Didier Leconte
I work at the intersection of Science, Capital, and People
VENTURE PARTNER
Early-stage life sciences · Global
BOARD DIRECTOR
4 active boards · Private biotech
1 active board · Research institute
Strategic advisor
Science · Capital · People
How I can HELP
For companies and founders
For companies and founders
For companies and founders
Whether you are raising capital, entering new markets, or preparing for scale — I provide the strategic clarity and investor perspective that turns complexity into executable plans.
Fundraising
Refine your investment thesis, positioning, and materials through an institutional investor lens. With my teams I've deployed an average of $50M per year into companies and reviewed hundreds of decks — I understand how investors think.
Investment syndicates are key to bringing companies to their next stage. Having co-invested with many funds and invested in funds directly, I can help connect you with relevant investors and use those interactions to gather feedback and sharpen your story.
Board & Governance
For early-stage companies, a well-structured board brings experience, strategic perspective, and a governance framework that supports long-term growth.
I can help you think through building a board that investors will respect. I have served as a director on multiple company and organization boards — I currently hold four biotech board seats and one research institute board seat.
Support to founders
Founders often find themselves alone in their journey, with little truly objective feedback around them.
Having been a CEO who went through a difficult fundraising experience, and a manager who reported to a board, I've developed real empathy for that position. I can provide unbiased feedback and help entrepreneurs self-reflect.
Life has also brought me through dark times — so I pay particular attention to mental health.
For Investors and funds
For companies and founders
For companies and founders
From pre-IC due diligence to portfolio value creation, I bring sector knowledge, network connectivity, and investment discipline that helps GPs and LPs make confident decisions in life sciences.
Investment thesis and strategy
Pressure-test or refine your investment thesis around specific modalities, indications, or geographies. Over the years I have managed investments and co-investments with more than 12 life sciences VC funds, and designed strategies combining direct company investments and fund commitments.
Due diligence and company creation
I provide second opinions for investment committees, validate teams and markets, and map competitive landscapes. I work with portfolio CEOs on strategy refinement, follow-on financing readiness, and board strengthening.
Through my experience as CEO of a university-related seed fund and my current work with researcher-entrepreneurs, I also support company creation and early structure.
Ecosystem strategy
For corporates, CVCs, and family offices building or refreshing innovation platforms, I can design investment strategies and connect scientific breakthroughs to market opportunities — through strategic partnerships, ecosystem positioning, and long-term capital deployment.
Mandates and Board positions
Mandates
Mandates
Mandates
- Entrepreneur in Residence with Investissement Québec
- Advisor to companies in their fundraising of growth strategy (deck review, scenarios, identification of potential investors and introduction)
- Advisor to entrepreneurs, researchers and teams in their entrepreneurial journey
- Advisor to investment firms and governments
- Reviewer of investment or financing proposals
Boards
Mandates
Mandates
Currently director on the board of:
- Congruence Therapeutics
- DalCor Pharmaceuticals
- Epitopea
- Morphocell Technologies
- Institut de recherche clinique de Montréal
About
Experience
How I like to work
How I like to work
Over 35 years in innovation — more than 20 of them building investment teams, deploying institutional capital, and connecting founders with the resources that accelerate breakthroughs.
My journey has always been in innovation — on both sides of the table. I have been a doer, a manager, an investor, a CEO accountable to shareholders and a board, and a board member myself.
I hold a governance certificate, an MBA in Technology Management, and an engineering degree in materials science.
"Didier is one of the few people who can see the whole picture at 50,000 feet and understand the operational implications of strategies."— Former CEO
How I like to work
How I like to work
How I like to work
First and foremost, I engage with humans — I care about the people behind the companies and funds as much as the transactions themselves.
Most advisors tell you what you want to hear. I'd rather tell you what I actually think — about your deck, your strategy, your team, your timing — and then help you do something about it.
I've been on every side of the table: founder, CEO, investor, board member. That changes how I listen. It means I ask different questions.
Let's talk
How I like to work
Let's talk
I welcome opportunities to share my views on the biotech and life sciences market — whether you want to pressure-test an idea, get a frank read on a deck, or simply think out loud with someone who has been on every side of this industry.
If you want to bounce ideas, explore a collaboration, or just have a conversation — reach out. I take those calls.
You'll find me in Montréal, on LinkedIn and at life sciences conferences throughout the year, including BIO, BIOTECanada, Bloom Burton, JP Morgan Healthcare, OBIO, and Jefferies Global Healthcare.
Contact
I am always interested in talking with entrepreneurs and investors to explore how I can help. Please reach out by email, phone, LinkedIn or WhatsApp.
Important
For service & product suppliers, I may only reply if your offering fit my need as a solo entrepreneur/freelance.
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