James Wei
Waterloo,Ontario
Summary
15+ experiences in business development and technical sales roles including customer outreach, distribution channel buildup, new product entry, client-facing presentation, negotiation, application support and training. Proven self-starter with own business consulting service and ex-founder of 2 life science startups. Versatile application knowledge in diverse technology domains: life science, diagnostics, quantum computing & sensing, photonics, lab instrumentation. Experienced organization of trade shows, roadshows and product demo for out-bound lead generation. Hands-on management of HR, budgeting, timeline, R&D projects, government funding. Setup and admin of CRM, quality management system, website & social media, MS 365.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development Specialist (Consulting Role)
Polariton Technologies AG
09.2023 - Current
- My role is to improve M&S team's capacity and efficiency to grow component sales and design service businesses
- In/out-bound customer interactions fro lead generation to client acquisition
- Key account management of offers and negotiations for deals ranging from $10k to $250k
Regulatory and Market Entry Specialist (Consulting Role)
Diagmetrics Inc
09.2023 - Current
- I am in charge of building and managing the operations and quality processes specific for rapid diagnostic business
- Polyvalent responsibilities including setting up a Quality Management System as per ISO13485:2016 standard, administering IT, performing market research and competitive landscape analysis to support investor relations and partnership communications
- Management of work packages deliverables reporting in a $1M USD NIH RADx project
Operations Director (Consulting Role)
LynxSurfBio Inc
09.2023 - Current
- My primary task is to spin off an academic startup in neurodegenerative diseases screening technology through developing a scalable and sustainable roadmap
- Completion of incorporation, startup incubation (Velocity Innovation Arena), product-market-fit research, primary market research with neuroscience experts, as well as tech transfer negotiations and IP strategy
- Early funding source received with $50k+ in non-dilutive Canadian grants and $100k in service revenue
Chief Operating/Commercialization Officer
Affinité Instruments Inc
08.2020 - 08.2023
- As an executive director, my key focus was to ensure a successful global market entry of new life sciences lab instrumentation products versus well established market players
- Building sales channel from scratch to a network of 10 international distributors by convincing them through product-market-fit pitch messaging and digital marketing
- Growing from no revenue to $500k between 2020 and 2022 with a lean 1.5-person application sales team
- Managing 60 to 80% close rate on a yearly basis, from prospect funnel intake to deals through value selling
- Leading digital marketing efforts and tradeshow participations resulting in CRM intake from ZERO to 2,500+ in 3 years despite the COVID-19 slowdown
- Piloting product development programs including implementing in-house quality system for vendors qualification and quality control, resulting in successful CE marking for 3 biosensing products
- Initiating and managing 6 government-funded R&D projects in Canada and the EU with $500k+ worth of innovation resources
VP of Business Development
KA Imaging Inc
03.2019 - 07.2020
- As this medical startup's first sales executive. I helped to set up product quality and customer support processes resuling in the company's first FDA 510(k) clearance
- Creation of the company's first M&S process, laying the foundation for business development and customer support
- Implementation of CRM and sales processes, enabling metrics for tracking of sales and purchasing
- Collaboration with external ISO and medical regulatory experts to define required processes of QMS compliant with ISO13485/MDSAP/FDA standards
- Year-over-year expansion of a robust sales pipeline, leading to 100+ potential clinical clients within 1.5 years of the pre-commercialization phase
- Development of a set of data- and market-driven value propositions as part of pre-launch advertising and promotion to potential partners and clients
Business Development Manager
Zurich Instruments
05.2011 - 09.2018
- I took on the general manager role to establish the company's first subsidiary in Shanghai, tapping into a burgeoning APAC market.
- Drove 35% of the company's total sales in the APAC region, overtaking the USA market as the company's largest revenue-generating region.
- Coached and trained a team of 5 technical and marketing specialists; helped to bridge cultural gaps between eastern and western teams.
- Established strong distributor networks across China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, Australia, achieving the #2 global market share position versus the sam-category competition product
- Achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 50% to 100% in a sales team of 6, generating a cumulative increase of $15M in sales.
- Participated in 10+ tradeshows per year and established an average of 60-100 contacts per event with 30%+ closing rate.
- Developing a comprehensive sales playbook and technical manuals with effective value based communication.
CMOS RF and Mixed Signal Design Engineer
Sirific Wireless/NXP/ST Microelectronics
05.2000 - 08.2011
- As an electronics engineer and team leader, I oversaw the design and testing of specialized mixed-signal integrated circuits for the first-generation smartphones
- Collaborated with cross-functional engineering teams of 20+ to conceptualize, design, and implement high-performance integrated circuits and chips, propelling product innovation
- Ensured the precision and functionality of integrated circuit components by conducting intricate, transistor-level design work via the Cadence EDA design platform
Education
EMBA - International Business
HWZ Zurich
Switzerland05.2014
Ph.D. - Electronics
Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées De Lyon
France10.2007
Master of Science - RF Engineering
University of Waterloo
Canada05.2000
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
University of Waterloo
Canada05.1998
Skills
- Key account management
- Client acquisition
- Pipeline management
- KPI tracking
- Product demonstration
- Contract negotiation
- Pricing strategy
- Competitive analysis
- Proposal writing
- Project management
- Attention to detail
- Excellent communication
- Team leadership
- Self motivation
- Analytical thinking
- Strategic planning
Accomplishments
- Established a successful foreign subsidiary from ground up which became key profit centre for the company and played a major role in its subsequent acquisition by a strategic partner
- Built extensive sales, supply chain and customer support processes as part of an ISO1345 complaint quality management system key to achieving FDA 510(k) clearance for a medical device product
- Successfully proposed and managed various public-private projects as an industrial partner collaborating with academia with allocated budget ranging from $50k to $1M
- Successfully ran a business consulting business in the last 2 years with 6-figure service yearly revenue working with deeptech startups in North America and Europe
Education & Diploma
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Full Professional
Chinese (Mandarin)
Full Professional
Timeline
Business Development Specialist (Consulting Role)
Polariton Technologies AG
09.2023 - Current
Regulatory and Market Entry Specialist (Consulting Role)
Diagmetrics Inc
09.2023 - Current
Operations Director (Consulting Role)
LynxSurfBio Inc
09.2023 - Current
Chief Operating/Commercialization Officer
Affinité Instruments Inc
08.2020 - 08.2023
VP of Business Development
KA Imaging Inc
03.2019 - 07.2020
Business Development Manager
Zurich Instruments
05.2011 - 09.2018
CMOS RF and Mixed Signal Design Engineer
Sirific Wireless/NXP/ST Microelectronics
05.2000 - 08.2011
EMBA - International Business
HWZ Zurich
Ph.D. - Electronics
Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées De Lyon
Master of Science - RF Engineering
University of Waterloo
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
University of Waterloo
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkWork Location
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Company CultureWork from home optionFlexible work hoursQuote
Acquire leads through unique features. Close deals through value selling.
My business development philosophy
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