on social media.

You can read more about why I built Invite Health here

Get the most out of Invite Health 🫶

1. Connect with the interviewees: At the end of every newsletter, the interviewees leave their contact information for you to contact them. In your message, mention that you learned about their journey through Invite Health, and that you’re curious to learn more.

2. Share the word: Share Invite Health with your friends and networks. Start a conversation about something you learned- an opportunity, a piece of advice, or a recommendation that an interviewee made.

3. Bet on yourself: Apply to the opportunities that are shared in the newsletters. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. Circling back to point #1 - always reach out to the interviewees if you want advice!

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