A Message from Ag-West Bio’s Interim CEO, Mike Wonnick

On behalf of Ag-West Bio I would like to thank our members, stakeholders, staff and board for putting their confidence in me to lead the organization at this time of tremendous opportunity!  

Since 1989, Ag-West Bio’s mandate has been to help move research to market and grow bio business in the province. A not-for-profit, membership-based company, Ag-West Bio members include public research institutions, private companies (start-ups to multinationals), research service organizations, and economic development and commodity groups. Members represent the biotechnology, agri-value, bioproducts and biofuels, environment, and health and nutrition sectors. Ag-West Bio assists entrepreneurs with pathfinding and helps them to become investment ready. Our Technology Commercialization Investment Fund assists early-stage companies and helps established companies expand their businesses.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ag-West Bio Board have given us the privilege to lead an industry-aligning Needs Assessment process that looks to the future of the Ag-Bio and Agri-Value ecosystem here in Saskatchewan. We are truly blessed with some of the best people and resources in the world and are looking at ways to commercialize and capitalize that potential at a faster pace and in an ever more complex business environment. Interim findings suggest Saskatchewan’s Ag-Bio industry has strong assets and a deep drive for excellence. There also exists the need for more genuine collaboration among ecosystem members and the need to simplify the “entrepreneurial journey.”  We look forward to the full report in February and the recruitment to the permanent CEO position to follow.

As an Ag-West Bio board member for almost three years, I thought I understood our mandate. But working in the organization over the last three months as Interim CEO, I have really felt and learned the breadth and depth of our impact. I would like to share the lessons that stand out for me to date:

We understand your business. Ag-West Bio helps companies through the business of commercialization. Our staff are experts with a finger on the pulse of our ecosystem. They include recent successful start-up experts, business leaders, seasoned communications staff, CFO professionals, business planning experts, and capital-raising masters. Our people bring their personal experience as well as their business acumen when they provide guidance, support and partner capital through your start-up journey in the Ag-Bio ecosystem.

We collaborate. We don’t always have the answers, but when we don’t, we know who does. We can put you in touch with that next level relationship that you are looking for. Our goal is to quickly provide solutions, by making connections that matter for our ecosystem and for our members or investees.

We defragment. The startup’s journey through all the “help” out there can be long. I have experienced this on the other side of the table and now see Ag-West Bio’s ability to shorten and straighten that path. Startups don’t always have the capacity to learn the ecosystem as deeply as Ag-West Bio already has. We can share our experience and wisdom, allowing them to keep their momentum and focus on what their businesses need. We can speed their navigation journey through the ecosystem.

Please reward risk takers! It’s a difficult thing to admit, but other jurisdictions understand that you learn the most from failing. In Canada and Saskatchewan, we need to better recognize that. We need to start supporting innovators’ journeys more effectively and patiently.

Focus on market opportunities. Coming up with a great idea is an important step. What’s even better is coming up with an idea that solves a problem that the market will respond to.

Timelines for Ag-Bio businesses are long. I have been reminded and now recognize more deeply that Ag-Bio companies run on much different timelines from tech companies. This sector requires patience, focus and determination from founders, investors and supporters.

Through all our connections and collaborations, we remain committed to fueling economic growth and advancing innovation through deeper, ever‑stronger collaboration across our ecosystem.

I look forward to continuing this discussion with many of you over the coming months. I also hope to bring you a second message soon on the opportunities and challenges regarding Canada’s issues with productivity and competitiveness in the innovation sector, with a focus on solutions.