Increase probability of success

Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies.

CDL Apprentice Program

CDL-Global Staff

Strategic Advisory Board

Diem Association

 

The Program involves:

Mentorship from select entrepreneurs and angel investors: the Fellows and Associates

Intensive full-day sessions with the CDL Mentors (Fellows and Associates) take place every eight weeks with the purpose of assessing progress and setting new short-term objectives.

See all mentors ›

Opportunities to raise capital

Meetings are attended by the Fellows and Associates, a carefully selected group of exited entrepreneurs, angel investors, and partners from leading venture capital firms who often invest in ventures that demonstrate a track record of achieving their objectives.

Advice on technology roadmaps from CDL’s Chief Scientists

World-renowned experts from leading academic institutions provide technical feedback to founders and advise the Fellows and Associates on objectives related to technology validation.

Business development support from top MBA students

MBA students work with founders to develop financial models, evaluate potential markets, and fine-tune strategies for scaling. The program is designed for early-stage, science-based technology companies, though we consider all applicants based on their potential to scale and the viability of their product.

CDL’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. All Alumni Companies ▶︎

CDL operates 15 streams

Ag

Artificial Intelligence

Blockchain

Climate

Commerce

Energy

Health

Matter

Oceans

Prime

Quantum

Recovery

Risk

Space

Supply Chain

 

Nine locations globally

CDL operates five sites in Canada, one in the United States and two in Europe. Launched in 2012 at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto, the program has now expanded with locations in Oxford (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), Paris (HEC Paris), Atlanta (Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology), Madison (Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Vancouver (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia), Montreal (HEC Montréal), Calgary (Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary), and Halifax (Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University).

CDL-Toronto

Toronto

CDL-Oxford

Oxford

CDL-Paris

Paris

CDL-Atlanta

Atlanta

CDL-Wisconsin

Wisconsin

CDL-Vancouver

Vancouver

CDL-Montreal

Montreal

CDL-Rockies

Calgary

CDL-Atlantic

Halifax

 

“The most valuable thing a person has is time, and it is a privilege that the Partners alongside the CDL Mentors have given us their time so that our company could break through to something of value.”

Jackson Wyatt, Morgan Wyatt, Adil Qawi & Armance Bartold

Co-founders of Greenlid

“Through the Lab, we connected with investors who have since become valuable advisers. Having access to the experience and judgment of those who have done this all before has been tremendously helpful.”

Brendan Frey

CEO and Cofounder, Deep Genomics

“The breadth and depth of insight that we were given access to was phenomenal.”

Karl Martin

Founder, Nymi

“When Chen Fong first described the CDL and recommended we apply, he did so under the premise that CDL was the most impressive collection of great people he had experienced all together in one place. Now, as graduates of CDL, we would like to reinforce this belief.”

Glen Lehmann

CEO, Cohesic Inc.

The CDL provides an environment within which startups can find the right priorities, be coached into achieving those goals, and parlay those successes into the grit and determination necessary to run the entrepreneurial gauntlet.

Benjamin Alarie, Brett Janssen, Anthony Niblett & Albert Yoon

Blue J Legal

 

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